Loneliness May Be Catching

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..who believes in the scientific method and Cartesian logic, this study makes me realize just how lonely I truly am.
But no fear - the mother of fools is always pregnant. The authors of this 'study' will *never* be alone.

Mallard Quacken of MA 10:12AM December 02, 2009

Just more crap coming down the pipe. Global warming research is being proven to be total crap, funded with our tax dollars, now we're paying some out of work egghead to sit around being lonely and dream up ways to make a quick buck off the US taxpayers without really contributing anything other than this crap. Looks like the same crap we had with the last administration, so much for "hope and change", just more deadbeats receiving federal grants to perform make believe research.

bigjim048 of IN 9:47AM December 02, 2009

Loneliness is not contagious. If someone is lonely, it is because they are not communicating or bonding with other people. This loneliness stems from NOT being around others. Therefore, it is not probable that they would spread it to friends. They would not be lonely around other people, unless there was some other issue going on, such as not enjoying or connecting with these supposed friends. Of course, an increase in lonely people would increase that number further, as people would not be around others. If I have two friends, but do not go out often, I am lonely. As they see me less, they grow a little lonely themselves. When they see me, my loneliness will show as I feel no connect to them. They will feel lonelier as they seem to have lost a friend. This is not a medical discovery; it is basic human social interaction.
At least, that is how it seems to me.

NicNotorious of FL 9:18AM December 02, 2009

this article sounds like a bunch of horse manure. does not take, or least indicates, into consideration that these people may be very busy, work, families etc or a bad neighborhood. nor is there any mention of the those people psychological or economical situations. some people would rather be left alone than have to deal with everyone's elses problems.

Keith of CT 8:54AM December 02, 2009

"A new study suggests that..."
If by "new" you mean 5 months old.

SAm of IL 8:51AM December 02, 2009

Yes, shrinks have to put the whole world on the pills. Um, hello! It is called introversion - no need for fake and superficial and barely-know-them friends.

Leo of AL 8:35AM December 02, 2009

The assumption that lonliness is a disease needs to be challenged. Is friendliness also a disease so that clingy people catch clinginess from other infected clingies?

John B of CO 8:34AM December 02, 2009

Lonely people gravitate toward other lonely people because the other lonely people have time to integrate them into their lives and do things with them.
If we befriend people with lots of friends, activities, husbands and families--where is the time to integrate another new friend. If you want to go out for coffee, it's silly to choose someone who is fully booked!
Best thing for us to do is find activities that permit alone people to do -- gym classes, Adult Ed, volunteering, etc., not to find friends (which is more possible if you aren't home alone--but a lousy goal), but to be at one with our aloneness.

lonelyinseattle of NJ 5:59AM December 02, 2009

If phsychologists actually discovered the answer to human spiritual sickness, then they'd all be out of work. LOVE. Now, all phsychologists can retire. With love, we'll no longer need drugs, ciggarettes and alchohol, fancy material gadgets,obsession with death/violence, overindulgence ect.Oops! I just destroyed half the U.S. economy.

j smith of VA 3:34AM December 02, 2009

I have also noticed, especially among close groups of female friends of the same age and background/professional stature, that if the several of them are in unhappy relationships or just unhappy, they will try to influence the one(s) in a happy relationship to find flaws and cause a breakup.
This is just my personal observation but wonder if others have similar observations.
ImranAnwar

Imran Anwar of NY 2:50AM December 02, 2009