I've always said that people who get bored lack the intelligence to amuse one's self.

What millennials are doing the most is texting and watching their phones. Too busy with that to watch TV.

@DenoPenno They watch TV. That's one reason they are buried in their phones! LOL!!! They binge watch their shows so that they can get it all done in a day.

I literally have no physical friends. I'm a "professional" introvert. LOL!!!

Incorrect. People leave religion because they see no reason to subject themselves to something they aren't convinced is there. I have gone to church with religious friends to please them. The sense of community they have is impressive. They do actually take care of each other. Their church actually does help those in need who come to them. The issue I see today is people have become far more self centered. More selfish. Also very hard headed. The only true free thinkirlers I have run into are Agnostics on this subject. Atheism is just as faith driven as Theism is. Atheism is a personal religion which worships the self and materialism. Point out that they have no proof there is nothing to spiritualism and they view you as daft. They are just as incapable of stepping back and rally examining what they think they know vs what they can actually prove.

@IAJO163 Aww! I hope our culture comes up with some better meeting alternatives than church. Where I live, the churches are not packed with very nice people. If you are not happy in your introversion, I sincerely hope that something comes together to improve that. If you ARE happy, keep on keeping on! (:

@Norman347 Not incorrect. I speak from my experience. Churchgoers in my geography are more often than not a hateful judgemental lot. I have attended a group or two that were less so, but that hardly makes all others phenomenal communities OR horrid ones. The article and OP spoke of churches being amazing communities. Such generalizations are doomed to be incorrect in part as there is no one way.

As to atheism being a faith. Sure, whatever makes you feel better…

@IAJO163 I'm like you. I have few actual friends and it does not bother me or make me want to go out and find any friends. I entertain myself mostly.

@Zster I am extremely happy. I have a wonderful family and with acquaintances like you guys, I can't go wrong!

@Zster, @Norman347 That must be that Arizona faction of Atheists promoting that love of self and materialism. I've found that to be a quality of American consumerism drilled into our brains from the immense and steadily increasing amount of advertizing we are subjected to in our daily lives. As far as faith goes it's attached in most cases to a religion and all that we do and abide to is nothing more than a belief, yes?

That was my first thought.

Nowadays, grandma's just as likely to have her nose in the phone.

I can't find anyone even at my work who can keep away from their phones for an hour. It is sickening! My phone stays outside in my car. I don't need calls, texts, or messages while working and I don't need funny pictures sent to me.

@DenoPenno
I guarantee you, while older folks are glued to their phones too, most of the time, they can put them down for dinners and within "no phone" zones.

@PhoebeCat

But grandma also knows how to have a conversation, outside of text messaging and emojis.
Live company and good friends would still take precedence of her phone.
Millennials are struggling to have conversations, maintain eye contact and establish solid friendships. Grandma is not!!

@Athena Millennials appear to not want eye contact or anything face to face.

@DenoPenno

Yes. They are lonelier than their predecessors as they don't know how to talk to one another and built rapport. It's mostly social media and communication by text.

Perhaps the Meetup culture or something like it will take up the slack in this regard. I belong to a science fiction book club Meetup and I'm easily outnumbered by folks in their 20's and 30's. I've noted there are a lot of Meetups in my metro area which seem to be appealing to millennials (music, art, outdoor activities). Maybe a paradigm shift from singular places of worship to more open socialization will provide the community and social support?

@TrailRider I doubt it. I have tried a few Meetup groups in my local area and they do not seem like much of a substitute for actual communities like churches. The vast majority of people in Meetup groups do not seem to have any real loyalty or commitment to these groups. Instead, the usual pattern of behavior of these young people is to officially join a bunch of these groups at the same time while actually only attending maybe one or two of these groups, and even then, to not attend them regularly. Their whole attitude towards these groups seems to be one of trying to constantly give themselves lots of options of things to do, then deciding as late as possible which option is the best one, for fear of missing out on something better that might come along. Very shallow and self-centered. Not the way that community is built between people.

The modern Mammon!

@Marionville

@moosepucky As Bernie would say, " We are doomed!". I generally feel loathing and disgust about these trends in that generation, while they feel no love lost for Boomers like me. In each case, there is plenty to dislike about the other generation as a whole, while at the same time there are good and righteous members of each generation.

@TomMcGiverin In life change is imminent. Acceptance is the key. We are now our parents and grandparents.

@IAJO163

NOoooooooooooooo........

@IAJO163 @moosepucky All women ultimately become their mothers, that is their tragedy. No man does, and that is his! Oscar Wilde.

@Marionville

My goal for my entire life was to never grow up.

I believe that I have succeeded.

I have a few more years of fun and pleasure left in me as long as I can stay focused.

@moosepucky I think there is a part inside all of us that never grows up!