Forever Alone!

[TheRightToArmBears]

On Tuesday I went to a gig on my own (Streetlight Manifesto, I wasn't going to miss it for the world, despite none of my friends being remotely interested), and it was pretty bloody awesome. Earlier I was talking to my friend about it and he seemed to think that going to a gig on your own was pretty sad, but I've gotten rather used to it since being at university where no one shares my music taste.

I wouldn't go to a movie own my own though, which is odd considering how little you talk to eachother during it. I was wondering what you guys feel about doing things-attending shows, films, restaurants, whatever- on your own. Weird? Sad?

I don't usually do this, but I think the Captcha is mocking me. It says 'Good buddy'.

 

[thesilentman]

I wouldn't give a fuck.

I enjoy my tastes for a reason and I'm not going to let anyone choose whether I can have fun with more people or by myself. People's tastes won't often match up with mine, and I don't mind. I just want to enjoy what I enjoy.

That's all: a simple look at this issue for me.

 

[Lionsfan]

I've gone to plenty of things by myself. Sporting events, movies, concerts, if you can think of it, I've probably done it solo.

I dunno, I guess it's kind of *loserish*, but almost all of my friends are broke, so I'm not gonna miss cool stuff because they have no money

 

[madwarper]

It's not fun. I remember a few years ago, my fraternity of my state had a day at a local amusement park. So, I got a ticket and thought I'd meet someone there to hang out with. Didn't happen. So, I wandered around, rode all the rides once, got something to eat at our picnic pavilion and drove home mid-afternoon. After I got home, I met up with my dad and took him and his wife to see the Crystal Skull. I'm not sure which part of that day sucked more.

But yeah, ever since my only friend moved out to Chicago, I really haven't been going out to do much of anything.

 

[Realitycrash]

On Tuesday I went to a gig on my own (Streetlight Manifesto, I wasn't going to miss it for the world, despite none of my friends being remotely interested), and it was pretty bloody awesome. Earlier I was talking to my friend about it and he seemed to think that going to a gig on your own was pretty sad, but I've gotten rather used to it since being at university where no one shares my music taste.

I wouldn't go to a movie own my own though, which is odd considering how little you talk to eachother during it. I was wondering what you guys feel about doing things-attending shows, films, restaurants, whatever- on your own. Weird? Sad?

I don't usually do this, but I think the Captcha is mocking me. It says 'Good buddy'.

I do it all the time. It's also a great way to meet people. Go there alone, stand there listening to the music along with everyone else, then strike up a conversation with the fellow next to you.
In fact, a few years ago (before I got sick of the pubs in my town), I used to go out alone, drink some, then just wander off to a nearby table and say 'Hey, I'm bored and my friends suck, can I join you for a few rounds?'
Nine time out of ten, they said yes.

(And I also actively homed in on the tables with the pretty-girls, fine. But it worked. It was a non-creepy way of getting to talk with them)

 

[[Kira Must Die]]

I'm used to doing a lot on my own. In fact I found that I usually work better by my self. I do enjoy being around other people, though, it's just that I'm not exactly the life of the party.

I'd say it's normal to do things on your own. In fact I'd say people who think it's weird are the weird ones.

 

[Stasisesque]

I suppose if I were the sort of person who went to gigs or concerts (or even the cinema) I would go alone if no one wanted to go with me. I enjoy my own company, so I don't see why not. I used to go to the theatre alone, though that is the sort of pursuit you can attend solo and not raise any eyebrows. I couldn't do a museum alone though, I need someone with me to discuss the artefacts/art.

Going alone to events is definitely not sad, nor is it weird. I used to see others at the theatre who'd gone stag, art galleries are full of solo enthusiasts and I've got friends who regularly visit the cinema alone.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Well sharing the experience is nice but hardly a must. I went to a gig on my own just the one time and enjoyed myself perfectly. Movies is a tricky subject because as a critic it's my job, same as everybody else in the theater is doing their job. So even though technically I'm "on my own", 1) everybody else is as well and 2) again, it's a job. I've been doing this for over 3 years now and I will go to festival movies and cinematheque showings on my own, though I can still enjoy going to the movies as a social diversion with a date or a friend. Goes to show it's all optional and everybody suits themselves.

