America's Loneliness Crisis Deepens as Work Friendships Fade in Remote Era

axios.com

3 pointsAstroJetson5 comments

Is it easier or harder to make friends with coworkers? Or are lots of people relieved that they don't need to "make friends"

Just speaking for myself here (maybe I'm a sociopath); I would be "friends" with my coworkers because it was the expected decorum. In-office I don't want to be anyone's friend; I want to get stuff done. I appear friendly in the office because it is the expectation and much easier than trying to isolate myself. Remotely, the tables are turned; it's trivial to isolate myself, and I have no expectations of fraternizing with my coworkers.

If you are so lonely that your coworkers are your only meaningful support network, that's a sign you need more friends.

So, how would one find these friends by removing one of the few situations where a diverse group of people are being forced to interact with one another?

It really is funny. You talk about school and college like “I go to school to study, not make friends” and you would be laughed at. Somehow this is the exception. More like cope for people who don’t know how to talk to people they see every day.

Weird statement. Some of the best work relationships I've ever had were in a remote setting.

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