Online or offline. News keeps reporting about loneliness and disconnection, but in my experience it’s just that it’s harder to interact with people in a civil way because they are so hostile, angry, and arrogantly convinced their viewpoints and experiences are the only legitimate ones.
Not to mention the lack of civility towards servers and other service workers. I can’t recall if I was just indifferent 10 years ago, but on a almost daily basis it blows my mind how openly rude many people are to servers and such, which seemed like a much more rare thing when I was younger.
No. I think people are more fearful now thanks to too much news. The world changes very slowly.
We change far faster.
I chat with strangers all the time. Airport, work, grocery store, wherever. I have never had anyone do anything more than have a very short conversation signaling that they weren’t interested. Polite but clear, so I don’t persist.
Nobody has ever said anything rude to me or been shitty.
Humans are social animals, even those self-proclaimed introverts. Everyone need social time, even if it is only with a small group for a short duration. Most people enjoy it, don’t believe the bs that society at large is crumbling and people are mean.
Fwiw, am a guy, short, not horrible looking but not special. I am good at making stupid jokes for most any situation. That seems to put people at ease.
You’ve got it backwards. The world changes very quickly. People don’t.