Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by oblio 1310 days ago
> This is interacting with "the world".

To each their own, but no, it's not the world. We're made for real, in person interaction. Huge chunks of our brains are made to discern subtle facial details or body movements.

I remember there are studies that socialization is good even for introverts. They think it isn't, but it is.

We're social creatures by design, it's built very deep into us. To try otherwise is foolish for 99.9999% of people. Of course, everyone thinks they're that 1 person in a million:-)
2 comments
myaccount9786 1310 days ago
It may be beneficial from a medical perspective, but you're ignoring the obvious risks. For people with SAD, etc. there is the risk of severe stress. For all people, there is the risk of sexual assault. There is the risk of false or true accusations from students, friends, or partners, the risk of getting assaulted, physically confronted, or robbed, reputational damage, etc. The list goes on.

It's up to each individual to decide whether the rewards of in-person social interaction outweigh the risks. And it's not up to anyone but me to proscribe what my decision on this matter is.

link
bawolff 1310 days ago
> For people with SAD, etc. there is the risk of severe stress

I think you used the wrong acronym. I assume you are not talking about seasonal affective disorder.

More to the point, for most people in most places there exists social options where such risks are not significant relative to other risks.

link
myaccount9786 1310 days ago
Yes I agree with you that the risks are low.

But I disagree fervently and am offended with the parent comment. It doesn't make one foolish or prideful to take ownership over evaluating the cost/benefit. As an asocial person who prefers it online: parent commenter, kindly [edit: mind your own business]

link
myaccount9786 1310 days ago
Social anxiety disorder.
link
oblio 1309 days ago
> And it's not up to anyone but me to proscribe what my decision on this matter is.

True, but then when stuff like cost of mental healthcare goes up, which it constantly is, who pays that bill? The correct answer is: everyone.

link
bawolff 1310 days ago
> I remember there are studies that socialization is good even for introverts. They think it isn't, but it is.

As a pet peeve. Being an introvert is not the same thing as having social anxiety or disliking socialization. Lots of introverts like socializing.

link