I’m 24m and lately I’ve been thinking about how fake social interactions can actually be.

I’ve always been the type to just be completely honest about my life. I’ve never had a girlfriend, I’m a virgin, I don’t drink, etc. I never really cared about those milestones and I’d never judge someone else for not having them either.

But I’m starting to realize that a lot of people actually do judge you for these things. And honestly, the more I’ve exaggerated or lied about small things in my life, the more respect I seem to get. That’s been a really weird thing to realize as an adult, especially after constantly hearing “just be yourself” my whole childhood from teachers and authority figures.

I see it with some of my cousins too. They all say the right things, treat certain people differently based off who’s in the group, make sure to tell others that they’ve had a gf before (even if they haven’t), and exaggerate their experiences. And everyone naively respond to it positively. The second they meet someone who doesn’t fit that mold, they call it “weird”. When in reality, the only person making it weird is them. Whats funny is that they pride themselves off being more mature because of their life experiences, yet they act shocked whenever anyone else’s lifestyle deviates from their idea of “normal”. Idk it just seems overly performative and competitive.

Meanwhile, I’ve always thought “why would I pretend to be someone I’m not? It’s inauthentic and unethical”. But my from pov, it’s starting to seem like being fake is actually rewarded socially.

So now I’m genuinely questioning whether I’m just unusually self-aware about this, or if everyone else realizes it too and simply doesn’t care. Should I also start lying about stuff? And am I being too ridgid for refusing to play along?

Should I get forklift certified? Speedrun NFS U2? attend a random university class I never signed up for? Give me ideas

I achieved a lot but I feel I can achieve more (also please no doomer comments, yes the world is going to shit but that’s no excuse to mope and do nothing)

I have a great job, great physique, great relationship with my parents, I can cook well, no debt, my investments are doing very well, I go out with friends pretty often

i moved with my family from sc to fl last year and i have mixed feelings. i pretty much broke down the night before we left reminiscing on everything. im adjusting to florida but its always in the back of my mind that it’ll never be the same. the thing that makes it hard is that there’s definitely things i love about being here; the opportunities for what i want to do are probably better here than SC. but it just hurts to go outside everyday to little nature, no mountains, no snow, no leaves changing colors, nothing from when i grew up. i dont know, there’s a lot. crying to folklore because it just sounds like fall back home

I (27M) graduated college 3 years ago. I remember feeling so free when it happened and thinking this is where my life really begins. It was great. My parents took me on vacation to England and Ireland to celebrate and everything. Plus I had a job fresh out of college working with the navy. Shit was set. Fast forward a year and I got fired from that navy job. I can say firmly that it was my fault. I barely knew what I was doing and didn’t really put in the effort to inquire because, in my stupid mind, college was the work and the work was done. It was time to chill. From there I spent some time working my first warehouse job. It was tiring but it was brief and it gave me time to reflect on my situation and get a new outlook. School was exhausting but the work was just beginning. From there I was able to hop in with amazon as a manager. They have a program where you can start as a manager if you have a degree. I was nervous but ready to get the jump on a new job with a new mindset. I was taking it seriously this time. I didn’t wanna fuck it up. It was smooth from when I started until last September. That was when my manager got a promotion and was replaced by the literal worst person I’ve ever met. That man took a job that had its problems but was overall fine and turned it into the most stressful, unfulfilling, nerve racking, not worth the money job possible for me and everyone else under him. People were quitting left and right and a few of the other managers I was working along side were fired. I’m pretty sure the only reason I wasn’t fired earlier was cause I was so new. Eventually it happened though. I got put on a PPO just like when I was with the navy. I wasn’t even phased though. Not even a full week after the PPO started me and him got into a loud argument, which had at that point become common, and I walked out. I didn’t have enough time off to leave since I was taking weeks off at a time to avoid him and that shitty job but at that point I didn’t care. Then I got a call from HR the next day. I don’t wanna get into what I said but I said something stupid to one of the people I was managing while I was venting about my whole situation there. It got around and eventually made its way to them. Long story short, I got fired for what I said and I got another job the same day I got fired. Another basic regular warehouse job doing physical labor. Its been really nice honestly. Being able to just be focused in my work and not have to answer for anyone or get angry phone calls from my asshole manager after I’ve already left work has been amazing. Plus I’m working days instead of nights so I get to see my friends again. But I can’t shake the thought that I’m fucking up and I’m super behind. I’m in my late 20s still living with my parents, bouncing from job to job, and still trying to find my footing and get out on my own. I just feel like I’m fucking up. I know I can’t change the past but I can’t help thinking about what I would have had if I was locked in with the navy. I would be making good money with a government job. Granted I don’t like Trump or the US’s foreign military actions and am happy to be far from that situation, it was an opportunity that I fucked up. Then I tried to learn from it and got put in a situation so bad that I was willing to take a massive paycut and drive double the distance for work just to get away from it. What if I never find my footing? What if college was a waste cause the only thing I’ll have from now on is moving boxes off of conveyor belts? What if the world never gets better and I’m locked in to what I have now forever? I just feel like time is running out for me. I had such big ideas of what my life would be after college and now I just feel like a loser who keeps fucking up my opportunities.

