The epidemic of middle-aged men with NO friends: Man, 52, admits he’s lonely in viral video that resonates with thousands of others
- Mark Gaisford, a CEO, from Kent, went viral after admitting he was lonely online
- He said it was tough to admit that he had no friends and racked up support
- Many admitted they felt the same way too and encouraged him highlighting it
A British man has gone viral after confessing that he is lonely due to his lack of friendships.
Mark Gaisford, a 52-year-old CEO, from Kent, took to LinkedIn with a brave video confession which revealed how alone he really felt.
The married father-of-two, whose grown up children have moved out and whose wife works away at weekends, admitted that his lack of social life has left a gaping hole.
The clip resonated with users across the platform, and quickly racked up 15,000 views and hundreds of comments with followers confessing they felt the same way.
Mark Gaisford, a CEO, from Kent, took to LinkedIn with a brave video confession which revealed how alone he really felt
‘I have no friends,’ Mark admits, joking that he is a ‘lonely git’ and adding: ‘It’s a scary thing to admit that.’
‘I know a lot of people, but it’s mostly through networking and work’, he says.
‘I don’t take them out for dinner and I don’t go on long country walks with them. It’s not just me who’s got no friends.’
He then highlights a statistic which found 18 percent of men do not have a close friend, and as many as 32 percent of men have no one they consider to be a best friend.
‘I have no friends,’ Mark admits, joking that he is a ‘lonely git’ and adding: ‘It’s a scary thing to admit that.’
Flashing up a statstic which reveals that ‘male bonding is more likely to lower a man’s stress levels than a night out with his partner, or time spent with the family’, he decides to go to a social meet up.
The event is taking place at his local pub, and sees men coming together to socialise.
On his way to the event he admits he is nervous as he doesn’t know anyone at the event.
But filming straight after the meet-up, he is beaming as he leaves the pub and is thrilled he mustered up the courage.
Talking of the people he met, he says: ‘You’ve got the quiet ones, you’ve got the confident ones, but really good fun. I’m so glad I got off my backside and got a bit of guts and went and did something like that.
‘I wouldn’t call them necessarily friends yet. But I hope they will be in future’.
On his way to a social meet up at the local pub he admits he is nervous as he doesn’t know anyone at the event
Praising the brave confession, one user wrote: ‘Interesting. You’re not alone my friend. I think when we are getting old we naturally become more judicious which reduce the chances to make new friends.
‘Depending on the work, marriage, kids,… life could have a different paths for each of us which can push friends away.’
Another said: ‘Brilliant video. I moved to Australia 8 years ago left my friends behind got here and started running a business. Agreed that you make lots of people through work, but are they friends?
‘But it started talking about this year and it’s amazing how many people are in the same position. The more people talk about it the more the message gets out there. Really brave.’
Elsewhere one wrote: ‘You brave man. I love the way you put it across, there’s nothing “lonely git” about it. All my good friends are scattered around the world, so I’m a bit lonely too. ps. you’re clever and cute.’
Praising the brave confession, one user wrote: ‘Interesting. You’re not alone my friend. I think when we are getting old we naturally become more judicious which reduce the chances to make new friends.’