Are You A Loner?

[Parkway91]

I would classify myself as a loner. I too spend my weekends at home by myself instead of going out. I struggle to talk to people and I also just do not enjoy the company of other people. I don't see this as a bad thing as its just what I prefer, but I can see how some people would see it as a problem or an issue.

I have mates in my band but I do not hang out with them outside of band practices. Apart from the people in my band I don't really have many friends, and those I do, I hardly see, which is what I prefer.

 

[Pick|Choose]

Thank you for all your replies. I appreciate it.

 

[danodanz]

No.

Probably quite the opposite actually, when I'm by myself (now for example) I'll just go to forums or whatnot for some sort of interaction.
That, or I try to be "productive" and end up doing something incredibly stupid. (I once went to the DIY store, bought a fuck load of paint then decided to NOT paint the room).

Don't get me wrong. I still have a bit of a dislike for a lot of people (Probably explains why I'm on the only rational forum in the world right now). But I enjoy company, much more than lack of thereof.

 

[Glassesguy904]

I can live for weeks on end without talking to anyone, but I avoid doing that because I don't want to alienate my friends. I love having some time alone to get away from it all, but I also enjoy seeing people. I just can't spend a whole lot of time with them. So no, I'm probably not a loner. I just enjoy large chunks of solitude in my day to break up my social interactions.

 

[M920CAIN]

I imagine this was asked multiple times in the past, but I want to explore the topic further.

Anyhow, I personally love solitude, and - as strange as it may sound - would pick staying all alone in my house for the whole night, over going to a party with my friends (which are few), any day. I don't seem to enjoy any kinds of social gatherings for that matter. I am not depressed, nor do I have social anxiety, it's just my personality. Unfortunately, most people have a hard time understanding that, so I usually get labeled as a sociopath (yes, really), or just shy. To clarify, I don't hate people (at least, not in general). I simply don't enjoy their company. When I'm alone, I am free to do as I please (my morality is my only limit), I have the silence and peace I need for my daily routine thinking (I see it as an activity ;P),and best of all, I do not have to conform to society's ideologies and standards.

Despite all this, I don't root for the destruction of our society. I am thankful for many of the things our civilization has given us. I simply want to free myself from that sort of dependence on other people. This is probably not very rational, as humans as very social species by nature, but I see myself as an exception (though, I imagine there are many more like me).

Thoughts/Opinions?

Thanks.

We are more alike than you may know or even think. It's creepy actually, but yes, I like spending time on my own and doing stuff that makes me happy.

 

[EeveeElectro]

Pretty much.

I like socialising, being with friends and around people.
I can't all the time, but I need someone with me at least for a few hours a day.
I don't like being around someone 24 hours a day, I like having a few hours to myself.

Friends tend to leave me and not invite me out. Either I'm a pretty shitty or boring person or they just don't think I'm important enough.
I'd like to be invited out, it's just nobody does. I'm not a loner by choice, it's just what I'm used to.

 

[Lunatic High]

I'd say liking solitude is as far from a sociopath as you can get you'll never find a bonofide sociopath who has no friends, sociopathy is very very vague in terms of diagnosis even my shrink has his doubts.

Answering on behalf of myself, inwardly yes outwardly no, my family would say I am a loner as I never visit or call them unless a holiday arrives or they happen to guilt me into coming over, my friends on the other hand, of which there are only 5 consisting of people I've known for 10 + years, would say I'm not as I know lots of people and hang out with lots of people. However just because I hang out with them doesn't neccasarily mean they are "friends" I just prefer to change faces around me, and can't REALLY be myself around them anyways. And I do enjoy my solitude very much. The problem with going to parties and social gatherings is if you've been to one you've been to them all and they always proceed in the exact same manner and end the exact same way. It takes a bit of boredom for me to attend things like that and if I wasn't chronically fucking bored most 90% of the time I'm sure I'd never step out the door for anything other than neccessities, also the sun is hell on my soft white skin pigment. Although its nice to have people around particularly when I go hunting its a real ***** to clean and drag a mule deer back to the truck by ones self.

 

[Random Argument Man]

I've been a loner most of my school time, but not by choice. When I was a kid, I was frequently at the hospital (Although, I don't remember why). So, I didn't had the chance to interact a lot with the other kids. Later, I've met friends, but mostly I was the big guy in their gang that would be beat the other kids to a pulp if we were crossed. When I realized that I was being used, I decided to move on. My "friends" didn't like this and I was bullied during the first years of highschool.

For a small while, I was a loner because I didn't trust anyone. I've met a few people at the end of highschool. Things were looking up until two of them had drug episodes. They didn't do much to be helped so, once again, I've cut my ties. After a while, I moved out of my hometown and met a few friends. For once, I really liked them. Although, some of them started to move out or started to build their lives. I'm gradually going back to being a loner and it sad because I really liked them.

On the bright side, it doesn't take me much to fit in a group. Although, it is difficult to meet the right people.

 

[newdarkcloud]

I'm pretty much the same as most of the people here. I don't mind and even enjoy socializing to a degree, but I need to have my "me time", else I just get tired and I have a distinct preference for small groups of people I'm very familiar with.

I'm also kinda surprised by how many people on the forums here fit that bill. Maybe it's just the demographic this site caters to, but I still expected more of a variation here.

