> But how do we actively incentivize that?

Is immediately and completely solving the problem not a good enough incentive? If you go outside and interact, you will be much less lonely.

There is no barrier! You don't need to overthink this. Walkable cities third spaces etc., all great — but literally just go out and interact with people you can do it today many people do it to great success!

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bherms 2 hours ago | parent [-]

You're completely missing the point. The problem is people aren't collectively incentivized to do so. Individually someone can decide "oh wow, I'm lonely, I should get out more", but collectively there's nothing incentivizing everyone to do it, or even notice it's an issue. If there were, we wouldn't be in this situation.

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"How do we solve the obesity problem?" "Well people should just work out."

Obviously, that would solve it, but they're distinctly not doing that, which is why we're talking about a broader solution to actually get people to work out.

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peterldowns 2 hours ago | parent [-]

> The problem is people aren't collectively incentivized to do so.

Yes, we are — please believe me that a LOT of people go out into the world and interact with each other. Doing so is extremely heavily incentivized by all of the wonderful and beautiful things that happen in the world all the time, both quotidian and sublime.

There is critical mass!

	▲	bherms 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		So then I guess it seems like you're rejecting the premise then that there's a loneliness epidemic? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loneliness_epidemic I get what you're saying -- I leave my house more than most. But I think it's pretty clear we're trending away from that being the default.