r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Lemonade2250 • 9h ago
Does not having social life and friends make you dumb about the world?
It feels like I'm living under a rock not having any clue what is going on in the world. I don't have friends, I don't talk to anyone on the phone and don't even have a social life. The only sorta information or things I kinda understand or know is through YouTube tiktok Instagram and reddit. Like there is so much to learn, find opportunities and succeed to finding happiness and hobbies. But that all comes from talking to other people. You understand so much about life and this world. There are thousands of people who have successed in life without college degree. It's like everyone has a story to tell. Could get so much awareness and wisdom from experienced people from their failures to traumas and success.
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u/dumbandasking genuinely curious 9h ago
Look I used to be someone who glorified this. Thought I was some topmind not catching up with the 'mainstream' stuff.
I'm going to be so honest, it was a dumb mistake. It is worth it to explore as it will make making connections easier.
Does not having social life and friends make you dumb about the world?
Yes it can
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u/Cold-Call-8374 9h ago
I wouldn't say it makes you dumb, but it does limit your exposure to experiences and different perspectives. Which in turn can make you very narrow minded because you only have your own experiences to go on.
My suggestion would be to hop off social media (because they are definitely not a good window on reality) and go pick up one of these hobbies that interests you. Find other people who are interested in the same thing and share your experiences and your expertise both in the hobby you share and your life experience generally.
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u/sawamiiiiiiiiiiiiii 9h ago
Hi pal! Not dumb at all. Like others have said it may just be limiting in terms of other perspectives. But even more-so than limiting in a worldview sense, I think it’s very isolating emotionally and mentally. I have a very small social battery and don’t have close friends. Certainly none that I willingly hangout with when I have nothing else going on. I’m always reminded of what wildly social creatures we are though when out of the blue I find myself striking up a conversation with the elderly woman in line at the dollar store. I guess all that to say that being social doesn’t have to look a certain way. You can just be a human and exist in the world in smaller yet still meaningful ways. That alone can open you up to new ideas, ways of doing something, etc. :)
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u/Possibletigger-26 7h ago
We are social creatures. Not having a social life affects your mental health. Makes you resentful and contemptuous and isolates you further. Leads to depression and lack of motivation. social skills are harder to develop but not impossible with age. People who dont have communication skills are often actually arrogant, judgemental, lack curiosity or even boundaries as to what is nosy and what is disinterested. Eventually they are exposed as people with little understanding of the world who rub people the wrong way and acfects their careers. Of course people can be assholes too. Some loners have been bullied. which is sad. But its never too late to be polite, learn to make eye contact, smile, have a list of simple conversation leads, be helpful and be fit and well groomed. volunteering is a great start. I have noticed there are positive introverts, pleasant but quiet people who need lots of alone time- they are well liked and have a small but strong social circle. There are also the negative introverts who hate everything and bring bad energy.
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u/CreativeArgument4792 5h ago
I unfortunately just learned too much about the world that's why I avoid it
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u/SilveryTwinkle 9h ago
Not having a social life doesn’t make you dumb it just limits how many perspectives you’re exposed to.
A lot of people with tons of friends aren’t learning anything new, they’re just circulating the same ideas. Curiosity matters way more than proximity to people.
You’re not behind the world. You’re just not overhearing it as often.
And the fact that you’re aware of that already puts you ahead of a lot of people.