I’ve never gone to one but I have a friend that highly recommends fuck up nights (https://en.fuckupnights.com/).
Apparently it’s a group that like meets up and like tells each other how they fucked up at work/in life/whatever. Kind of works like a support group but also helps to develop public speaking in a super judgement free environment.
Not totally my cup of tea but it sounds super interesting.
Dancing. There could be many different styles - see what seems interesting for you.
Boardgame events.
Sporty/exercise events (like, walk with others from X to Y).
Libraries tend to have bulletin boards filled with upcoming community events. Plus then you’re already at the library so you can grab a book or a movie or something too
Go to meetup.com, look for subjects you’re interested in, and find a local meetup to join. Can be almost anything - wine tasting, board games, gardening, whatever. Pretty much any hobby or professional interest. I met my D&D game group that way before COVID and we’re still playing weekly. There are even meetups just to hang out in a group.
Chess, book clubs, group running.
Great question! I use Meetup and Bumble BFF. I’m old though…
Meetup used to be great, but seems to be enshittifying more with every passing day.
Are there good alternatives or other ways to find groups to join?
Not that I know of
Board Games!
War (crimes) you’ll be bonded for live threw trauma
You could try DND open play events at gobby shops.
Larping works great for me.
Another one I have not read in this thread yet: seek out (or organize) activities in your neighbourhood.
Bank Robbery seem quite fun, I highly recommend it
And you geht cool bonding experience for the next 5-20 years!
Volunteering or similar work, like lending a hand at small local theater or sports events. Depending on the work they might involve some downtime when you can chat with others and get to know them.
Join a choir?
Indeed, I lead a choir and a handbell choir at the church where I work; some handbell ringers became very close friends!
Join a hobby group or club for activities you’re actually interested in. It could be anything: sports, board games, video games. That way you already have a common interest with the others, and you feel less pressure to make friends because you can still spend your time doing what you enjoy.
This is correct, but, imo, incomplete.
The fact is, some of these groups kind of suck. Maybe they’re cliquish. Or maybe they are all dicks, or are judgemental about people who arent in the group. Or maybe they just aren’t your vibe for whatever reason.
If you are trying to make friends, I think the advise shouldn’t be “join a hobby or club for something you’re interested in” but “try out every hobby or club for everything you might be interested in”!
Not fitting in with an existing group is a risk you take no matter which method of seeking friendship you use. Trying out new activities is always a good idea though.
100%. Also true for any craft/DIY/manual hobby activity, art (music, sketching, painting), and so on.
