Here's my 2¢: Making a real connection is hard work, especially as we get older. It's easier in a lot of ways when we're young, because we are in school or otherwise have routine hangouts where we can get to know people our own age through prolonged contact day after day. As we get older, we have fewer and fewer people we can just hang out with, we spend less time just hanging out in general, and so out opportunities to find a romantic partner dwindle significantly as well. And as we get older we become more set in our ways, so we don't mold to one another like we might have in our youth. I mean, who cared at 15 years old what political persuasion our friends and romantic partners were? So, I think it's a combination of changing circumstances and calcifying mindsets.

I've concluded that many are simply romantically lazy. Much easier to just moan about it. We want relationships, but that would require getting up and doing something about it. And who wants to do that kind of work. Crucial thing? Respect for one another.

IMO one of the cricial parts of a healthy relationship is being comfortable & at peace being alone, all by yourself. If you need someone to "fill a hole" or to "complete" you, you are going to end up being lonely in a relationship. You'll come off as clingy, demanding, manipulative, etc. The sexiest thing, for me, is a man who doesn't "need" me, he wants me. He can do for himself just fine but he loves just having me in the same room with him because he enjoys my company.

I think that the most crucial thing is emotional intimacy and I also think it is one of the hardest things to allow in a relationship.

You have to go out to places to meet people, and that requires money that a lot of us either already have earmarked for bills and shit or just don't have at all. Places don't like it when you hang around and don't buy anything.

And if money isn't a problem, then constantly being told we have no social skills is. Oh, be yourself, but don't do this or this or ten things you do that are unattractive according to science or fifteen things you should stop doing/wearing/thinking/being RIGHT NOW. People are too scared to leave their homes because they think the rest of the world demands perfection.

Introversion is being glorified. Everywhere I look I see things about wanting to stay home, being happy when other people cancel plans, not wanting to have other people around, bla bla bla, and that anyone who isn't an introvert is shallow, stupid, and codependent.

Nobody wants to deal with other people to find a relationship.

Yes, it's very evident, including on this site. It's the paradox of the modern world: the more connected we become, the more isolated we start to feel. As capitalism had reduced people more and more to economic units in a dehumanised society, the more alienation people feel. I read Karl Marx on this 40 years ago, but believe it now more than ever.

Excellent question. This is a byproduct of capitalist individualism and the alienation in capitalist society. In a more communal society, there would be less lonely and thus happier people. Consumerism separates us. Virtual friends are not a substitute...

Lots of fear out there. Seems I meet those so damaged by the first relationship, the one they put their heart into, or so they believe, and refuse to do it again so even if meeting a great guy they are not really available.

Friendship. If that person does not become your best friend, it will never be what it could be. I really believe that. The two best relationships in my life were the best becuase we became best friends.

I am a loner, an introvert, practically a recluse and I rarely feel lonely. On those rare occasions I might feel lonely, I visit some married family and friends and it only takes me a very short while observing them that when I leave I tell myself how thankful I am that I live alone.

My answer--many people are too anxious about getting together to let a relationship develop and unfold naturally. Looking back on my longish life, my best relationships have come with both mates and friends who I spent time around for reasons other than trying to specifically be with them, and we found ourselves liking each other more and more the more time we were in each other's presence. I honestly don't know how this relates to online dating. I've never successfully done it, so I cannot say. But my experience is that if you are out in the world meeting people and pursuing interests, you will from time to time encounter people you feel drawn to for a deeper friendship or romance.

Simple Suggestions: 1: Turn off the TV and the computer. 2: Invite some friends over for boardgames/storytelling/joke sharing. 3: Learn to sing/play and instrument & join a group for practice. 4: Learn to dance and throw a dance party. 5: Join a group that seeks to improve a situation you are concerned about. Basically entertain yourselves and act the way our great-grandparents did - with each other rather than with expensive technology. Meetup.com is a good tool for meeting real people with similar interests.

Honestly, I no longer harbor any desire for another intimate relationship. I have all the "connections" I need.

People are lonely because they can't stand being alone with themselves humans are social animals and the concept of being introspective and thinking about your life is terrifying to them it makes them examine their own mortality

because people are too busy being something they're not instead of being themselves. when they finally figure that out they're in their 50's or more and desperately trying to claw for a few years of much deserved fun.

Good question, all the lonely people: where do they all come from? Some are no doubt picking up the rice in a church where a wedding has been, others wait by the window, and still another segment lives in a dream. Im personally darning my socks most nights when nobody’s there. Darn you, socks ?

I used to believe we all had one soul mate. I know now that the number of possible combos that could fall in love are endless if under the right circumstances, but it’s that right set of circumstances that is so rare. Meeting at a time when youre both single, not being too shy to try, not being so nervous and clumsy when you do try that you make a fool of yourself, the chances that one person will push anothers deal breakers or pet peeves or not be your typical “type” or any other superficial reason not to give each other a chance.

