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Let's end this ridiculous stigma against going places alone! Previous  1, 2  
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rachel_519
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Joined: Sep 26, 2011
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 5:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I know, I hate this stigma! Especially because I live in a small town, and sometimes I would like to go out to eat or something by myself, but I know that if I do, I will inevitably run into someone I know, and I will feel weird because I think they are probably wondering why I am here alone. Confused I think if I lived in a big city were I didn't know a lot of people, it wouldn't be as big a problem to go out to eat by myself, because I don't care if strangers think I'm weird.
It is less awkward if you take a book or a notepad or something so that you can at least look like you are occupied while you are sitting there.

If I'm shopping or going to the movies or something, I like going alone, and it doesn't seem like a big deal. I think lots of people do those sorts of things alone.
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Kinme
Dinosaurlicious
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Joined: Apr 14, 2012
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm always going out by myself. I usually don't have anyone else to come with me. I've just gotten over the social anxieties of being around the people in this neighborhood (well, not so much the teenagers and young adults). I just realized, though, that it took me almost a year to start going out alone (we relocated from about an hour away).

I have to be particularly comfortable with my environment to go out and look at stuff. I've been forcing myself lately especially. More so going to smaller shops to buy cheap clothing.

There are places friends go together specifically? What, bars/clubs? I'll pass... -.- If it's movie theaters, arcades or those kinds of places, that would be a little bit cooler. I love Nickelworld.
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yuu
Emu Egg
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Joined: Apr 21, 2012
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 11:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wasn't aware there was a stigma with going places alone, though I do try to go out by myself only in places I 'know very well.' Other new places are fine as long as there is not much people around. Very Happy Going out with my few friends is ok at times but I seriously get tired from being around them that long so I don't go out with them that much.
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KinsaRay
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Location: New Jersey, America's Armpit

PostPosted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Never thought much of any stigma, but I was aware of the fact that the few remaining family I have don't like to travel, same goes for the one friend I have. If I ever wanted to experience anything fun or different I would have to go it alone.
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redrobin62
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Joined: Apr 03, 2012
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is the part about being alone that I hate. I miss a lot of shows and it's probably because of the stigma of being alone. I don't know. I did drag myself out of the house years ago to see the new Star trek movie. I'm into lots of different kinds of music (rock, jazz, classical, metal) but there are concerts I miss because I'd be alone at them. When I was younger I went by myself to see U2, Janet Jackson, Sting, Midnight Oil, The Fixx, The Thomson Twins, The Plasmatics, KISS, and a couple of others. I did go by myself to see Iron Maiden a few years back but since then I've been missing shows left and right.
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nikkiDT
Snowy Owl
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Joined: Apr 12, 2012
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hmm. I never knew about this stigma.


I like going places alone. It's what happens 99% of the time anyway. Usually, everyone in my life is too busy to go. I used to think the whole idea of going places by yourself was both silly and scary. And I freaked out over it. But now, I mostly hate when I have to go out with other people. Every once in a while, I like going out with a friend or two.
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Comp_Geek_573
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

When going places alone, I can do exactly what I want, when I want. Groups require a vote - or worse, lengthy discussion over what to do! Plus I walk extremely fast compared to others; sometimes even RUN if outdoors. I have the energy of a 12-year-old kid.

The wait at busy restaurants is shorter if you're alone. The larger the group, the less tables they have to work with to seat you.

Also, once I was waiting in a huge line for an electric go-kart ride, and about 2/3 of the way up the attendant hit the line up for one person to fill out the group! I took it and thereby only spent about 20 minutes in line instead of 30.
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You seem to have both Aspie and neurotypical traits
AQ: 33
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Keyman
Deinonychus
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Joined: Feb 24, 2012
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Comp_Geek_573 wrote:
When going places alone, I can do exactly what I want, when I want. Groups require a vote - or worse, lengthy discussion over what to do! Plus I walk extremely fast compared to others;


Right on! Cool

As for coming alone, it's a personal choice and anyone at the place that discriminate because of it ought to be tossed into the pile morons.
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J4mes
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker


Joined: May 01, 2012
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Location: Essex, England

PostPosted: Wed May 02, 2012 10:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I got over my reluctance to go to the cinema and gigs/concerts on my own a while back so I have no problems with it, these days I'll even go to restaurants on my own though I usually take a book or a magazine with me otherwise I end up just listening to other people's conversations!

One thing I still have trouble with is breakfast rooms at hotels because they're usually small and crowded, but that could be my dislike of eating in public more than anything else.
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OliveOilMom
Queen of cans and jars
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PostPosted: Wed May 02, 2012 5:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I like going places alone. I can spend as much or as little time there as I want or do what I want to do there without worrying about what someone else wants to do.

When I go out to eat by myself I always bring a book. I love to read while I eat and it's so nice to just sit there with my book and wait on my food, and then just get up and leave without having to clean up.

You can't read while you eat when you are in a restaurant with somebody else, although I did once with my mother when I was about 15. I thought it was fine because we both did it at home all the time. I still don't understand what was wrong with it, it's not like we had a ton of stuff to catch up on. If my daughter wanted to read her book while we were at a restaurant, it wouldn't bother me a bit.
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bettalove
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Raven


Joined: Mar 16, 2012
Age: 25
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PostPosted: Thu May 03, 2012 2:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've learned to love being independent. I can do things I want on my time which usually leads to me having more fun by myself than if I'd gone with a group.
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booksandcats
Tufted Titmouse
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Joined: May 03, 2012
Posts: 35

PostPosted: Sat May 05, 2012 1:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I went on a weekend vacation by myself a couple of years ago, and it was a lot of fun. It was empowering to find that I could get around a big city by myself and navigate the subway and stay in a hotel etc.
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