User "I have a lot of people I get on with but I rarely use the word "friend" as I just don't trust people nowadays, and no one seems to care as much as I do."
That sentence really resonated with me.
Until about 3 weeks ago, I mentioned being lonely quite often on here. What had happened was some people I thought were close friends vanished because of life changes - some lockdown related but in the "good" way, they no longer have to commute etc.
Funnily enough, I was approached by one wanting to reunite....and I just can't. No hard feelings. I just don't want to.
I do get a sense of the landscape having changed for everyone post lockdown but I also think there are social and cultural issues linked to the internet, the overcrowding in areas like mine, the rise of tech and other factors increasing stress levels.
Sadly, politics is an issue. I have lost touch with people because though I keep quiet about my views, I know they would dislike some of them, I am certainly viewed as a coconut or whatever. It feels like a ticking time bomb when you know you hold a view that someone else really abhors.
For me personally, my former friend approaching me brought some closure to a lonely period. I no longer feel alone. I don't want half hearted "friendships".
I do still have people who I think would help in an emergency and I help others locally too. i get on with a lot of people and I walk down the high road and always see people I know that I chat to. That's actually a lot to be grateful for.