Does anyone else not really have any friends?

That can happen to anyone. With any circumstances.

You could be the last one alive out of all your friends and/or family, your dc could just not bother with you, your DH will probably die before you do. Many people end up alone in old age.

I actually think that maybe someone not used to being alone, who perhaps relied on others but finds themselves with noone, would be more vulnerable as they are yearning for that connection still.

Us old jaded harpies, who hate being used and tired of everyone's shit long ago, will be just fine.

Exactly, most of my oldest and closest friends don’t live near me some not even in the country but I’m still very close to some of them. Far closer than the ones I see more regularly due to proximity. Even when I did live in the city with most of my friends I still didn’t see some a lot as I do freelance work a lot of weekends and they have kids etc. but they are definitely not just acquaintances.

but the question wasn't about close friends? Just any friends at all.
And the poster I replied to seemed to be suggesting friendship groups were a myth invented by TV.

People's definitions of what a 'close' friend is vary but I think it's fairly normal for people not to expect to have hundreds of very close, know everything about you, go on holiday together, trust you with their life, see you every week, can't live without you friendships. Who would have the time?

But I don't understand why the threshold has to be so high. Just because I wouldn't trust someone to bury a body for me at 3am and don't know all their deepest darkest secrets doesn't mean they don't add value to my life.

If you like those 100 people and spend time with them (doesn't matter how often) on a social basis (i.e. not work, any time of voluntary interaction) then what's wrong with calling them friends?

Same here. It doesn't really get easier does it?

I don’t have any because I don’t make an effort to have any. I don’t really want any. I work in a public facing role and spend all day being nice to people. Tbh I’m all peopled out by the time I get home.

When we are old and frail and alone

Medically retired from work with live at home uni aged children and no partner. I was quite ill the year or leading to COVID lockdowns and my social life never really gained any momentum after.

Had a great social before that groups of friends from school, work and "mummy" friends. Life changes I can't keep up now don't have the energy or funds really, sometimes I miss it but I'm learning to enjoy my own company.

I get that feeling too - and sometimes wonder if I am missing out - but remember from my late teens being part of a v close group (sex and the city friendship group level) and finding it stifling with my friends getting together to talk about and modify each-others behaviour when it didn't fit with how they saw the group.
I eventually started to pull away so I could be myself more, but got constant pressure from my previously best friends talking to people around me and asking them to press me to go back to how things were, so I cut off contact in my early 30s.
I'm now in my mid 40s and sometimes strike up new friendships with but rarely keep them going as I don't want to be stuck again.
TLDR - those big friendship groups aren't always all they are made out to be.

Do you like having no friends? Are you happy with your life? I'm genuinely interested to know.

I have 1 good friend and our personality's are totally different, they live really far away, they're a guy and more of a big brother to me as I've known them since being a teenager and they were friends with my older friends of the time. They're now probably better friends with my partner than myself.

I feel like the most unlikeable person in the world sometimes but I've had so much happen in my life it's too much to fully open up and disclose to someone in real life. I have nothing in common with the people who live near me and people I want to get to know have friends already and don't have time for me.

All my grown up children have loads and loads of friends and are sympathetic about my three friends. I wish I had more friends but I'm an introvert and really struggle with new relationships. It's a self fulfilling prophecy though. I'm out of practice at making friends because it makes me anxious so it's easier not to make an effort so I never get any better.

im interested in how you can have no friends! You probably have more than you think! I moved about 8 years ago around 500 miles. I still visit the place I moved from a couple of times a year and keep in touch with friends so I have my school, uni, and work friends from there. Here I have friends I met at work, school mum friends, mum friends from when DD was born, DH’s friend group etc. I’m a natural introvert so most friends are initiated by others.

Exploited by who?

We don't talk to anyone 😁

Horribly insensitive post. People who suffer with poor mental health for one. They're trying to get through life as best they can, when even bathing or brushing teeth can feel impossible to complete. It's never through " carelessness " or not being arsed. Surprisingly, friends fall by the wayside when due to anxiety you can't just easily pick up the phone for a casual chat, or agoraphobia means you physically can't leave the house to grab a coffee.

I have a group of 7 friends, and two other groups of 3 and 5. I put a lot of effort into maintaining these friendships-All of us do. These are friendships of 20 plus years.

I have quite a lot of friends but I have always avoided huge groups as prefer one to one or small groups. I do belong to a women hiking group and I sign up for the small walks not the 20 plus ones.

I don't really have friends I see from one week to the next. I have a small group of friends from sixth form college I see a couple of times a year. We are spread all over England and one lives in Scotland. We generally don't contact each other unless it's to arrange a weekend together where we meet at one person's house (off to Scotland tomorrow for the weekend for a catch up) or to wish each other happy birthday. My husband and I met at uni and meet up a couple of times a year with another couple we met there, but we live about 2 hours drive away from them. I have people from work I am friendly with, but we don't generally meet up outside of work. I'd like a proper friend but working and having a family gets in the way. I'm quite a private person which doesn't help and I do enjoy my own company.

What will happen to us friendless types when we get old and there is no one to make sure we are looked after and not exploited?

Nope me neither.

I've moved around the UK too much and have got tired of making new friends each time. This is the sixth time in 18 years and I've failed to make a local friend in 5 years. It was easier when DC were toddlers as I forced myself to various activities for them and made friends through that.

Now they're older teens and the parents all avoid each other like the plague 😅

Although I'm quite happy with my DH and my DM being my only friends, it does make me feel quite vulnerable at times tbh.

Well of course, it’s good for people who don’t see people in IRL to have discussions online instead.

I have none either BTW, had none at school or uni (didn’t go out once at uni either, lived at home with my mum) so as a previous poster said I must be screwed.

The thoughtfulness and paying for things is why I now have 2 friends I decided I was done with that and kept the 2 tho reciprocated best decision! I hope you find the people you deserve.

I have none at all.

My social life never really recovered from me dragging myself out of the gutter. I had a huge group of friends, until I didn't want to do drugs anymore. Or be the one who always had to drive/pay for things. Or be the one carefully choosing gifts for friends special occasions, but everyone else forgot about my 18th birthday. (Edited to add, also my 21st).

I've just never really connected with anyone since, though it's probably my own fault for being closed off. I just don't trust people much anymore.

To be honest, having no friends is better than having fake ones that are happy to use you when needed.

What a helpful response. Nasty cow

I don’t. I’m close to a couple if work colleagues but don’t see them outside of work. DSis and I like the same music so we go to festivals and concerts together. Like I told DH when he was taking the piss because I have no friends “I don’t really want any, they expect you to do stuff…..like leave the house” 😂

😢 no one is too awkward to fit in. You haven't found your tribe yet.

I have absolutely none. I tried when we moved here, but I gave up eventually. I’m just too awkward and don’t fit in.

I wfh so I don’t even have coworkers that I might have lunch with.