[swat535]

It's a societal problem, mainly in the West. Many cultures around the world don't have this issue.

When I was living in Iran, we didn't need a hobby club to meet people, you just picked up the phone and everyone came over. I have vivid memories of going on trips with 5 cars filled with people

When I went to Peru with my wife to meet her extended family, it was very similar. Heck you can just randomly talk to people and meet them. At 9PM, the streets are exploding with people in Arequipa or Tehran.

The biggest difference is that in the West, people have the idea of "personal space", which doesn't really exist in some culture. People are seen more as one, rather than many. Of course this has its own downsides, but I suppose nothing is perfect.

[ohyoutravel]

You picked up the phone and everyone came over, that’s cool. What number did you call? Was this a public service of some sort?

[Loughla]

I'm not sure if you're joking, but I think it was implied that OP called the people.

[vladvasiliu]

Right. I think the underlying question is, how do you get to know these people in the first place?

Isn't this the whole point of the discussion? How do you initially get to know people?

[ohyoutravel]

Yes this is the meta point I was working at. OK any of us can call our friends to come over, how does one make the friends in the first place!