In general, we have a lot of interactions online, but unfortunately those do not have the positive effects physical contacts have.

On HN we are normally not even "online friends" with specific other users. The users are identifiable just as some little grey nickname. Who even is this "GalenErso" guy? Or "cubefox"? What are they up to? We might as well all post anonymously, the outcome would basically be the same.

That's not a natural way to interact, no wonder the brain breaks a little if it does not much else.

Not to mention that HN has specific technological countermeasures to prevent genuine conversations between two users from developing. Specifically, the response rate limiter and the absence of a response awareness or notification system.

Also no DMs (unless you have > X karma?)

No DMs: https://github.com/minimaxir/hacker-news-undocumented

In the old days, forums often had attached chatrooms. Forum people could hang out there and just do small talk. It seems every forum today, every subreddit, should have a chat room. Still, even this is not nearly as healthy as meeting people face to face.

That's my secret. I'm always lonely.

You merely adopted the loneliness, I was born in it :-(

I'm still embarrassed to say "My online friends", but they've often had a huge impact on my life.

A meme from totally random stranger teaches you more about life than a close physical friend.

If it’s your only social outlet, yes.

Yes

Only being in the presence of others makes one feel a little bit less alone. The presence being digital makes it less effective in some ways but it still counts for something. Imagine not even having anyone to exchange a few likeminded thoughts with… HN, being a quite varied community could facilitate that for most.

But we indeed do need more than this for a fulfilling life. Lonelinese could as well be temporary and one could feel less alone in different ways.