Is The Forum a Social Outlet For You?

L

Lon

Well-known Member
Location
Central California
It is for me, primarily because with my Profound Hearing Loss I am unable to discuss topics face to face with individuals or in a group and the phone is definitely out, so for an Extrovert like me, Senior Forum is a good Social Outlet.
 

Lon said:
It is for me, primarily because with my Profound Hearing Loss I am unable to discuss topics face to face with individuals or in a group and the phone is definitely out, so for an Extrovert like me, Senior Forum is a good Social Outlet.
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Yes. I'm definitely having empty nest syndrome. my home was always full of people and noise. I neglected making my own friends these last years & when the last kid went off to college it really hit me. I feel lonely. So yes, this is a nice thing for me.
 
It's fun to check in a few times a day. Busy schedule, if I'm home there's always somebody who needs to be fed, something that needs washing, something that needs sorting, then load the dishwasher, then the cat yaks up something...playing online gives me a break.
 

Lon said:
I get out and mingle at the mall, market etc. I just can't communicate.
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The hearing loss must really make you feel isolated at times. It must be very difficult. Lon have you thought about attending sign language classes and meeting other people who are going through the same things you are experiencing? I don't mean to pry. If I've over stepped boundaries I apologize.
 
BlunderWoman said:
The hearing loss must really make you feel isolated at times. It must be very difficult. Lon have you thought about attending sign language classes and meeting other people who are going through the same things you are experiencing? I don't mean to pry. If I've over stepped boundaries I apologize.
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No apology necessary. Thank you for your interest. I have been practicing Lip Reading via You Tube on the net. Sign language for an old fart like me is a bit difficult with stiff fingers and hands. Communicating with others like me can be really funny. Yo have heard that old expression "The Blind Leading The Blind" Captioned Phones are helpful.
 
Lon said:
No apology necessary. Thank you for your interest. I have been practicing Lip Reading via You Tube on the net. Sign language for an old fart like me is a bit difficult with stiff fingers and hands. Communicating with others like me can be really funny. Yo have heard that old expression "The Blind Leading The Blind" Captioned Phones are helpful.
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It can happen to any of us as we age. I know my hearing is not what it once was. Well Lon if you ever just want to blabber when I'm online send me a message :) I'm a talker :p
 
My hearing isn't what it used to be either, but the misunderstandings can be hilarious.

Forums are my only real socialization - I don't travel in the real world anymore.
 
yes forums generally are a social outlet for me but not the be all and end all it is for some people, because I still go out to work, and have friends I socialise with.

However when I'm at home yes I prefer to use forums to chat because I've never been a big tv watcher..

Forums have been an absolute boon to the lonely, the disabled, the isolated, the social phobic..etc....as well as everyone who just generally likes social interaction.

I do wonder tho why some people are so seriously addicted and afraid of what they might miss, when they go on vacation and spend almost all their time talking on a forum...instead of enjoying everything around them, making new friends, enjoying family and or learning all about their new surroundings ...that's very odd IMO ...!!
 
I think the internet and forums have made great changes in our lives....I too feel somewhat isolated living in the country and with my hearing loss too so yes it is part of my social life.
 
I thoroughly enjoy forums but love mixing it up in real life, too. One of the big advantages to forums is that I could be sitting here naked and nobody would be running away screaming for the police and holding their bleeding eyes. KWIM?

My sympathies, Lon, about the hearing loss. I haven't reached the need for hearing aids yet, but at a loud restaurant (something like TGIFridays or a sports bar) I'm finding it harder and harder to be a part of the conversation. I can't seem to screen out the 100 other voices and noises as well as I used to. I sit and nod a lot.....I sure hope I'm not agreeing with the wrong things....
 
Yup, it is for me. When I was working I had lots of friends. I was doing cool things like visiting London and Paris. I had a very good female friend to share that with. She also worked at the same I hospital as I did. Well, I was disabled but a spinal problem and we ended our friendship. I probably wasn't the happiest person to be around when I had to stop working. And it turned out my friend had a gambling problem. It's no fun dragging a cripple around so friends gradually fell off the screen. Being home bound sucks.
 
Yeah the hearing loss can be a trip sometimes. If I realllllly concentrate I can read lips. But there are people like my oldest boy. They can talk a mile a minute without a breath. Woof, you just smile like you're digesting all this information and go " Um hum" or "Oh wow!" once in awhile.
 
I enjoy it here on SF but still get out and about also......it's nice to have both.

I mean where else besides on a internet forum could you ask someone about getting rid of the stench of cat pee ?.......how do you think that question would go over if you ask the guy at the tire shop ?

Me; "hey Billy Bob do you know how to get rid of the pee smell on my front porch ?"

Billy Bob; "yeah dumba$$.....quit pi$$ing on it."
 
