First, we worried about catching the flu. Then, we worried about the swine flu. Now, loneliness?
Yes, hypochondriac Campus Drive readers, new research suggests that loneliness is contagious, and you should probably start worrying about it now.
The research, conducted as federally funded analysis of data collected from more than 4,000 people over 10 years, found that lonely people increase the likelihood that someone they know will also start to feel alone. And the worst part is, according to the research, loneliness can skip more than one degree of separation. So even if you don’t run in lonely crowds, friends of friends can get you starting to feel blue.
Rob Stein summarized the study’s findings in today’s Washington Post. While some experts question the study’s findings, we recommend you stay away from Roman Polanski (who is on house arrest), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (who is having trouble finding 59 friends to join his party), and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (who is losing support from his only friends — conservatives).
You should probably also avoid the notoriously lonely second floor of the McKeldin Library. Otherwise, you might end up looking like this guy:
you misspelled loneliness in your hed, and i think this column is called campus drive not campus driver? federally funded analysis needs a hyphen btw federally and funded. take away the hyphens in friends of friends. harry reid is probably having – not “have” – trouble finding friends. and what is a “second for floor” in mckeldin?
seriously, does the diamondback have a copy editor??!?!??!!?