The ways things can go wrong in the early stages of meeting someone are endless and the ways they could go right are so specific and unique that it takes a lot of practice, work an inordinate amount of luck to all coalesce before anyone whos introverted will meet and impress anybody when you meet so few new people as an adult already.

After getting burned a few times I decided I'd rather be alone than with someone who lies, cheats, has mommy issues, and/or is all wrapped up in himself. Every now and then I think it would be nice to have someone but the trust issues may never go away.

Because we sit in our houses with the tv on, and wonder why we don't meet someone wonderful. The most crucial thing for a healthy relationship is respect and honesty. (I know, that's two things.)

All that are alone are not lonely. Just wanted to make that distinction first.
Here is my theory and it is halfbaked, even though I am not at this time.
Lonely is the state where I find myself longing for what is past. That deep connection I shared with someone. Dating can make it worse because we wonder why we can't/don't have it with the new person. It takes time and often the relationship ends before you find it for one reason or another. I think that makes people less likely to expend the effort, or at least I know that is the case for me. It seems like a loop and it is exhausting. Emotions themselves are draining at times and it is hard to always be on. I think socially or culturally we wait too long before trusting people with who we are interested in. So I just trust people aren't out to screw me over and I know that is never my intent.

Dating is the pretty crazy ritual when you break it down and is fundamentally flawed imo. I listened to all my girlfriends talk about how shitty it was all through my teens 20s and 30s. I never really dated in a traditional sense save for a bit maybe in high school. I tend to avoid it for the most part. To me relationships are built on trust so I just try and meet someone have fun and try it again. If you can keep repeating that formula things work out how they are supposed to. Maybe that no longer works but I think that is the only thing that feels right now. Selecting from a list just isn't for me right now so I will just try to be a fun person to hang with.

I am alone and at times lonely like I said above so I need to be better about dropping the past. I probably won't always be a fun person until I can be better at that.

To your first two questions: fear and improper communication.

Fear is a powerful drive. Fear of judgment, of ridicule and rejection. Or sometimes it's fear of being hurt, especially if you've been hurt before. All the can cloud our judgement and rein us in from going after what we want.

Improper communication is when something seems
to be obvious or clear to one person, when it's anything but to their partner. When we say "It's fine.", when it isn't and refuse to talk about. When we want or need something but don't say it and get frustrated that they don't give us what we're looking for. All of this serves to drive people appart.

For your last question: trust, proper communication and faith.

Trust is so fundamental that without it you don't have a relationship at all. You just have a series if interactions that will most likely be bad and harmful. You can trust them not judge or hurt you. Without trust you have no real basis by which to communicate.

Proper communication is what is born of trust. Judgement free exchange of ideas, hopes and fears. The ability to say what you want in a way your partner can clearly understand and they do the same with you.

Faith is one I imagine most people here will bristle at, but hear me out. I'm not talking a higher power. I'm talking faith in yourself and your partner. You can never truly know another person. There will always be some part of them that is theirs alone. Which means at a certain point you have to have faith that your judgement was sound, that your trust wasn't misplaced, and that you expressed yourself clearly. You have to surrender some modicum of control, pass the ball to them and see what happens.

Well, as usual, there are some excellent comments here on this subject. I would only ad that in today's society, which is highly commercialized, people feel obligated to be part of a couple. Movies, books and ads romanticize couples and people feel ostracized if they
are not involved with someone.

I think this neatly sums up part of the problem:

People need social interaction for good emotional and mental health. Loneliness I see as something different in most cases. If we really like, admire, love and appreciate ourselves we can't be painfully lonely. Our disposition with self-love and love of others is to generously participate with them in all levels of social intercourse by bringing our valued selves to the table. In that state of being, rejection is also not painful but educational.

A person who is bitterly lonely, with rare exceptions, just doesn't like the company; often falsely believing that if they don't, someone else will.

I think a lot of people struggle with being truthful; to themselves as well as with others. As we get older it’s harder to put yourself “on the line” and be open; when we are open with someone else you can get a connection. But as we get older it’s hard to do because so few still take the risk- the risk, of course being, not accepted by the other person (and that applies to coworkers as well as friends and lovers). It takes a while for people to really feel comfortable with others and therefore so few people do. It’s a shame really. I’ve lost count how many people have told me they don’t understand how to put everything “out there” and question why I do. But I must have been raised oddly since I never struggled with that- to my detriment sometimes haha

I suppose lonely people aren't comfortable being alone with themselves.

In the US, it's fashionable for new mothers to stick bottles in babies' mouths and return to work, causing a lifetime of inability to connect to others.

How a parent’s affection shapes a child’s happiness for life [mother.ly]