Slate Daily Feed ICYMI | Nobody Wants To Party Anymore
Sep 20, 2025
Josh Lora, a sociologist and content creator known as TellTheBees, dives into the rise of anti-social behavior in today’s culture. He discusses how a generation is proudly embracing staying in, fueled by smartphones and pandemic trauma. From the mainstreaming of 'loserdom' to the impact of dating apps on social interactions, Lora explores the complexities of modern connections. He also suggests remedies like low-cost third spaces to revive social gatherings and combat the doomscrolling trend.
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Early X‑Men Forum Fights
- Josh's first internet memory was joining an X-Men forum at age ten and arguing with adults while pretending to be older.
- He says early forum fights shaped his online persona and curiosity about culture.
Staying Home Is Not Necessarily Bliss
- Josh Lora argues that staying home culture is being framed as aspirational while many who do it are unhappy and lonely.
- He sees online posts glamorizing isolation as platforming sadness, not joy.
COVID's Lingering Social Damage
- Josh acknowledges COVID's role in stunting social skills and increasing defensiveness around lifestyle choices.
- He says he'd be more gracious about that factor if rewriting the piece later.