Loneliness and Belonging and AI friends and Growing Up Bowling Not Alone

Hi there!In this episode, Tom and Tim talk about loneliness, and easing it with AI friends. And the need for community and the seminal Post-Apocalyptic novel Earth Abides, and then Tim and Tom decide to start a bowling alley. A gentle and wise conversation. Enjoy!Timestamps!00:00 - Tim talks about his old idea of loneliness02:25 - Tim's revised thoughts about loneliness, after reading this article; is there a difference between old-school loneliness of people who love to be by themselves but are devoid of human contact, and those same people now turning to AI companionship?09:05 - Tom responds; he brings in in-jokes as a way of thinking about belonging within groups and friendships; we all want to create worlds together14:25 - Tom talks about (and reads from) Earth Abides, by George Stewart18:25 - Tom would love a cool AI friend! But he doesn't trust the people who make them19:28 - Tom talks about Jeannette Winterson's book of essays about AI and the lack of corporate (or other) regulation or ethics22:30 - Is it too easy to watch/read or now have an AI friend, than to talk to a living person?30:55 - Tom talks word-based video games35:15 - Is the answer to live in simpler/enclosed communities of similar people?37:45 - Back to George Stewart's Earth Abides; how does one group deal with their own meaning in the face of any other group's meaning?43:08 - The essential ritual of social events, and Robert Putnam’s book, Bowling Alone... and Tom's revelation that he basically grew up in a bowling alley!47:13 - Tim's heavy heart about his antisocial neighbors48:35 - Tim and Tom can solve the world's problems by opening their own bowling alley49:13 - Tim's reading corner - from a novel called "The Astronomer" This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tomhart.substack.com