I'm still embarrassed to say "My online friends", but they've often had a huge impact on my life.

That's my secret. I'm always lonely.

In general, we have a lot of interactions online, but unfortunately those do not have the positive effects physical contacts have.

On HN we are normally not even "online friends" with specific other users. The users are identifiable just as some little grey nickname. Who even is this "GalenErso" guy? Or "cubefox"? What are they up to? We might as well all post anonymously, the outcome would basically be the same.

That's not a natural way to interact, no wonder the brain breaks a little if it does not much else.

Only being in the presence of others makes one feel a little bit less alone. The presence being digital makes it less effective in some ways but it still counts for something. Imagine not even having anyone to exchange a few likeminded thoughts with… HN, being a quite varied community could facilitate that for most.

But we indeed do need more than this for a fulfilling life. Lonelinese could as well be temporary and one could feel less alone in different ways.

If it’s your only social outlet, yes.

Yes