Attending "social events" alone?

audiodave
audiodave Posts: 1,623
edited November 2007 in All Encompassing Trip
Does anyone do this? What is your take on it?

I went to see a band on my own last night, and a few people were quite surprised that I would do this alone. If I want to do something, i'm not going to miss out just because no one else wants to do it.

So what's the verdict? Is it strange to do things on your own? Or is it just that people think it's strange because society tells them that they have to spend every waking hour with another person?

Oh, and for all the people who are going to tell me to "get some friends" or something like that, I have friends. But i'm just as comfortable in my own company. So please save your jokes and snide comments. :)
~AKA Dave-of-the-dead~

I don't wanna think, I wanna feel

Dublin 23/08/06 Lisbon I 04/09/06 Lisbon II 05/09/06 Paris 11/09/06 Verona 16/09/06

London 18/06/07 Dusseldorf 21/06/07 Copenhagen 26/06/07 Nijmegen 28/06/07
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  • pjtaper
    pjtaper Posts: 3,020
    I saw Neil Young alone last week... I like going to shows that I know will be sit down take it all in type of shows alone...
    In 2000 I drove from WI to St. Louis to Kansas City by myself for the pearl jam shows, I had a blast!
  • Ms. Haiku
    Ms. Haiku Washington DC Posts: 7,390
    After 15 years it gets a little old. I'm not as comfortable eating out alone or going to a show alone because it's sortof boring.

    However, for the first 10-15 years it's just how to get the most out of life if your friends/family aren't available.
    There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
    The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
  • Rygar
    Rygar Posts: 8,712
    I went to see my buddy's band play a while ago by myself and was generally uncomfortable.
    Then I had a group of skinheads try to pick a fight with me.
  • pjtaper
    pjtaper Posts: 3,020
    I always go to concerts alone... it's pointless to spend an extra $50/$100 to bring someone along who won't enjoy it and will distract you...
  • dunkman
    dunkman Posts: 19,646
    audiodave wrote:
    I went to see a band on my own last night, and a few people were quite surprised that I would do this alone. If I want to do something, i'm not going to miss out just because no one else wants to do it.


    i go to gigs on my own... if no one i know wants to go then i'm quite happy going on my own.

    been to the cinema a few times on my own.. same reason as above... but its a bit more eh noticeable.. so i just hang around looking at my watch pretending someones late :)

    i've only been to cinema 2 times on me own and only been to 3 gigs on my own but i'd do it again..

    social conformity just aint my bag baby... and who's going to take the piss anyway.. 3 skateboarders with plukes? i'd place razorblades into their popcorn if they did :)
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • chinobaeza
    chinobaeza Santiago Posts: 2,489
    I'm going to see Chris Cornell alone next 12/10...nobody wants to go, and there's nothing that can prevent me from going!
  • audiodave
    audiodave Posts: 1,623
    dunkman wrote:
    social conformity just aint my bag baby... and who's going to take the piss anyway.. 3 skateboarders with plukes? i'd place razorblades into their popcorn if they did :)

    Me neither. Social conformity sucks. :p

    I'm used to having the piss taken out of me anyway, so it doensn't matter. And besides, if I don't take anyone else with me, I don't have to worry about making pointless conversation with them. I can just look around and observe the strange things that other people do.
    ~AKA Dave-of-the-dead~

    I don't wanna think, I wanna feel

    Dublin 23/08/06 Lisbon I 04/09/06 Lisbon II 05/09/06 Paris 11/09/06 Verona 16/09/06

    London 18/06/07 Dusseldorf 21/06/07 Copenhagen 26/06/07 Nijmegen 28/06/07
  • upina2001
    upina2001 Indiana Posts: 764
    my wife will normally bail on events so I have no problem going alone; and most of the time I will run into someone I knw anyway.
    Regardless, I swear I have "Talk to me" written on my forehead; seems like wherever I go, a stranger will start a conversation with me, which is great.
    Plus, I would rather go alone then have to deal with someone who really doesnt want to be there. :D

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  • eMMI
    eMMI Posts: 6,262
    to a certain extent I don't find doing stuff like that on my own uncomfortable at all.

