Loners

Very often do we see the archetype of the "Loner" plastered and glorified across various forms of media. If you were to base your assumptions off movies, comics, and cartoons you'd go about thinking that all loners are hardcore badasses who are tough talkers, fierce fighters, and insightful wise sages, and while this is partly true the part of being a loner you are rarely exposed to in those movies, comics, and cartoons is the biggest part of what being a loner is all about...THE LONELINESS!!

What is it that makes a loner into a tough-talking, fierce-fighting, insightful wise badass? Well, let's just sum it up by saying that spending all your time alone is not exactly a pleasant walk in the park. From great suffering comes great wisdom. The most damaged people in the world are very often among the wisest people in the world, because every painful moment in our lives brings forth painful lessons that we can learn from, and as such wisdom comes from suffering, and there is no form of suffering greater than years of alienation and isolation, for there is nothing in nature which freezes the heart like years of being alone. People really don't seem to have any idea what long-term isolation (especially forced isolation due to alienation or abuse) can do to a person's mind. It can literally drive someone crazy. With no one to talk to you end up talking to yourself, and a long time of talking and answering yourself can give rise to schizophrenic hallucinations. You may end up hearing voices and seeing things. You may even develop alternate personalities which your own mind develops to supplement your desire for companionship. Of course before you lose grip on reality you will have long since lost grip on social cues and standards of acceptability. Your sense of empathy will be replaced by apathy, and as such your care and concern for other people's feelings or opinions will be little to none. You'll be more blunt and socially awkward which may cause other people to consider you vulgar, asinine, or rude. Loners are difficult to reach as being alone for numerous years causes you to shut yourself off from the outside world, so normal social cues don't always work. For example, throwing a big lavish party for a loner and inviting lots of people is probably not the best idea, neither would be inviting them to concerts, sporting events, or anything involving a large crowd of people. You will likely only succeed in making them feel awkward, uneasy, and reinforcing their desire to be alone. It's also never a good idea to be too forward or forceful when dealing with loners as any attempt to force your way into their life and attention will only cause them to resist you and ultimately cause them to see you as an aggravation.

We all have our favorite "lone wolf" superhero like Batman, Spider-Man, Wolverine, and so on, but do you know who in many of those comics and movies is an even bigger loner than the "lone wolf" hero? The villain. 9 times out 10 I'll bet most of the villains in your favorite comic books, movies, and cartoons was an alienated loner who felt shunned and neglected by society and after years of alienation and isolation became the villain in order to lash out and seek vengeance on the same society which they felt wronged them. Even in real life, how many serial killers, rapists, terrorists, and psychopaths were probably just alienated loners before their loneliness fucked with their minds to the point where it drove them down the path of the Dark Side to commit murder, rape, and various other crimes? I'm not saying that all loners will turn into criminals and psychos, because that is certainly not true. Some of the greatest minds and artisans in history were also loners. If it wasn't for loners many breakthroughs in science, philosophy, modern medicine, and government would not have been possible, for as I previously stated, from great suffering comes great wisdom, and there's no suffering like years and years of neverending loneliness.

So next time you see a loner or if you know a loner, show them a little bit of respect. Don't go up and get all in their face, but perhaps just wave or smile, and if nothing else leave them the fuck alone. Remember that society creates its own villains. The people you pick on or talk shit about today may become the Jack the Rippers or Saddam Husseins of tomorrow.