# Are you aware of any networks for people shut in their home? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 13, 2016, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073 "2016-01-13T21:35:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/281 "2016-04-16T01:31:57Z")
Perhaps move to an inner city? Then you won’t have to learn to drive and will be constantly exposed to people (aka possible friends). Solves most of your problems. Course you will have to figure out how to manage the rent. I hear Detroit is cheap… ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/282 "2016-04-16T02:12:20Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > I agree with your point about deciding as an adult, but I still don’t think you have the authority. This is probably straying into Great Debates/The Pit, but I believe an adult is self-sufficient if possible. Living with parents while accepting an allowance deep into your 40’s and being an adult are mutually exclusive. So it’s just about the money for you? Probably a vast majority of people are not doing anything productive, yet earning money for being on the payroll and probably for turning up at the office. Then there are corrupt people, criminals etc. making money through crime. Money or being self-sufficient etc are no criteria. If being productive is a criteria, then probably 90% including maybe yourself as well, won’t meet it. Lol. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/283 "2016-04-16T02:30:32Z")
I have no idea how old you’re but if you’re a senior citizen you can have COA bring you places it’s cheaper than using a taxi. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/284 "2016-04-26T22:08:08Z")
I just like talking to people about my life and my problems. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/285 "2016-04-26T22:09:52Z")
Online **everyone** sees **everyone else** as a potential threat. ---
**Author:** ![mistymage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mistymage/32/459_2.png) [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/286 "2016-04-26T23:26:00Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > I just like talking to people about my life and my problems. Yes, everyone likes talking about themselves. But, in order to make friends that will listen to you, you have to reciprocate and listen to them about their lives and their problems. Being able to offer back some advice helps (for those who want help) but just listening while nodding your head, saying “Oh, my” or “Oh, no” now and then and remembering what the conversation is about (so no daydreaming) is essential. Otherwise you could sit in front of a mirror, draw a huge beard and funky looking hair on the mirror where your face is and then pretend it’s someone listening to you. The beard will hide your mouth moving. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/287 "2016-04-26T23:37:27Z")
> [@mistymage](#): > > Yes, everyone likes talking about themselves. But, in order to make friends that will listen to you, you have to reciprocate and listen to them about their lives and their problems. Being able to offer back some advice helps (for those who want help) but just listening while nodding your head, saying “Oh, my” or “Oh, no” now and then and remembering what the conversation is about (so no daydreaming) is essential. There are **hundreds of thousands** of people with life experiences similar to mine. And **tens of thousands** with experience very very similar to mine. Strangely finding friends is still difficult. ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/288 "2016-04-27T00:47:44Z")
> [@truthSeeker2](#): > > So it’s just about the money for you? Probably a vast majority of people are not doing anything productive, yet earning money for being on the payroll and probably for turning up at the office. Then there are corrupt people, criminals etc. making money through crime. > > Money or being self-sufficient etc are no criteria. If being productive is a criteria, then probably 90% including maybe yourself as well, won’t meet it. Lol. Money and the part about living with his parents. Did I hit a nerve? Lol. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/289 "2016-04-27T00:51:32Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > Money and the part about living with his parents. Did I hit a nerve? Lol. Yes – I belong to **lower social class** of moderately unsuccessful people. Not to the **underclass** – prisoners, drug addicts, etc… I have met people online who are too strange by my standards. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/290 "2016-04-27T01:56:51Z")
Don’t mind WD. ---
**Author:** ![HipGnosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/76d3ee/32.png) [@HipGnosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HipGnosis)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/291 "2016-04-27T19:56:44Z")
> [@mistymage](#): > > I’m surprised no one has created a network for people who just want to talk and hear someone else’s voice (now and then). There are all those toxic oldsters who get cutoff from family, bored housewives and young kids who are struggling with fitting in. I guess most of them use Facebook but you don’t get to hear one another. Skype would work for that… you don’t have to use the video part. But I’m not sure how anonymous that is (been ages since we used it). Surprisingly, a google search confirms this. It wouldn’t take much technology and even long distance calls are so cheap now. But google has pages of websites and apps that let people chat online with random people. But, I think what the OP really wants is a hotline - where some is paid to listen w/o honest criticism. Start here; [http://www.helpguide.org/misc/service-directory.htm](http://www.helpguide.org/misc/service-directory.htm) ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/292 "2016-04-27T20:13:30Z")
> [@HipGnosis](#): > > Surprisingly, a google search confirms this. It wouldn’t take much technology and even long distance calls are so cheap now. > **But google has pages of websites and apps that let people chat online with random people.** That is exactly what I am looking for – sadly I am computer illiterate. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/293 "2016-04-27T20:25:40Z")
Indeed, my problem is the **lack of basic computer knowledge** – probably anyone who knows Internet 2.0 well can help me. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/294 "2016-04-27T20:48:27Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > Indeed, my problem is the **lack of basic computer knowledge** – probably anyone who knows Internet 2.0 well can help me. Why don’t you go outside and take a walk or something? ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/295 "2016-04-27T20:53:04Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > That is exactly what I am looking for – sadly I am computer illiterate. > [@CCitizen](#): > > Indeed, my problem is the **lack of basic computer knowledge** – probably anyone who knows Internet 2.0 well can help me. I thought you were being paid for computer programming? You are also a Cyber Citizen. You would seem to have more than basic computer skills. Are you asking for help constructing the Google search to find these services? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/296 "2016-04-27T21:00:54Z")
I don’t get it either; he’s posting here and elsewhere, has posted videos to YouTube and is paid for programming (in Matlab, I believe). And yet he calls himself “computer illiterate.” ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/297 "2016-04-27T21:59:58Z")
> [@ddsun](#): > > I thought you were being paid for computer programming? You are also a Cyber Citizen. You would seem to have more than basic computer skills. Are you asking for help constructing the Google search to find these services? I can make [rudimentary videos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0b_YJwEAXc). I use [Screencastomatic](https://screencast-o-matic.com/home). Given that I talk on forums, I have the latest up to date knowledge of Internet of 1996. But I do not know how to register for a voice conversation. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/298 "2016-04-27T22:01:10Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I don’t get it either; he’s posting here and elsewhere, has posted videos to YouTube and is paid for programming (in Matlab, I believe). And yet he calls himself “computer illiterate.” MatLab has nothing to do with understanding of computer networks. On SDMB I have learned a lot of useful computer stuff – like Sandboxie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073.md?page=14)