    I wouldn't go to a bar/pub on my own though.. but I think that's got more to do with the kind of people that are there and what kind of bars we have here anyway. (pretty crappy.. :rolleyes: )

    my friends can't believe I'll go to the cinema alone. which I think is odd. why not go alone? I mean, you can't even talk to anyone while you're watching the movie. :D


    I don't go "out" on my own much, but it's not uncomfy for me when I do. it's just that mostly many of my friends like to go and see the same bands and stuff.
    "Don't be faint-hearted, I have a solution! We shall go and commandeer some small craft, then drift at leisure until we happen upon another ideal place for our waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
  • surfanddestroy
    surfanddestroy Posts: 2,786
    I have never had to go on my own to a gig or anything, but I wouldn't have a problem of doing so if nobody I knew wanted to go and I did.
    Astoria 20/04/06, Leeds 25/08/06, Prague 22/09/06, Wembley 18/06/07,
    Dusseldorf 21/06/07, Manchester 17/08/09, London 18/08/09, LA 06/10/09, LA 07/10/09.

    Ain't gonna be any middle anymore.
  • Heineken Helen
    Heineken Helen Posts: 18,095
    I'd LIKE to be able to go to gigs on my own but I just know I wouldn't enjoy them as much. I've never had to miss out on one I wanted anyway cos nobody could come with me. I dunno, it's one thing where I like having company and someone to share the fun with.

    I don't eat out on my own for the same reason... it's actually just 'eating' if you're on your own rather than 'eating out' even though it IS out, you're missing out on the company. That's WHY they leave breaks between courses. I can cook at home if I wanna eat something nice but I eat out for the sociable aspect :o Restaurants aren't places for meeting people... and all ya can really do is look at the wall or other people :o not my kinda fun.

    I HAVE gone to pubs on my own though and had fucking FANTASTIC times and met people I wouldn't have met were I with friends. At first it was quite awkward but once ya get a couple of drinks in ya, it's fucking excellent. I'd talk to anyone anyway.

    I go to the cinema alone quite often and actually prefer it. I love just saying to myself I'll go cinema after work and just switch off for a couple of hours. I prefer going to the cinema alone... NOT that I didn't enjoy Jenny and Neil's company at into the wild though :D
    The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
    Verona??? it's all surmountable
    Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
    Wembley? We all believe!
    Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
    Chicago 07? And love
    What a different life
    Had I not found this love with you
  • Heineken Helen
    Heineken Helen Posts: 18,095
    upina2001 wrote:
    Regardless, I swear I have "Talk to me" written on my forehead; seems like wherever I go, a stranger will start a conversation with me, which is great.
    :D me TOO! It's excellent. And I've got the going to pubs on your own thing completely figured out too... get in early and get the best seat in the place. When the place fills up, people HAVE to join you whether they want to or not :D
    The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
    Verona??? it's all surmountable
    Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
    Wembley? We all believe!
    Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
    Chicago 07? And love
    What a different life
    Had I not found this love with you
  • Urban Hiker
    Urban Hiker Posts: 1,312
    I love doing things by myself. Movies, shows, hikes...

    My husband always needs a tagalong which I don't understand.

    Except for dinner out. I understand wanting company for that. I've tried eating out alone and it makes me feel awkward. I much prefer sharing that experience.
    Walking can be a real trip
    ***********************
    "We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
    ***********************
    Prepare for tending to your garden, America.
  • civ_eng_girl
    civ_eng_girl Posts: 2,001
    I've gone to concerts alone... it always turns out fine! you meet cool people around you, and have a blast!

    I've been to the movies alone too...

    I've travelled through Europe by myself, which always requires you to sight-see, shop, lie on the beach, have dinner by yourself....

    don't forget, a simple cappucino and a book can make you look like you're terribly busy and important.... ;)
    ~~*~~ ...i surfaced and all of my being was enlightend... ~~*~~
  • Heineken Helen
    Heineken Helen Posts: 18,095
    civ_eng_girl wrote:
    I've gone to concerts alone... it always turns out fine! you meet cool people around you, and have a blast!

    I've been to the movies alone too...

