To want to just avoid people as much as I can until I die now

Nope! I hate people too. I work in retail; seriously why is everyone so entitled and wish rules to be bent for them over the silliest of things. My usual reply is well I could help you out and not be a jobsworth, however I would get the sack and I have bills to pay.
i am seriously considering moving to the Shetland isles. Apparently there are more sheep than people and I could happily live with that. Some dwellings have no electricity, no gas even no water supply? So be it. If it meant I didn’t have to ask a person do you need a carrier bag at least 6 times before they look up from their phones and acknowledge me ok!
Also has anyone noticed that people no longer want to drive on the left hand or right hand side of the road? That’s too easy, it’s right down the middle now…..

I deeply dislike most people these days but I'm not at all miserable, thank you very much. I'm very happy with my life and the close family and friends that are in it. I'm known at the "fun" one because, despite living with a chronic, crippling illness, I'm very cheerful and love a laugh. But I don't like most other people because they're judgemental (your comment being a prime example), inconsiderate, self-centered, bigoted and generally unpleasant for the most part. That doesn't make me miserable, it means I'm discerning! Quality over quantity any time!

Because you are part of the masses? I love how everyone here is firmly convinced that other people are the problem, but never you!

I'm in my 60's and I would happily never see anyone ever again apart from my very close family and a couple of very good friends! I deeply dislike most people, face to face or online, these days; they're rude, disrespectful, hateful, angry, bigoted, and mostly self-entitled, not to mention sorely lacking in common sense and any semblance of intelligence. Why would anyone in their right might want to engage with the masses?

That doesn;t sound good, hope you're ok

I think as you age your circle shrinks smaller and tolerance for stress , bullshit and drama is limited . As you age you just was a quiet stress free life . I'm happy to avoid a lot of people to achieve it .

It’s their life to live as they wish…surely.
We are not all the same.

You have one life people! Don't waste it hiding away from everything and everyone.

With you. I have 3 close friends I'm happy to see regularly and just want to walk my dog and avoid everyone else. Happy to have no more holidays and just live quietly and be left in peace. Driving feels practically feral at times and is my main stressor atm.

I have literally had it with people and I hope I die sooner rather than later.

Gordon Bennett what a miserable lot you are I'm outgoing and love having interaction with other people bikers at the events we go to, customers and fellow volunteers and staff at the charity shop i work at, my OH is the quiet type if I only saw him every day i would be climbing the walls with boredom the cats are not exactly good at conversation and i am old

couldnt agree more.

What events? The world is looking much better with a brighter future thanks to the US

I volunteer with a charity and some of the members haven't seen 80 for several years. They are lively, sociable and do so much for other people. I'm sure they are like this because they don't spend their days vegetating.

Just an observation of mine. Older family, going back in time for eg, when they took to avoiding people, wanting to stay home, get home asap as their overriding preference do age quickly from there on. We have a friend now, 62 years old, went this way only 2 years ago but now has lost his intellect somewhat but gp says no sign of dementia, has lost all ambition and is happy to whittle his life away with the cat and some books. As for older family, the ones that kept doing things, going out (ie excursions and travel rather than at night drinking) are the ones that got to 90 years old. I also have a cousin, just retired school teacher who was going to travel and could afford it with teacher pension + state pension, developed inertia and has done nothing in the 5 years since other than sit in the house watching TV and patting the cat. Has no interest in freinds, family or the outside world. She has declined enormously physically and intellectually in that time span. Her older sibling, carried on doing things like travel and socialising and now looks younger than her and is much brighter to talk to.

Why are all these people who hate other people going in shops? I never do, I shop almost exclusively online and only pop into a local shop if I can stand it on any given day. No need to go in restaurants, get a WFH job, don't go on buses, drive yourself. It's not even that hard. On a societal level, it's not healthy, research shows that, but for any individual, it's the chance they take when they isolate themselves, but it's not compulsory at all to be around others these days.

It's like the people who go on the weight loss injection threads to moan about weight loss injections when they don't have to use them!

Learning from recent experiences I would agree

Assumed most bullies stopped after school.
Then I joined the PTA ( not actually called that at our old school ) and was bullied by a bunch of mums. I was the treasurer, they didn’t like being told they were spending more than we had.
Name calling, hate, shouting at me…..tears!

So I experienced bullying in adulthood and after joining MN, sorry, I’ve noticed some people can be really unkind to others. Grown adults. I know, I should have known this. I’m amazed at the lack of understanding of democracy and the lack of empathy. Some people think it’s their way or no way.
What happened to understanding, to seeing other points of view.

So OP
Im with you
I wouldn’t shut myself away but I’m done with bullies. I will no longer smile and put up with it. They show their true selves and they are out.
I’m Keeping to the good friends I have and family around me for self preservation and im happy.

need to keep away from potentially contentious mn threads though. That’s work in progress.

I moved to a remote area.
I also live on a hill so I can see anyone that's coming from miles away and appear to be not in.
I try to remind myself that most people are good but after 44 years in the NHS, I'm just jaded.
It's blooming wonderful and the slight trek to M&S foodhall is more than compensated for by the abdolute tranquility and certainty of no unexpected visitors!

Absolutely agree.
Concerning to think the modern world has had such a detrimental affect on the young.

I'm 50 years old, and have seen alot of changes (and been through a fair bit) over the years.
Ex counsellor, now training to be an actor. Hence, all people are of great fascination to me, regardless.

Having said that, self preservation is vital. I do find i choose my friends very carefully these days.

In many ways social media has done alot of damage.

It's fine if one wants to live that way, but as you say, becomes selfish when stopping others living a sociable life.

Those kods they want to keep at home will grow up and want to explore the world.
They'll want to have parties, meet people, travel etc.
Then some of the hermits will be upset not to be invited to weddings or involved in other group settings.

I love my own company, but no need to feel superior about it.
People prefer different things, why can't people enjoy their choice without attacking others.

Words have meaning, and the meaning of words matters (imagine taking that approach with every word in the dictionary - we'd all be speaking gibberish) 🤷‍♂️

I understand and I agree with what she is saying.

I have been saying how much I despair of the human race for a long time now. It seems that the privileged and selfish people outnumber the kind and and good people by a long way. Good to hear it's not just me or my age.

I'll admit I never understand people that just want to isolate themselves with just their children. What an utterly lonely miserable life for all involved, surely no one believes that's a healthy way to live. I can't imagine living a life where I modelled to my children that they shouldn't bother with friends, that they shouldn't make any connections outside of their immediate family. That they should just live their life isolated from everyone apart from their immediate family and they couldnt trust anyon. I'd feel I'd totally failed as a parent and failed my children if that's how they were brought up in this world.

I love being around people. I couldn't imagine not having friends in my life and the fun that this brings and the richness this brings.

If you don't like being challenged to be better then feel free to retreat back to the comfort of your sofa.