stop inventing and endorsing divisive ideas

I was going to post this somewhere else, but I think this story fits.

An old guy approached me and said "put the music on my phone mann".

Alright.

My response: "Search on YouTube"

He keeps insisting on ME doing it for him.

3 steps

First his data was off. For presumably a while he's had his data off ( it's metro PCs so it's prepaid anyway) and I guess he was relying on WiFi.

Ok.

One click to fix that in the Android tile menu.

His Bluetooth was off too.

Turn that on. Turn on his headphones. Luckily it was already paired.

Finally I had to open YouTube and find music for him.

3 or 4 steps.

Now he's happily listening to music.

But beyond that, he got to introduce himself to me, and I guess the next time he accidentally turns off his data he can ask for help again.

I also like to help people.

Old people are awesome when it comes to this. They'll just ask someone to help them out, that's how you build community.

Don't know how to change your oil ? Cool Billy's a car guy he can help you out. Having trouble with your water pressure, maybe Sarah's a plumber and she can help.

Of course if something serious you're still going to be expected to pay these people, but if it's something quick they'll help you free of charge. Maybe you'll bake them a cake for their kids birthday.

I recall when I was young a neighbor basically gave my mom a car. It was an absolute piece of crap, and out of the goodness of his heart he would come and fix it every now and then.

I didn't realize it as a kid, but if you're passionate about cars and you get the emotional satisfaction of both helping a neighbor and seeing how long you can keep that old car running, that's its own reward.

How many of you would love for a non technical neighbor to say their computer is slow. I recall someone on HN even offering to send out a free laptop to someone in need.

Traditionally communities would have a blacksmith or a baker. That's what that person did and they had a status tied to it.

In modern economic systems what exactly we do is so abstracted away from anything meaningful we lack this connection.

On a very fundamental level people need to feel needed.

TLDR: Help others.

Make as many third places as you can. People need to get out to do other things than work, and these should be low cost activities. If you introduce subscriptions and then ramp up prices, then you are the scum of the world.

go outside, talk to people

i always thought I had avoided this issue. then i moved to a new town. starting with zero friends in a new town, with very little in place as far as shows, groups, etc, it seems quite a bit harder than it was 20 years ago. meetup used to work but it has become a cesspool of zoom calls and pay meetings. i wish i knew a really good answer (and i dont drink so bars dont have the appeal. by the time i get off of work coffee shops are closed)

i love people and do not want to be alone.

I have 2 answers to this, depending on how you define "loneliness epidemic"

Genuine loneliness, like what you described, can only really be solved by touching grass. Figure out your hobbies, or find one if you don't have any.

My answer to what a lot of people call "the male loneliness epidemic" as a woman is to say it doesn't exist, you need to figure out how to be attractive. We aren't throwing ourselves on shitty men, and most of the men that complain are complaining because they feel entitled to us and thus put no effort into being attractive. The quickest way to be attractive is have empathy and not be a douche. Listen to peoples needs, and don't feel entitled to our attention

Get a bike

Alcohol.

Church.

together