    I've travelled through Europe by myself, which always requires you to sight-see, shop, lie on the beach, have dinner by yourself....

    don't forget, a simple cappucino and a book can make you look like you're terribly busy and important.... ;)
    Ahhh... travelling alone is pretty cool alright. I only did it once, it wasn't really alone but a week in Rome having to entertain myself during the day while my friend worked. I met SOOOOOOOOOO many brilliant people. I went to pompeii on my own and there was another guy on the bus on his own so we got chatting and hung out for the day. You always meet people when you're alone.
    The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
    Verona??? it's all surmountable
    Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
    Wembley? We all believe!
    Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
    Chicago 07? And love
    What a different life
    Had I not found this love with you
  • audiodave
    audiodave Posts: 1,623
    See that's the thing. If I go somewhere alone, I never really meet people. I generally don't go over and talk to people, and I must have this look that says "stay away from me or i'll bite you", as no one ever comes to talk to me either. But I don't care. I'm more than happy in m own company most of the time.
    ~AKA Dave-of-the-dead~

    I don't wanna think, I wanna feel

    Dublin 23/08/06 Lisbon I 04/09/06 Lisbon II 05/09/06 Paris 11/09/06 Verona 16/09/06

    London 18/06/07 Dusseldorf 21/06/07 Copenhagen 26/06/07 Nijmegen 28/06/07
  • meme
    meme Posts: 4,695
    It is strange, but sometimes you have to do it if you care enough for the event. I flew in and went solo to see PJ in Wembley and I don't regret a minute :)
    ... and the will to show I will always be better than before.
  • eMMI
    eMMI Posts: 6,262
    audiodave wrote:
    See that's the thing. If I go somewhere alone, I never really meet people. I generally don't go over and talk to people, and I must have this look that says "stay away from me or i'll bite you", as no one ever comes to talk to me either. But I don't care. I'm more than happy in m own company most of the time.

    well as long as you're happy and comfortable, that's great. :)

    I don't have all too many poeple come and talk to me either when I'm alone somewhere and it doesn't bother me at all. if I'm alone it either means that I'm waiting for someone or that I just want to spend some time with myself. :D
    "Don't be faint-hearted, I have a solution! We shall go and commandeer some small craft, then drift at leisure until we happen upon another ideal place for our waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
  • soulsinging
    soulsinging Posts: 13,202
    i've gone to 3-4 shows alone in the past few months. i dont care. i've got friends but they're either cheap, lazy, unreliable, or have poor taste in music. i've taken to just buying a ticket for me and telling them they should go too rather than buying two and having the other person bail on me. what do i care? it's a concert and i can't (or don't want to) talk anyway. plus i feel like i can't just enjoy it cos i worry, esp if i pushed them into going, that they arent enjoying it as much as i am.

    ill also go to movies alone if need be. i've no problem with it if there's something i really wanna see and nobody can make it.

    as to restaurants, i've done it many times when i was feeling lazy. i take a book and read. it's a business lunch/dinner.
  • Pegasus
    Pegasus Posts: 3,754
    audiodave wrote:
    Does anyone do this? What is your take on it?

    I went to see a band on my own last night, and a few people were quite surprised that I would do this alone. If I want to do something, i'm not going to miss out just because no one else wants to do it.

    So what's the verdict? Is it strange to do things on your own? Or is it just that people think it's strange because society tells them that they have to spend every waking hour with another person?

    Oh, and for all the people who are going to tell me to "get some friends" or something like that, I have friends. But i'm just as comfortable in my own company. So please save your jokes and snide comments. :)
    that's me :)

    I go to gigs on my own..though after the PJ touring experience, that feels strange, and is not as fun... strangest of all was Milan last year (last minute thing so found a ticket 'seated' whilst everyone was upfront..
    but thanks to the PJ tour, I found many people to go with now ;)

    I spend most of my life going to the cinema alone as I was a cinema buff so went often, plus liked seeing things behind the average teenager blockbuster. It really doesn't bother me..I wish more people did it actually, less fucking idiots chatting away :grr:

    I also go to the theatre alone..got used to it..got a friend I often go with but synchronising schedules can be hard, especially on things you got to book months in advance.

    restaurants, bars on the other hand..i hate it..only do it when I'm travelling and I have to (I have travelled a lot on my own..I don't mind except in the evenings).
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