Gen Z are lonely and paying for activities to make friends

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's what the "greatest generation" did as well OP, they liked to join clubs and organizations. It's fine.

+1

My MIL would have zero friends, without her clubs and organizations, most of whom are through FIL - it is not only Generation Z that does this, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They're going to the gym and taking art classes and meeting people along the way? How terrible!

Seriously though, why is the article written as if it's a bad thing that people are seeking connection through shared interests?

Joining a club for activities that require more than one person, like mahjong is one thing, but the article talks about how this generation is lonely, and that the way to meet people and not be lonely is to pay to join.

I know there have always been paid organizations out there for whatever, but it seems to be more prevalent today for young people. I don't recall so many young people joining fee based organizations because they were lonely when I was younger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's what the "greatest generation" did as well OP, they liked to join clubs and organizations. It's fine.

+1

My MIL would have zero friends, without her clubs and organizations, most of whom are through FIL - it is not only Generation Z that does this, OP.

are these fee based clubs? Because that's what the article is talking about - that people are paying to socialize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's what the "greatest generation" did as well OP, they liked to join clubs and organizations. It's fine.

+1

My MIL would have zero friends, without her clubs and organizations, most of whom are through FIL - it is not only Generation Z that does this, OP.

are these fee based clubs? Because that's what the article is talking about - that people are paying to socialize.

What other choice do they have?

[Anonymous]

Its not just friendships and activities but more importantly lack of relationships. Everyone is on a dozen dating apps but hard to find healthy relationships.

What's the solution? Humans need companionship.

[Anonymous]

It sounds nice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's what the "greatest generation" did as well OP, they liked to join clubs and organizations. It's fine.

+1

My MIL would have zero friends, without her clubs and organizations, most of whom are through FIL - it is not only Generation Z that does this, OP.

are these fee based clubs? Because that's what the article is talking about - that people are paying to socialize.

What other choice do they have?

They could work in an office and develop people skills.

[Anonymous]

I have friends young and old who play rec league softball, join hiking clubs, join art and music groups, hell, even going to the stables to ride gives you some instant friends. There's nothing wrong with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its not just friendships and activities but more importantly lack of relationships. Everyone is on a dozen dating apps but hard to find healthy relationships.

What's the solution? Humans need companionship.

So true. It's amazing how many of them are lonely but can't make the connection that it's because they live through technology.

[Anonymous]

I pay to socialize! No shame. My grandparents were the fraternal organization/lodge types because they lived in tiny houses and you had to find a place to go. My parents were the cocktail at the country club or card parties at people’s houses generation, but that doesn’t work these days because it was built around drinking a TON and driving home. I’m Gen X but have belonged to my college’s alumni club in NYC (tons of social activites), a large fancy athletic club on the west coast (lots of social activities plus access to cool events), and various beach and swim/tennis clubs. All are packed and also have tons of historic photos, so it’s not exactly a new or unusual phenomenon.

I’m not paying for friends. I’m paying for a pleasant setting in which I can do activities I enjoy with like-minded people. Clubs are fun, that’s why we have them!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's what the "greatest generation" did as well OP, they liked to join clubs and organizations. It's fine.

? they paid to join organizations as 24 year olds to make friends? Which organizations were those?

The Masons, the Oddfellows, the Eastern Star, just to name the ones my grandparents were in, even when they were twenty somethings. In fact, my dad said he "had" to join the Masons at age 22 in order to be promoted at work.

Then there was the Rotary, the bowling clubs with matching shirts, the rec leagues, the local photography club, the Women's League, the Junior League, etc...

Almost every older adult I know paid some sort of dues to be a member of some sort of club. It's my Gen X generation who didn't do that.

OP here.. so maybe that's it. I'm also Gen X, and the idea of paying to make friends is not normal for me. But, I also grew up in SoCal, so I don't know.. maybe it's regional.

Ooooooh. Your perspective makes sense. Maybe you all don’t have clubs because you have beaches and nice weather? But I know people in places like Pasadena that belong to clubs, so maybe it depends on where you live.

[Anonymous]

Well, all the people on dating and hookup apps are also paying, not organically finding mates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's what the "greatest generation" did as well OP, they liked to join clubs and organizations. It's fine.

+1

My MIL would have zero friends, without her clubs and organizations, most of whom are through FIL - it is not only Generation Z that does this, OP.

are these fee based clubs? Because that's what the article is talking about - that people are paying to socialize.

Almost every club has dues or expenses. Maybe a running club doesn't, but anything that needs space or equipment, or holds an awards dinner, takes money to function. You are trying to imply the members are buying friends somehow, but that's like saying that going out to dinner with friends (which costs money!) is buying friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's what the "greatest generation" did as well OP, they liked to join clubs and organizations. It's fine.

+1

My MIL would have zero friends, without her clubs and organizations, most of whom are through FIL - it is not only Generation Z that does this, OP.

are these fee based clubs? Because that's what the article is talking about - that people are paying to socialize.

What other choice do they have?

They could work in an office and develop people skills.

Oh FFS, is this what the thread is about?

Your. Coworkers. Are. Not. Your. Friends.

Can you meet people at work who become your friends? Sure. Is that the most common place people make friends, either now or historically? No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're going to the gym and taking art classes and meeting people along the way? How terrible!

Seriously though, why is the article written as if it's a bad thing that people are seeking connection through shared interests?

Joining a club for activities that require more than one person, like mahjong is one thing, but the article talks about how this generation is lonely, and that the way to meet people and not be lonely is to pay to join.

I know there have always been paid organizations out there for whatever, but it seems to be more prevalent today for young people. I don't recall so many young people joining fee based organizations because they were lonely when I was younger.

Gen X didn’t do this but it was the standard way to socialize for many generations before them.

As the saying goes, everything old is new again.

Yes, many young people would have been lonely in decades past if not for their rotary clubs, bowling leagues, gardening clubs, DAR lunches, etc. The only difference is that gen Z clubs are focused on different interests. Bowling leagues become quidditch leagues, DAR becomes a photography meetup and so on.

The only strange part about this very common human phenomenon is your reaction to it.