I relate most to fuzzybuddys post - It was work, play, work for me; always on the go; until my back decided I was done with all that. It was a drag for my friends when I had to slow down, and we quickly lost touch. I get frequent visits from my grandchildren, and I have a couple of hobbies, but am still left with too much free time. No offense meant, but this forum isn't so much a social outlet as it is something to keep me occupied. And whether I read for fifteen minutes or three hours, whether the topics are provocative or fluff, and whether I post something or not, I enjoy it.
 
Yes, I like SF, especially, because it is large enough that it includes a lot of very knowledgeable people about many subjects, worldwide. I've learned a lot. Depending on what mood I'm in, I can enjoy reading what people have to say on serious topics, or on lighthearted topics, even if I don't post anything. You can also find your own corner(s) to sit in if you like that. And I've learned a heck of a lot about social group dynamics.
 
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jujube said:
I thoroughly enjoy forums but love mixing it up in real life, too. One of the big advantages to forums is that I could be sitting here naked and nobody would be running away screaming for the police and holding their bleeding eyes. KWIM?

My sympathies, Lon, about the hearing loss. I haven't reached the need for hearing aids yet, but at a loud restaurant (something like TGIFridays or a sports bar) I'm finding it harder and harder to be a part of the conversation. I can't seem to screen out the 100 other voices and noises as well as I used to. I sit and nod a lot.....I sure hope I'm not agreeing with the wrong things....
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From what you have said, I doubt that your problem is volume. It's frequencies. Volume is easy to fix, but frequencies (like my problem) is not. Turning up volume just increases noise without understanding.
 
BlunderWoman said:
Yes. I'm definitely having empty nest syndrome. my home was always full of people and noise. I neglected making my own friends these last years & when the last kid went off to college it really hit me. I feel lonely. So yes, this is a nice thing for me.
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Empty nest syndrome? You must be very young!
 
IKE said:
I enjoy it here on SF but still get out and about also......it's nice to have both.

I mean where else besides on a internet forum could you ask someone about getting rid of the stench of cat pee ?.......how do you think that question would go over if you ask the guy at the tire shop ?

Me; "hey Billy Bob do you know how to get rid of the pee smell on my front porch ?"

Billy Bob; "yeah dumba$$.....quit pi$$ing on it."
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Who knows, maybe in some circles that wouldn't be a bizarre conversation at all.
 
Yes, I enjoy this site very much and feel very relaxed here. I am also hearing impaired and wear hearing aids. Having a one on one conversation with someone who speaks clearly is no problem. I tend to avoid social gatherings as it is hard to converse with background noise. Lon perhaps your problem is what I have and that is 'tone deafness'. Some tones you hear correctly and others you don't resulting in what you hear is not what was said, which can become embarrassing at times.
 
I definitely enjoy sharing on the forum and it is a great addition to my life. We do socialize with friends or family for dinner now and then, but I love the wide cross section of people here from everywhere. My husband has hearing loss and I notice he is very quiet around just about everyone...except me.

I joined SF to talk and share with people in my own age range..and it's been very helpful to me reading about issues that are age related. It's nice to be with people who remember what you do too :)
 
Well, of course it's a social outlet. I like being on forums with people who are similar in some way. First it was American expats, then it was boomers++. I am definitely active and have friends I see socially, but I like having senior friends especially from different countries. It's interesting to find out about growing old or just life in general in different countries. I've always been curious about different cultures.

As for comments about being on a forum while on a holiday/vacation, my current holiday is for 3 months in the same house. It's not like a typical 2 week holiday where you have to pack everything in daily. This becomes home for 3 months. You all know we travel a LOT. It's not like any of these trips are a once in a lifetime thing.

I don't see a difference between sitting on a beach under an umbrella enjoying the breeze while reading a book, or while being on a forum on my android. And unless we want to go to clubs or hang out in pubs at night, we are in the house after dinner watching tv or browsing online.
 
Ameriscot said:
Well, of course it's a social outlet. I like being on forums with people who are similar in some way. First it was American expats, then it was boomers++. I am definitely active and have friends I see socially, but I like having senior friends especially from different countries. It's interesting to find out about growing old or just life in general in different countries. I've always been curious about different cultures.

As for comments about being on a forum while on a holiday/vacation, my current holiday is for 3 months in the same house. It's not like a typical 2 week holiday where you have to pack everything in daily. This becomes home for 3 months. You all know we travel a LOT. It's not like any of these trips are a once in a lifetime thing.

I don't see a difference between sitting on a beach under an umbrella enjoying the breeze while reading a book, or while being on a forum on my android. And unless we want to go to clubs or hang out in pubs at night, we are in the house after dinner watching tv or browsing online.
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I enjoy forums also for that reason.
I also am a member of a private forum and I'm the oldest,lol best of both worlds ;)

What you do on your vacation and how you spend your time is your business to do so as you please.
I personally enjoy your adventure and you sharing it.it introduced me to a new country that I would never have thought of 'vacation spot'

Rock on Annie.
 

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