I was watching our Minister for Loneliness on TV earlier. I hadn't realised we had one.

I can't decide whether the fact that we do is:

(a) lovely
(b) scary
(c) a sign of collective insanity

Loneliness is a killer, I still think widowers have it worst off than widows.

Women are more social creatures than men.

My partner only has to go the rest room and she is discussing make up and clothes with random women washing their hands.

She evens asks women where they got a dress or top from that they wearing.

Green Man wrote:
Loneliness is a killer

Certainly can be but does it need a Minister?

It seems to me that loneliness is the result of fractured communities, familial and civic bonds. If we are to do anything to address it then radical action is needed. Mindsets will need to be changed, relatives cared for in family homes that are too small and both adults need to work. Pubs re opened . People persuaded off their phones and into community centres. People will need to bid people a good morning again passing on the street instead of pretending the other person doesn't exist. Neighbours will need to get to know one another again. Xenophobic hatred and fear of immigrants changed to warm hearted care . Young adults (they are the loneliest I have read) no longer demonized. The media will need to cease sowing hatred and pandering to stereotypes, report news not create zero sum argument sensations. Stop making people too scared to connect.

I fear our no doubt well meaning Minister really understands the size of his task: change everything about the way we live now to create a society of loving hearted inter-connectedness.

Green Man wrote:
Loneliness is a killer, I still think widowers have it worst off than widows.

Women are more social creatures than men.

My partner only has to go the rest room and she is discussing make up and clothes with random women washing their hands.

She evens asks women where they got a dress or top from that they wearing.

How do you know what your wife does in the ladies toilets?

I don't I have ever discussed make up or clothes in toilets in my whole life, though I expect some do.

The reason loneliness is recognised by the government is because of the major problems it causes - for example, to mental health.

Modern day life (with the internet etc.) is often remote and impersonal, and lonely people frequently seek NHS assistance.

Community life, in many places, is long gone - and the difficulties can be made worse by economic factors, during these austere times.

Honey wrote:
Green Man wrote:
Loneliness is a killer, I still think widowers have it worst off than widows.

Women are more social creatures than men.

My partner only has to go the rest room and she is discussing make up and clothes with random women washing their hands.

She evens asks women where they got a dress or top from that they wearing.

How do you know what your wife does in the ladies toilets?

I don't I have ever discussed make up or clothes in toilets in my whole life, though I expect some do.

Because she told me.

Jean 98 wrote:
The reason loneliness is recognised by the government is because of the major problems it causes - for example, to mental health.

Modern day life (with the internet etc.) is often remote and impersonal, and lonely people frequently seek NHS assistance.

Community life, in many places, is long gone - and the difficulties can be made worse by economic factors, during these austere times.

One my sister's live in close however none of the neighbour's speak to each other. All my good neighbours have left the country or selling up whilst they get good prices.

If they are going to build more houses near me then I will move. I can't stand too many people these days. They are my pet hates. However a gentleman near me always says "Hello" when he walks his dog near my house.

However I wouldn't want him round for afternoon teas.

Social clubs are on the demise, pubs are closing and there's no such thing as a cheap pint these days in a good social club.

A lot of young people are stuck to their phones to even worry about proper dating. However, it's so easy to accused of rape or sexual assault these days.

Public transport is not cheap either so it's not like the hard-up can travel far. Even though bus fare's are cheap are 2 Pounds still; they will get expensive again in a couple of years time.

All modes of transport are public funded in Luxembourg, so you can just hop on a train or bus without paying for a ticket.

Senior citizen bowling teams are big in the U.S.


A lot of young people don't want to get married these days either or stay committed.

No decent bloke want's to be with woman who has had multiple partners nor would a woman want to be with a man slut.

I've felt lonely all my life..was a lonely child. Even among a group of pals I can feel lonely but I've come to like solitude despite being invited out socially.

What does the Minister actually do to combat loneliness which I believe in tough Britain can be a real social problem?.

Green Man wrote:
[quote]Jean 98 wrote:


However a gentleman near me always says "Hello" when he walks his dog near my house.

However I wouldn't want him round for afternoon teas.



Dear me no wonder people are lonely..
Invite him around for a cuppa one day GM. You may find he has a rare collection of Genesis records and you get on marvellously!

Worth linking this thread to the Sixth Commandment one!

hedda wrote:
I've felt lonely all my life..was a lonely child. Even among a group of pals I can feel lonely but I've come to like solitude despite being invited out socially.

What does the Minister actually do to combat loneliness which I believe in tough Britain can be a real social problem?.

You can always pop round for a cuppa when next in the UK Hedda!

I have not been successful in finding out what the Minister does. He publishes strategies, measures loneliness and hold meetings in the UK and with his Japanese counter part:

www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-message...loneliness-ministers

I think the problem is - like so many areas of public policy in the UK - that they look at the symptoms and not the causes.

The causes are too complicated and structural.

I really don't want to be glib as it is a real problem, and I remember moving on my own to London as a young man and being horribly lonely for a time...

But I can't find any real action; just presentation as usual here.

JK2006 wrote:
Worth linking this thread to the Sixth Commandment one!

I haven't seen it yet but am deginitely going to start it this evening.

Wyot wrote:
[quote]Green Man wrote:
Jean 98 wrote:


However a gentleman near me always says "Hello" when he walks his dog near my house.

However I wouldn't want him round for afternoon teas.



Dear me no wonder people are lonely..
Invite him around for a cuppa one day GM. You may find he has a rare collection of Genesis records and you get on marvellously!

Thing is Wyot, I have too many in my social circle.

Again you hear people befriending other people only to be taking a advantage off. They even lose their home to drug dealers or get bludgeoned to death like a trout on a fishing lake.

People are not swans or elephants or dolphins. Even though we could learn a lot from them!

As you know my good friend Tubs is now in very poor health due to cancer.

So I am putting things on the back burner to see him. Credit to him he wants to die at home with dignity no treatment or hospice.

He wants to be surrounded by peace and the fish tanks, not death. He gave away his possessions and money early. Tubs read out a list.

He didn't want people to argue over what is what over inheritance.

I had to fight tooth and nail to get my grandmother's silver plated little ornaments.

They are worth nothing apart from a few pence at a car boot. However they were promised to me. When I got them back my middle sister didn't talk to me for years.

Despite her having nearly all the antique and vintage jewellery. I wanted everything to be divided up equally, she didn't have favorite grandchildren nor did like rows. There was rows and my grandmother's will was challenged also.

Greed can cause breakups and loneliness Wyot.

I still think smartphones and horrible people is why people are wary one another.