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

[OptimismvsRealism]

Sure there are still some great people out there but most are awful stressful thick rude shovey mean argggg

Friends can still come to me but no outside

To be completely honest, there are times when I wonder whether, if given the choice, I would push the button and pull up the drawbridge to everyone - spouse, kids, family, friends, the lot.

That isn't a euphemism for suicide. Just leaving the phone off the hook and enjoying me time.

But I find you still have to engage with people if you want to eg exercise.

What kind of crazy exercise moves are you planning? Jumping Jacks and a burpee you’ll be laughing. Again, the internet is
your friend. Google work outs at home. Word to the wise, some have instructors that speak to you - yuk!

Yep I want to move somewhere where the weather is warm all year round so the DH and DS and we can only have visitors twice a year. Oh yeah and the phone only works on a Tuesday

@tachetastic when I had young children, I went on a retreat and left them all behind for a couple of weeks, it was great. It can be done, everyone got on fine without me and I had a bit of headspace.

Just leaving the phone off the hook and enjoying me time.

I heard a story about that on Radio 4. She ended up in a prison in Marrakesh for drug muling with lots of me time that she thoroughly enjoyed. I shit you not

What's stopping you? Some of those things are easily available. I have a landline, a calendar, a diary. I read newspapers, send postcards, write letters, I even use a film camera. If I want great TV I watch DVDs, I still listen to CDs.

No-one is forced to use technology all the time, you can pick and choose the bits you use.

I was sat on the staffroom at work the other day, quietly enjoying a peaceful half hour with fellow quiet, peace-loving colleagues when a gobby loudmouthed arse crashed through the door and bellowed, "who died?? It's like a morgue in here!!!'

Oh just feck off Andrea! It's you and your kind that makes me want to stay well away from communal areas for ever more.

Or you can play tennis

Against a wall

I'm sure that will be fun and stimulating. I'm sure the wall will motivate you to be better as an athlete and a person.

I have misanthropic tendencies and frequently feel like I "hate everyone" but that's not a healthy way of thinking, those are moments of frustration and it's better to snap out of it. The older I get the more I realise so many people are so great. Community and human bonds are just more fulfilling than atomised isolation. But you have to actually put in the work to find the bonds that work for you.

So I sympathise, to an extent, with people who just want to retreat into isolation. It's a bit nauseating when they make an exception for their little family though. So it's not blissful solitude you want, you just think you and your husband and kids just happen to be superior to everyone else.

If my work had tried to make me work from home (difficult when you are a receptionist!) I would have lost my mind. The only good things about working for me were being paid (obviously) and interacting with other people. WFH is going to ruin society.

Was just thinking this today, speaking to the only ones in my life apart from my kids - my dogs

Well

My life before WFH wasn't great so honestly it's a sacrifice I'd make (but I think most people will adapt)

She sounds depressed rather than unhinged to me, but she insists she is not, so there we are.

I'm still enjoying it - I'm supposed to be working out!

I get where OP is coming from. I became very reclusive after covid because people were so aggressive. There are definitely some rude and smelly dickheads out there but even I have to concede most people are OK or even very nice when you talk to them.

What I'm confused about though is why OP started this thread when she seems to just be getting irritated/talking down to people and also why she'd go to restaurants if she hates people and food smells.

Most people are boring
Next biggest group are horrible
Then there are sound people who are a great addition to life

By my age (43) you've got enough of group 3 to ride you over

So it's a no to 1 and 2 thanks

Sounds like you'll be a profound loss to society

Take the car
Shop online
Order takeaways

Oh yes, you're so interesting aren't you

Belong to a choir? No
A sport you do seriously? No
Volunteer for a charity? No

Go onto the internet and tell everyone you hate people in your spare time, yes

YABU. I thought I would love this and then nearly lost my mind during the covid lockdowns, so now know that doesn't work for me after a week or two of blissful near-solitude.

A choir?????????

Me and DH are back watching "old" programmes like one foot in the grave and only fools and I'm so nostalgic. No phone, no internet, family vibes, life seems so much simpler. Bliss. Absolutely our goal as soon as possible is to move somewhere isolated (v.northern Scotland). I don't like meeting people outside of my immediate bubble apart from being polite. I don't like big social gatherings any more, don't like making small talk at work do's. Don't care if I'm unsociable, I consider it not my fault as most people these days are arseholes 🤣

Also your friends aren't very good if they're enabling you to be like this

Please only come to my house if we're going to see each other, wow, that sounds great. I'd love a friend like that. I'd jump at the opportunity to take the time out to travel over so you can tell me how much you hate people.

Well how can you do something as nourishing to the spirit like singing with others if you hate them and they smell huh?

I generally like people- I find most pretty nice tbh! However....I have, for the past 12 months been working with individuals (for free - I get paid by the public sector). Although I absolutely work my socks off for these individuals and go the extra mile for them, they very, very rarely show any thanks at all. A simple "thank you" would go a long way. (Im not in healthcare and work with well people)