Obviously this is a broad and controversial topic (especially since I’m asking about both on and offline) but as individualism and isolationism seems to be increasing in the western world, I’m wondering what can be done and what others have done to counteract this trend.
Edit: Obviously, there’s broad things like participating in hobby groups or being nice to neighbours, but I’m especially interested in discussion of specifics, such as ways to set up these groups, organisational structures, or ways to expand connections from a hobby group beyond just the hobby.
Friend of mine started a womens’ friend group in a small town. She posted the first meet up on Facebook, made it for a wine bar at a time not too many people would be there. She used an agenda, having us write and doodle answers to questions like “how did you make friends as a child?” “What has been difficult about making friends now?” “What kind of activities would you be interested in?”
Some of the hopes for the group included things like having a place to ask for help if you needed a ride or help moving a couch, or inviting someone to just hang out for moral support while you fold laundry.
The group set up a signal chat to make regular plans, ask for advice from people who had different experience levels, discuss current events, etc.
I would recommend doing this with some kind of narrow focus, like a particular gender or age group, or life stage commonality.