If Americans were happy—about themselves, about their friends, about their country—then whining about parties of one would feel silly.

But for Americans in the 2020s, solitude, anxiety, and dissatisfaction seem to be rising in lockstep.

I wonder if cause and effect are backwards here. If you know there’s a good chance that going out and socializing is going to lead to you getting cornered by a loudmouth bigot maybe you stay home and shitpost instead.