 

[SlaveNumber23]

Earlier I was talking to my friend about it and he seemed to think that going to a gig on your own was pretty sad

I think its more sad if someone doesn't have the confidence to go to an event by themselves, and will deprive themselves of the experience if they can't find someone to go with.

Last year I was planning on going to a music festival with a friend who ended up cancelling on me, so I ended up going by myself and had an absloutely great time, I had the complete freedom to do whatever I wanted without the pressure of having to please anyone else. You should take pride in being able to go to events by yourself without needing the security blanket of familiar people with you.

 

[Tiger King]

If there is something I really want to do then I will go do it.
I've watched bands on my own, seen a film on my own and once even went out for a pub dinner on my own (I just couldn't be bothered to cook that night lol)
not often I do these things alone, I would say rarely actually but I would rather go see that film I'm excited about by myself than miss out because people can't be botherd to go.

 

[sky14kemea]

I went to see The Hobbit in the cinema on my own, 'cause no one was around to come with me and it's less busy during the day anyway.

While I was sat there waiting for it to start, these two girls walk in, and even though they're only 5 feet away, one says to the other "Why is she on her own...?"

They then walked past me to I-Don't-Care-I'm-Watching-The-Hobbit Land.

I prefer watching films on my own, that way you don't get the awkward "So... That was good?" when you leave. Screw the haters!

My mum thinks it's a bit weird, but when I told her my reasons she said it kind of made sense. She would just be too self conscious to go by herself.

Which is why I don't go to eat by myself, that's the only thing I won't do alone. Not 'cause I think it's weird, just 'cause I don't want people looking at me while I'm eating....

 

[MoreThanANoob]

I don't usually do this, but I think the Captcha is mocking me. It says 'Good buddy'.

Captcha is sentient. Did you not know?

OT: I often to movies and the like with friends, but I'm hardly ever opposed to going on my own, being an introvert and all.

 

[SquidVicious]

I'm generally a social creature so I like making events like movies or concerts some kind of group activity, even if the group is only two people. When it comes to things like food, I don't mind eating by myself if it's an establishment where I walk to a counter and order my food, but if there's a server taking my order I prefer to have company. I think that's more to do with the longer time it takes to get your food at restaurants and it's nice to have someone to talk to while you wait.

 

[CrimsonBlaze]

I also wouldn't mind attending certain events or watching movies alone.

Certainly, a group dynamic can make any experience better, but if you are really interested in something that others may not be or are unable to attend, why should that stop you from having fun and being who you are?

I'm sure that if you attend, have a great time, and tell your friends about it, they might seem interested and want to accompany you the next time.

Bottom line: do what makes you happy and have no regrets.

 

[SsilverR]

If I enjoy doing something no one else in my social circle enjoys doing, then I'll go out on my own and do it.. I think it's sadder nowadays that people have such little sense of independence that going out alone seems sad to them

 

[Legion]

None of my friends like my favourite band so I went to see them alone. It was pretty great seeing them live (as they are American and not mainstream so it's an uncommon event for them to play near me). As I couldn't find the venue I ended up going along with a group of Irishmen who were visiting London to see them as well. We hung out in a pub beforehand and headed to the gig together. Although most of the gig we all went off and did our own thing (so when it came down to it, I did go alone really).

It'd have been nice going with friends, but I'd much rather go alone than with people who aren't enjoying themselves (plus who is going to want to pay for a ticket and travel to do something they don't even care about?).

I have been tempted to go to the cinema alone a few times to see films nobody else wants to, but to be honest I don't often care about them enough, so just wait for them to be released on DVD or Sky. I don't think it's a bad thing on principle.

 

[Blunderboy]

Seems fair enough.
I never understood why the cinema was considered a great idea for a social gathering.
Don't get me wrong, I like going with my buddies and discussing the film afterwards over a pint, but sitting in the dark, in silence should not be considered a solely group activity.

 

[Launcelot111]

It's definitely funner to go with people, but at the same time, would you rather go alone or miss out on the concert entirely because of some odd social stigma? If I like offbeat bands, then I won't meet many people who are also fans, and thus I have to go alone if I want to go at all.