 

[RustlessPotato]

Well I like being alone. People thought I was lonely, which are 2 different things. I do go outside as much as I can. I love reading a good book in the sun in the parc, or on a table outside of a cafe, drinking good Belgian brews. The kind of strong beers you enjoy for at least 30 minutes before buying another one.

I won't automatically refuse if I'm invited, or I'm the one who sometimes invites my good friends. But i don't HAVE to go out every night, nor will I go out of my way to go partying. Come to think of it, I'm growing tired for the whole clubbing scene, it was fun at first, but now I prefer to just have a drink in the Belgian equivalent of a pub with friends.

So in short, Yes I like being alone, but sometimes I do go out with friends .

 

[ninjaRiv]

I never really developed the ability to communicate with people very well. I get by in life as the comedian of the group! So while I guess I do crave company, I'm mostly a loner (not by choice).

 

[Creator002]

I'm pretty much the same. Even when I hang out with friends, it's usually at their house playing video games. I used to go out a lot, but then I got a gaming PC. Now I see my friends on a, at most, bi-weekly basis.

 

[Kevlar Eater]

Friends tend to leave me and not invite me out. Either I'm a pretty shitty or boring person or they just don't think I'm important enough.
I'd like to be invited out, it's just nobody does. I'm not a loner by choice, it's just what I'm used to.

Then they really aren't friends if they want nothing to do with you. Those are what I would call "strangers with known names". If I were you, I'd cut them out of my life; then again, they probably wouldn't have noticed and if they did, they would not care.

*topic* I'm used to being alone. I'm a generally horrible human of sorts, but I'm considerate enough not to plague others with my presence.

 

[Timberwolf0924]

Some would say I'm a loner, but I have a unique ability to draw people to me. I'll go hang at a friends house, or at the local bar to pick up a girl now and then. But usually my buddies and I end up at my place, playing Xbox or Playstation or if they have their own laptop LoL.

 

[Dandark]

Yep. Im a loner, I don't really know anyone outside of close family very well and have nobody I would consider a friend in this country. I get really nervous when in the company of strangers so I hate socializing and never go out to parties or any kind of social event.
The only people I usaully talk to or feel comfortable around outside of my family are a few of my friends on Skype who live on the other side of the planet.

Im happy with it though. I usaully prefer being on my own most of the time. If I have to wait at the airport for a plane then I would rather wait on my own for an hour than wait with other people, I go out of my way to avoid talking to anyone.

 

[The Funslinger]

I'd say liking solitude is as far from a sociopath as you can get you'll never find a bonofide sociopath who has no friends, sociopathy is very very vague in terms of diagnosis even my shrink has his doubts.

This person gets it.

*diagnosed sociopath* It's one of those things where there's a mountain of associated symptoms, but I doubt all of them apply to any one person. I have the whole charm thing, I can manipulate people incredibly easily, and lie detectors don't work on me. Personally, I'm not sadistic and don't seek out willing victims. I have emotions, but I can shut them down at the drop of a hat. Basically, I'm awesome.

ANYWAY! Of my group of nerd friends, I'm easily the most outgoing. I'll happily go to parties as long as there's at least a small percentage of people I know, whereas a lot of my friends wouldn't want a load of strangers there.

I find peace in being alone, and I used to prefer it, but now if I don't interact with people on a regular basis, I feel sort of socially starved.

 

[Sean Hollyman]

I'm not too good at making new friends, but I'm generally alright with just sort of drifting over to my already friends, and becoming friends with their friends, if that makes sense..

 

[deathninja]

While I am generally an introvert, I do have a small, close group of friends I'm in regular contact with, my studies tend to make it hard to meet people outside of my research group anyway.

 

[White-Death]

I have an extremely small core group of friends, who I very rarely see.
I love the peace that solitude and loneliness brings,and the feeling that I can think or do anything I want but very quietly.
I lack the proper skill to actually talk to people properly and meet people properly, I talk very quietly, tend to say ''um'' after every second word, and my mind sometimes trails off, leaving me haveing no solid memory of what I was talking about.
I do tend to unqillingly make friends, but with minimal speech, simply by sharing interests, but that's about it.the main core friends I knew for many years only surfaced as they were the freind making type.
I'm not very friendly, and when I do get a decent trail of words going, I tend to...'accidentally' insult everyones intelligence and personality, calling out many flaws in those people,and seem to enjoy, it, and I do.
I just get a rush when critisising things while not randomly ranting and raving pointless bullshit, but using proper facts usually discovered at the spur of the moment.
Basically, I'm a shy,anti-social introverted, jerkwad cynic and I love it.

 

[David Bjur]

Man I find it terrible that I find this thread amusing. There has always been gamers who claim that the stereotype of gamers being loners is not accurate, and then one of these threads pops up. It's kind of depressing in a way.
This is one of the reasons I don't define myself as a gamer, the definition of a gamer is so sad but true so I'm glad that I don't fit into the description.

OT: Nah, I got a whole bunch of friends, I live in a house far out of town but whenever I'm in town I try to spend as much time as I can there with my friends. When I think about it, almost everyone I have ever met has liked me and the few who did dislike me later got to know me so they realized that I'm a pretty nice guy.
It's not hard getting friends, you just have to take the first step.
Oh, and I love hanging out with strangers too, it's kind of mysterious, kind of like Skyrim, you never know what will be hiding behind the next hill.