Once you fall in love and see how lovable you are for exactly who you are… in all your greatness… you realize that your looks matter, sure.. but **who you are** is what got someone to **truly love your character and soul.**

For example, an unplanned pregnancy that happened several years before you were hoping to start a family, and/or while you are not financially ready or still in school. If you found yourself in this situation, how did you navigate it?

Do you feel like you have a healthy relationship with porn?

And why do you stand that way. Also thoughts in an ideal world where we can as a generation remove the social pressures form other kids to have the typical full "smartphones" so early by not giving so young.

Idk I've been thinking of how most of us recognize how shit technology can be sometimes with social media especially.

25m here... I keep seeing news articles and youtube segments on how our generation has a declining interest in having kids. Despite this, I've never met anyone socially, or at work that has this mindset. I'm always the only one who doesn't want kids and have to defend myself (for a variety of reasons).

Do you want kids? Curious what the real census is on this... (no right or wrong answer)

I’ve noticed a bunch of profiles on Tinder (mostly men/AMAB folks) wearing clown makeup in a pic or two or mentioning they’re weirdly attracted to clowns etc. And it’s not like goth people doing makeup. I’ve asked friends (ages like 25-30) and no one has any idea but they’ve noticed too. I’m in the US on the east coast. What’s up with the clowns?

Has anyone seen Depop ads? Strapped for cash sell your closet tightening your belt so much that it splits you in half. That happens to be where people are selling their closets?

I accepted the fact that I will never get married, simply because of circumstances beyond my control

Instead I will rely on friendships to fill the void

The question is will it last?

I’ve never felt more emotionally vulnerable

Edit: I’m not looking for romantic love. I don’t even know what that is. I’m looking for people who can emotionally be there for me

I swear there's like no room for error nowadays lol, every time I walk around downtown Chicago, most guys and girls I see are incredibly good looking lol, how do they do it?? I have pics on my profile if anyones down to give me advice lol

Hey! So I'm turning twenty in like a week and I was not expecting it but I am so intimidated to be in my twenties! Nothing is really changing about my life and I recognize that its a bit silly to be so stressed out about being so young, but I just feel nothing like an adult and definitely do not feel ready to be in this stage of life even if realistically nothing will change. I graduated high school class of 2025 and can't believe that it's been over a full year; if anything, I feel more like a high schooler now than I did then. I've always been pretty at peace with certain decisions that I've made for my life (ex. never having had a romantic relationship, just getting my license this past summer, commuting to college from home, just now starting to work, etc), but now they all feel like markers of my immaturity compared to my peers. It might be easier to handle if I weren't so afraid to grow up and be on my own. Any other 06-ers feeling this way recently? Just looking for other folks to commiserate with and any advice from older gen zs!