# How to find telephone friends? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 7, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286 "2015-09-07T20:52:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286/41 "2015-09-08T02:35:20Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Do I recall correctly that you are living with your folks? And were in some sort of mathematics internship? How old are you? Where do you live (approximately) Are you still in school? Are you studying something you like now? I am 45 – but I have Depression plus Autism (Aspergers). So I depend on my parents. I am a mostly unpaid intern but I get $300/month allowance. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286/42 "2015-09-08T02:42:56Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > 155 kg. Oops. That is a lot. Still, I bet you can work up to waking a mile. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286/43 "2015-09-08T02:44:39Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > Fortunately I take Effexor. But I have seen my therapist about thrice a year for the last few years. > > How can I find a telephone therapist? There is a company out there called _Live Person_. It looks like they have changed their name to _PrestoExperts_. [http://www.prestoexperts.com/#](http://www.prestoexperts.com/#) I’ve never talked to one of their therapists but I have gotten medical advice, legal advice, and veterinary advice. It looks like they have set prices now but when I used them you said how much you were willing to pay and somebody would get back to you. I never talked to somebody on the phone but it looks like that is an option. It will cost you but the prices look like about the same or better than what you would pay to see them in person. I don’t know if insurance would cover an online or telephone therapist though. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286/44 "2015-09-08T03:05:39Z")
Thanks! Will check out Presto Experts. How much do they charge? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286/45 "2015-09-08T03:28:20Z")
Post an ad in your local Craigslist under the section Personals-Strictly Platonic. I checked a random Craigslist and the first ad under w4m (women for men) was as follows: > [@](#): > > Someone to talk to - w4m > > body : curvy > > Looking for a down to earth guy to text and talk to. Regular communication…how was your day, what do you like, what’s up in the world and your life. I’m a talkative, fun mid 30s woman with a lot to say. Doesn’t matter what your situation is, if you are looking for a friend, to start, let me know. Please put your fave football team in the subject line and tell me about you and what you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286/46 "2015-09-08T03:30:23Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Post an ad in your local Craigslist under the section Personals-Strictly Platonic. I checked a random Craigslist and the first ad under w4m (women for men) was as follows: Hmm. That had a decidedly _non_-platonic feel to it. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286/47 "2015-09-08T03:37:28Z")
I’ve been fatter and less fat in my life and there was a time or two in the depths of my fatness years ago that I was pretty near your weight. 340 lbs is a pain in the ass to lug around but unless you are a 5 foot tall old lady it’s hardly a crippling weight that would prevent you from walking a mile at a slow pace, catching a cab or getting around town if you needed to. You’re not house bound. You are choosing not to go out. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286/48 "2015-09-08T03:56:13Z")
Here are some sites where you can chat with people. It’s not on the phone, but it is one-on-one. > **[Need to Talk to Someone? - 7 Cups](https://www.7cups.com/BrowseListeners/)** > > Find Help, Online Therapy & Free Counseling and Someone to Talk to while on the go! We are here to listen. [http://blahtherapy.com/](http://blahtherapy.com/) I haven’t tried either of these, but I have no reason to believe they’re not legitimate. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286/49 "2015-09-08T03:58:12Z")
They offer no phone therapy. Just chat. No need. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286/50 "2015-09-08T04:03:32Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I think you should do some volunteer work. Maybe go to an old folks home and let them know you’d like to visit with some of the folks who don’t get any visitors? It would be a great way to find some non-judgmental, friendly folks who are grateful for a chance to chat. You can build friendships and social skills, and IME old folks give the best advice of anyone. After all, they’ve got more experience. Just be prepared to explain and answer questions about Asperger’s, their generation didn’t learn about it at all. This is along the lines of what I was thinking of too. But I wonder if a nursing home might be amenable to the OP being able to phone elders who like to talk on the phone but don’t get many calls. That might make a nice first step, and it can’t hurt to ask. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286/51 "2015-09-08T04:13:53Z")
I’m sure there are internet support groups for heavily overweight people. Find them and join. I think you will find people there who would like to chat with you. For example: > **[ObesityHelp - Gastric Bypass, LAP-BAND® System, DS and Other Surgical and...](https://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/)** > > Gastric Bypass, LAP-BAND® System, DS and Other Surgical and Non-Surgical Weight Loss Options. Likewise there are going to forums devoted to any hobbies you have, for example knitting. So first participate in general chat, then the private chat and then telephone chat. In your local area there are going to be organizations that deal with the elderly and shut-ins, as well as churches. Contact them–they may know some lonely people you could chat with. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286/52 "2015-09-08T04:37:17Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > Thanks! Will check out Presto Experts. How much do they charge? From what I can see anywhere from 85 cents to a few dollars a minute. I paid anywhere from $25-$40 for emails ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286/53 "2015-09-08T04:39:11Z")
There are message boards by and for Aspies. One venerable one is [Aspie Hangout](http://forums.delphiforums.com/aspies). ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286/54 "2015-09-08T04:47:44Z")
send my a PM with your phone number and we can chat 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286/55 "2015-09-08T04:51:33Z")
I see you are offline now I will be around, I check this web page frequently I have had a couple of friends who are Aspies I’d be glad to talk to you I am very easy to talk to :):)🙂 I have bipolar disorder, so I can understand what it is like to be depressed ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286/56 "2015-09-08T05:40:14Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > I weigh 155 kg. Yep, I saw. That changes nothing about my answer. Do it often enough and you’ll get used to it. If you use it as an excuse why you can’t leave the house, then we loop back to what I said previously about being willing to change the circumstances which you claim are not giving you what you want. If you need a confidence boost, I have a friend who is about your size who walks more than I do. (Neither of us have cars, and often walking is faster than waiting for a bus.) She’s also connected with _everybody_ – not even kidding, practically every time I meet someone knew, I discover they already know my friend. She takes classes, which is part of it, the rest I’m convinced comes from her magic powers or something. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286/57 "2015-09-08T14:32:25Z")
Install PalTalk on your computer and find a group that meets your interests or hang out in a general group. Sooner or later you will make a friend and someone will want to talk to you. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286/58 "2015-09-11T20:47:24Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Some tips: [Easy Ways to Make Friends - wikiHow](http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Friends) That is a really good article. CCitizen, do you like video games? Maybe try an online game where you interact with other people. If you play a game where you group up with other people and you get into a nice group ask to group with them again, and again and again and over a bit of time if you get friendly with them maybe you can become phone friends with them or even hang out if some are nearby. I play World of Warcraft from time to time and was once in a guild that had people in my area and we would get together from time to time to hang-up. Sometimes people from nearby cities came over. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286/59 "2015-09-13T00:00:18Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > CCitizen, do you like video games? [Runescape](http://www.runescape.com) Range 99, Magic 99, Lifepoints 99, Slayer 99, Summoning 99. ---
**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:** [September 13, 2015, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286/60 "2015-09-13T00:12:54Z")
So you’re asking about how to make telephone friends on a message board on which various people have made friends (both virtual and real life). Has it occurred to you that you might fulfill your need for friends here on the SDMB? I get the impression that you mainly participate only in threads that you’ve started and those have mostly been about how fucked up your life is. So I’d recommend trying to engage others here; respond to threads started by others,and talk about stuff other than yourself and your problems. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-telephone-friends/730286.md?page=4)