[unINFalliPle]

Then I began to realize there was the group, and there was me, and though we may have been in the same room the group was bonded together in lovely happy oneness of communal groupthink and I was off all by myself.

I've felt like this before. I used to go in between groups when I was younger.
But, the opposite is actually true for me. I form strong and lasting bonds with people and stick with them. I've known some people in my current group for almost ten years. I used to be very close with my neighbors, like we were sisters. Then we drifted away amicably.
It's hard for me to form something lasting with new people. Maybe I'm comfortable with what I've got so I don't feel the desire to.

[20111017]

I feel alone even in social groups.

[Nintaku]

I feel alone even in social groups.

Arg! I hate when this happens! If I don't have a friend there to latch onto then I just vent energy into the void that is the social group.

[20111017]

Arg! I hate when this happens! If I don't have a friend there to latch onto then I just vent energy into the void that is the social group.

:)
I'm not in any social group now.. (if family isn't considered) but it sounds like what I would feel when there's no one interested hanging around me. In the past it was 'school arts group' and 'religious group'. Tore me apart partly because some people from the religious group didn't like me in the arts group, liked the arts group but some of the formalities were different from the religious group. Ended up having split personality. (I'm talking nonsense)

In the social sciences a social group is two or more humans who interact with one another, share similar characteristics and collectively have a sense of unity,^[1] although the best way to define social group is a matter of conjecture.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_group

Family is considered a social group?

[Floatingnotthinking]

I always have trouble staying with groups, I always feel as though as the group grows, I become more left out. I always feel as though I'm hanging out with them, but they aren't hanging out with me, if that makes any sense. I usually start out liking the same stuff the group does, but later I realize I'm totally different from them and have no interest in fitting in any longer, and drift to find/create another group. This pattern just repeats over and over again, three years is my current record for keeping a good friend.

[Ayia]

I wish there was a way to become magically social, but there just isn't. I can't stand groups. they feel like cages sometimes. But other times I feel slightly lonely, or embarassed about being alone all day, and then I whish I had more than 2 friends to contact :P. But in the end I'm not gonna start being in a group I dislike just so I can have someone to call on a rainy day.

[sweethomealabama]

Ugh, I loathe any social group. As a person who is aging now on the 40+ side- I understand the importance of being connected to groups. So, I have MADE myself join 1 group (running group). It absolutely wears me out- standing there having to make small talk after our runs. I usually get so "over it" and abruptly leave -I know my quick departure is likely taken as rude. I wish I didn't have to explain myself - that other people would get that I just would like to be a part of something but can't behave like others..... I avoid groups at all cost and historically, I don't stay engaged/committed to a group for any length of time. I am challenging myself to stick with this one, though.

[infpaul]

Ugh, I loathe any social group. As a person who is aging now on the 40+ side- I understand the importance of being connected to groups.

Just out of interest, what do you feel is the importance of the group connection, and how do you feel this out weighs the loathing? Members of my family have bugged me about maintaining friendships, saying they become more important as you get older. However the older I get the less social I want to be!!

[FreeBeer]

[susurration]

Until I got told that I was abnormally secretive, I didn't realise how closed off I was. I do make an effort to stay in contact, but contact for me is very sporadic and i'm learning how frustrating this is for others. I got asked today "where i've been" because I never show up to things, i'm trying to shift this because I very easily isolate myself and thus alienate others. Yes, I'm learning Fe as much as it is out of my comfort zone. At this point my isolating tendencies have been too problematic for everyone.

I have 1-2 people that I turn to when I engage with the outside world, we've been friends for 12 years. I like the fact we are comfortable enough with each other that I can "disappear" and they aren't going to think that I hate them. I can see myself being friends with these two for a long time yet.