I sure would. This sounds like a badass idea to me. Soeul opened 4 convenience stores where ppl are encouraged to chill, watch movies, low-level socialize or just sit there and exist with others.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgkrge6e0z4o
I think the key is that they’re giving out free ramen noodles. Who’s gonna turn down free stuff? It’s a great incentive to get people to go, especially people like me who are skeptical of social gatherings. But hey I would go for the free food and maybe hang for a movie.
South Korea has the 2nd highest suicide rate in the world, and researchers think it’s because they went from a traditional agricultural society to a high tech, hi stress rat race within the space of 1 generation. They think this led to a sudden decline in personal relationships, family, friends, community, etc.
Whatever the reason it’s interesting to see the government actually doing stuff. In the USA tons of money gets dumped into suicide prevention and mental health studies but all we get is a bunch of billboards and a phone line.
11 comments
Would you go to a loneliness cafe?
–Yes, I would. Doesn’t hurt to check it out. But you know, this is the USA- we are NOT known for doing smart things or having things that make sense. In the USA, they CREATE loneliness. Why? Bc ppl feeling bad is the BACKBONE to selling ppl stuff. Sad, depressed? Why, just take some happy pills! Or buy this thing, or buy that thing! America runs on ppl buying shit. The gravy train will end if the sadness/loneliness epidemic ends. So therefore it won’t end in the USA.
Yup America would never do this because there’s nothing to sell. All our suicide prevention measures amount to advertising. “Help is available” means buy this pill, pay that doctor, sign up for this therapist, etc. God forbid they’d create a safe space where we can relax and talk to others. Even sites like SP and other support forums are run by private individuals. The govt suicide prevention sites are just a wall of text and more advertising for the machine.
In the USA tons of money gets dumped into suicide prevention and mental health studies but all we get is a bunch of billboards and a phone line.
–Yeah, that’s bc we are #1 in corruption compared to other first world nations. All the money gets funneled to the rich. As usual.
I don’t know. I have a hard time with people. Even low level socializing is difficult for me unless there’s a point to it. I play Magic the Gathering at local game shops when I can but there are a lot of days where I don’t feel like going in. Socializing to socialize has always been a hard concept for me to wrap my head around .
Me too actually. But I would give it a shot, maybe force myself for a few days to see what happens.
About 2 miles from me there’s a monthly book reading thing at the local book shop. They usually get some local author to read a chapter, and people are encouraged to chill, browse or trade books. I haven’t had the guts to go. But maybe if it was specifically for depressed or suicidal people, I wouldn’t feel so intimidated. Also free food is a big incentive. Maybe not noodles but def free pizza would get my attention.
You should try it. I happened to walk by once when a book signing happened to be going on (saw a crowd and walked in). Lady spoke a bit (can’t remember what she said). Don’t even remember what book it was for lol- prolly something fiction that I don’t normally read. But it was actually kinda interesting, even if I had no idea what this book was about. People asked questions, she talked. It was some ppl attending, not TOO crowded like most book signings. I stuck around for some minutes just to see what it was. Glad I went. You should just go and check it out, and leave whenever you feel like it’s too much people-time. I mean, I didn’t have to interact with anyone- just stayed in a spot to listen for like 10-15min, then left. It was my first time going to a book signing and seeing a real life author (this was back when it was much harder to get published- there wasn’t Amazon or self-publishing back then).
Try it- tell yourself you’ll just check it out for a few min, then walk out. If you tell yourself to stick around for the whole book club, then like me, you’re less likely to go.
I’d like to think I’d socialize, but honestly, idk.
I feel like I get drained when I’m in a public setting for too long. Drained then flat out annoyed.
Unless I’m with some friends or I’m drunk or something and not really thinking about it?
Not sure.
“Drained then flat out annoyed. Unless I’m with some friends or I’m drunk or something”
Haha you just reminded me of how I really am. Yea I get drained/annoyed pretty fast. But one thing caught my eye in that article, the picture of people watching a movie. Some of the chairs & beanbags are set apart from the others so you don’t have to be close to anyone. I could handle that.
Get me drunk and I can handle anything. But I quit booze a couple years ago so that wouldn’t work. Hm I’m just now realizing my antisocial tendencies really took off when I quit drinking…
Right on, brother? sister? Glad you quit drinking.
I didn’t drink until I was about 27/28ish, and I honestly don’t care much for it all now.
I drink once every month or so, minus special occasions, which are rare.
Sometimes, if I drink multiple weekends in a row, I compensate by not touching any for a long while.
I’m on week 2 of my normal break, but I think I’ll try to hold out for a good while this time around. Try to focus on improving myself in some capacity.
If we share common interests, or if I feel you get me (common background, etc) it would be easier too, yeah. But yeah, I feel like we’d all be awkward & bumbling if the oppurtunity ever came about to meet irl.
lol I’m a bro (but not a “bro”). Thanks man, it’s been really hard giving up the sauce cold turkey. Ideally I’d like to get back to casual drinking, maybe an occasional drunk bender, but I’m still in that alcoholic mindset where 1 drink could set off the flood.
It sucks because 1 or 2 drinks really do loosen me up, and I’m suddenly a normal social friendly person, but without it I’m struggling to exist around people.
Another problem with cold turkey sobriety is that friends stop asking you to go out. Makes sense since most of their outings revolve around getting piss drunk. It just kinda sucks because I’ve lost most of my friends because I can’t join in any reindeer games :/
But thanks for the props, most people don’t understand how hard it is for an alcoholic/depressed/suicidal person to give up booze, but it sounds like you get it.
“Some of the chairs & beanbags are set apart from the others so you don’t have to be close to anyone. I could handle that.”
–Ha! They’ve got it all figured out! Cafe must be organized by an introvert 😛