a warning to single people...

[DMt.]

this movie shone a mirror upon me

I've said this too, perhaps, umm, more than once; yes, this theme is indeed a mirror.

Loneliness and alienation are so endemic in our urban societies that almost anyone can identify with E&O's respective plights, I guess.

[drakkar]

Snow? Can you wait that long joshpaid?
..And thanks for the Alfredson quote Wolfie, it has been a while and I have forgot it!

[lombano]

I've been single about as long as the OP, and though yes, I've occasionally found LTROI very depressing, I have mostly found it tender and uplifting (though not in particular as it relates to loneliness, but in a more general way).

[Aurora]

Myth: If your life is boring and without meaning all you need is an unconventional quirky impossibly cute girlfriend and suddenly all your problems will be fixed

Fact: Be a man, and stop thinking that a girlfriend is going to solve all of your problems for you.

After seeing numerous romcoms/chick flicks I quite often have to read the above quote to remind myself that the solution to the problem is usually not somebody else.

The thing to remember is you can't fake it, the last relationship I had was with someone who had a huge crush on me (sorry if that sounds like boasting) but I didn't feel the same about them. Yes I did tell them but they were willing to take what little was on offer anyway, the result was that neither of us got what we wanted

For me personally friends are important to share and joke with, if a relationship happens then I'll see where it goes, but I won't forget my my friends.

[TΛPETRVE]

That's why best-friend-turned-love-interest relationships mostly don't turn out too good over time.

[gary13136]

LTROI didn't make me feel at all lonely, and I've been single-again now for 23 years. It took about 13 years to get over my previous marriage, but one day it dawned on me; my life had actually improved while I was single. And really I've never looked back. Not everyone is cut out for long-term relationships, that much is certain.

But for those who wish to keep trying, I will offer a few good suggestions. First off, take several years to really get to know that special person. That is difficult advice for Americans; some of the most impatient people who ever existed. But that's probably typical of most of the "developed" world. Also, get to know that person's family. That can save you a lot of grief; you could be getting involved with a family that has a lot of problems. But the best piece of advice I ever got was from a woman I once worked with. She said to never get involved with anyone if you can't accept the way they are. Changing another person is almost impossible. If you are in such a relationship, turn around and run---fast!

[N.R. Gasan]

The best partner in a love relationship is not someone you NEED to be with, but rather someone you WANT to be with.

[Gavin]

I guess it would come down to how you perceive yourself as an individual. I'm happily single myself and not just because I choose to be but because I learned a long time ago that a bad relationship is not better than being single. Settling is not an option for me. Relationships are about sacrifice mainly. It's a balancing act that few people get right. I'm terrible at it as were the women I dated. Two wrongs don't make a right. After watching LTROI it did cause me to reflect back on some lost connections, not just girlfriends but friends period. That's what great movies do. They cause you to look within yourself and to see something that you didn't know was there. I know it triggered some emotions in me and that is probably why I love the movie so much. I imagine this is true for every member here. To me loneliness equals boredom so instead of agonizing over it I go out and do something whether its taking my dogs for a walk or going to the nearest pub for a beer and a game of pool. The great thing about life is that you can expect the unexpected. Sometimes the right one shows up when your not even looking. Sometimes they find you instead.

[Doosty]

I guess it would come down to how you perceive yourself as an individual. I'm happily single myself and not just because I choose to be but because I learned a long time ago that a bad relationship is not better than being single. Settling is not an option for me. Relationships are about sacrifice mainly. It's a balancing act that few people get right. I'm terrible at it as were the women I dated. Two wrongs don't make a right. After watching LTROI it did cause me to reflect back on some lost connections, not just girlfriends but friends period. That's what great movies do. They cause you to look within yourself and to see something that you didn't know was there. I know it triggered some emotions in me and that is probably why I love the movie so much. I imagine this is true for every member here. To me loneliness equals boredom so instead of agonizing over it I go out and do something whether its taking my dogs for a walk or going to the nearest pub for a beer and a game of pool. The great thing about life is that you can expect the unexpected. Sometimes the right one shows up when your not even looking. Sometimes they find you instead.

This.

[DMt.]

...yeah, that.