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What are your opinions on this matter? Personally, I find that it's a horrible experience to be alone all the time. Eventually it's found to be a lot worse later when you realize that it's impossible to be alone in this world from the people around you. We all rely on each other to survive. It's a given. You can't escape from the community, no matter how much you want it. Yet I'd like to hear from another person's perspective. I've spent years cooped up in my home, due to some...family crap. Chinese parents...I tell ya. I honestly wouldn't have come this far in my career path today if it weren't for the people that helped me along the way. Okay...end of rant. Let's start this discussion.

Being devoid of human contacts does things to you.

I've been homeschooled ever since I was seven, and, let me tell you, have I suffered in my social graces.

People my age tell me I'm;
a) too stiff, too polite, too formal
b) too ignorant of current 'fads' (usual response being, "Uh, no, I just don't give a f'ck... -walks off- talk2hand ")
My best IRL friends are decades older than I am, because I am the OLD South incarnate. ;D

So... Socialness = good.
Mob mentality = bad.
<3

I agree.
But it's also difficult to interact into something that you have no experience with. sweatdrop Thus, we (homeschooled people) try to avoid embarrassment by avoiding people. All the homeschoolers I've talked with feel the same. We crave the social interaction but we don't know how to be social.
It's very difficult.

In the early to mid 1900s there was a prison that took away all sound. The idea was to give these criminals time to reflect on their crimes and get closer to God. They went so far to isolate these people that they would actually punish them using physical torture for even talk to themselves. Naturally all the inmates went insane. It was crazy! The prison guards would actually add cloth to wheels so the prisoners wouldn't know anyone was there.

Isolation is bad.
Zen you monkey experiment reminded of this.

The thing with isolation is, in part, the lack of stimulation. Prisoners who are in isolation are isolated for 23 hours a day. That other hour, they are allowed to go outside by themselves into a certain caged area. To run around or do whatever.

In these rooms, there is nothing. White walls, minimal furniture, maybe, but not necessarily a window. The brain is very active but there is no stimulation.

As was said, humans are naturally social creatures. However, our level of NEED for social interaction can differ greatly.

Consider me: I'm naturally introverted. This doesn't mean I can't be loud or that I don't like to talk, but I prefer solitary activities or activities with only a few people (IRL). I DON'T like big parties. I don't like the loud, spontaneous atmosphere. That's just not me. If I'm not super-close to someone, I get bored with having to force a one on one conversation with them. I don't talk on the phone for hours. I don't need to.

I have a very large problem with noises (it's a disorder. It's complicated). My disorder led to me going from a quad room to a single room at college. I preferred it to being in a room with three other girls.

As long as I know that people like me and care about me, I'm happy. I don't need to or WANT to always be around other people. Sometimes I feel lonely. I feel unloved. Then I seek socialization and I'm better for awhaile.

A lot of it depends on your choice, knowledge, and experience with other people. Like Maris said, because she was devoid of human contact, she doesn't know a lot of social graces. Me? I've never been on a date and have only gone to a handful of parties. I'm lacking some stuff, too. While I would like to date, I don't care much about going to parties.

There are some social graces you need in order to function in society (when the time calls for it), but a great deal of socialization isn't needed after a certain point. There are people out there who live very comfortably by themselves in the middle of nowhere. They aren't going crazy (but they also have stimulation in their homes and whatnot to be mentally active, unlike prisoners).

We are social creatures, so we need to have some of our species (or even others) with us at times
But, sometimes you have to be alone to sort out your own life
A healthy balance is what i'm always for

Aha, now here's a topic I know all about.

Being isolated is very unpleasant, and this is coming from someone who intended to live alone for the rest of his life.

I can't stand to be alone without some form of mental stimulation, and sometimes solitary activities like books and games aren't enough.
When left to my own thoughts, my imagination runs wild, certain things come up and it scares me, so I start to panic.
These panic attacks have been increasing in frequency, so it's absolutely crucial for me to be a social person nowadays.
As much as I hate to, I'll actually leave my room to bug my little brother or to watch TV downstairs with/without parents.
Those little things comfort me.

I couldn't imagine what kind of person I would be if I were alone my whole life.
D: