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

I agree

Is it a post-pandemic thing? I know a few people who have turned into anti-social hermits; ordering everything online, only interacting with people if it can absolutely not be avoided. Of course there are horrible people out there, but there are nice ones to. People need to practice their social skills and get out and about, or seek support as to why they feel so unable to.

That's a great story. I love ballet and Swan Lake is my favourite!

I am 52 and began a concerted effort after the pandemic to do exactly the same. It's working out pretty well for me. Yes, some people are flakes or just don't want more friends. But some people do. Can't tell unless one tries.

I am going to annoy OP even more by posting this completely unplanned interaction I had a few months ago. I went alone to see Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall as nobody else wanted to come with me or wasn't free. Got chatting with the woman next to me. She turned out to be the most fascinating person, a theatre and ballet buff ( like me), a person who likes going alone ( like me), a person enjoying her life after having reared children ( like me). We spent the whole break chatting and exchanging theatre reccos.

This is why I find most people fascinating and I prefer going through life this way, even if I am the problem! I can totally sympathise with those in a retail environment though.

@ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea

I think a lot of people get a weird thrill out of pretending to hate everyone. It’s a classic preemptive defence thing: I will diss you before you get a chance to diss me so I can avoid anyone thinking I am not likeable. It’s the only power they think they have.

Its as old as the hills, but a perfect storm of COVID and the internet has suddenly given people the opportunity to rebrand it as “being an introvert” in a desperate last gasp attempt to sound interesting.

I also find it worrying.

I told my therapist the other week that I understand people who go missing and start life over somewhere anonymous and just keep themselves to themselves.

I watched a man smoking and swigging from a can of Monster whilst sitting on a gravestone during the 2 min silence this morning and wondered what the world had come to. But there were also some 100 beautifully turned out young musicians, cadets, guides, scouts etc so I had a little word with myself about looking for the positive in people.

I’m a real extrovert and love being surrounded by people but there are definitely times when I need to retreat to a quiet place as I’m so peopled out. Recharge your social battery if you can and start again.

I totally agree - especially with WhoseACleverClogs. I find many people nowadays, mean, aggressive, greedy, artificial and simply hideous. I could go on but won’t. I’d like to hole up with my family away from all of them and spend time in nature - give me animals any day.

I agree. I'm on the antisocial side myself but OP just becomes more and more unpleasant with every post. Telling people they are part of the problem just because they don't hate everyone is hinging on gaslighting.

I don't think it's a joke.

I thought first off it was very sad, that OP was going through a very difficult time. Then I wondered if it's just that OP is ND and is struggling with the world as it is.

But no. I think there's a lot more unpleasantness in the way that OP is responding to people.

It is an odd, worrying thread though.

Sounds sensible to me.
When I was 50, I made a concerted effort to connect with the world outside. I joined clubs, took up activities etc. All I got out of it was more suffering.

I've been keeping myself to myself for over a decade. It's lovely.

@OptimismvsRealism

You sound upset... Perhaps because you know you're part of the problem?

Hang on…you say you want to go through life without ever interacting with people, you say people stink and you try to tell certain sorts of people they don’t have a right to post here and @SabreIsMyFave is the problem…OK then….

So you anyone who is open to the idea that not all people are bad is part of the problem?

Your logic is all over the place and I think you know this.

I think maybe it is best to avoid others. I'd hate to think you upset them.

I want my head to spin around and my eyes to come out on stalks, like him. That would get rid of most people.

I can deal with the world in small doses (1 hour a week max, preferably 1 hour spread over a month) the only saving graces with outside are dogs and cats and occasionally I will converse with their humans

I like people, I find them fascinating. If you feel like the above, it's unnatural. Maybe you need to change something in your life - your job, your friends, your contact with your family.

Life shouldn't be this miserable. You're probably overstressed and overwhelmed.

Agree! Just back from a holiday abroad where we had our own roof terrace for sun bathing, and just stayed up there reading and chilling, not mixing with anyone other than evening meals at local small restaurants. Absolutely heaven.

Is this a joke? You don't get to dictate who posts what and where on Mumsnet. Throwing your toys out of your pram because @Thepeopleversuswork posted a post that hit a raw nerve is not a good look. You sound petulant and bratty.

I completely agree. I have a real compulsion to live somewhere very isolated where I don't have to deal with people on a regular basis.

Have they changed?

@OptimismvsRealism

This space is for us, not you

This space is for everyone. The clue is in the name. It’s called Mumsnet, not Misanthropy.org. It’s a discussion thread and you sought opinions so you’re getting opinions, some in favour, some opposing. That’s how discussion works.

You don’t get to police the thread or cleanse it of non misanthropists, sorry.

I hope you weren’t trying to be funny OptimismvsRealism. Misanthropes aren’t really meant to crack jokes

I'm old but I'm with this! Even my old friends are flaky - people I've known for 50+ years 😢