Really interesting post. I've not seen the podcast yet but I'll just spew my thoughts out and see what sticks.

Have to say, of late I've been noticing a similar ramp up towards me basically consuming Funhaus content in lieu of friendships/relationships instead of in addition to.

I have an assortment of mental maladies, anxiety, clinical depression etc too, so maybe there's something in that - the anxiety aspect, I'm sure we've all been out with friends and it's just not worked, or you're nervous about a new person joining your group, or going to a new place with a lot of people - Funhaus content and any content really is safe. We all know the office, we "know" everyone, we're guaranteed to have a good time. You can say the same for Star Trek, I know the Enterprise, I know Will Riker is going to be there with his righteous beard and trombone.

It's the diet version of the rush of a good time with friends with none of the risk. Tasty but slightly empty in that it's a one way street, I mean you might meet them, or interact with them on twitter but it's not like we're all going to pile over to Lawrence's for a beer, there'll always be a disconnect.

Personally, friend wise, I have 2 friends who are like my brothers really, we can go a long time without seeing each other but we're always there. I'm lucky that people generally seem to like me and I have a lot of friendships that are sort of in stasis, that could probably be revived if I could figure out how (that's where anxiety and depression becomes an issue) but as I get older, late 20's, life shit is happening for me and my friends, commitments, families, work, some of my friends are 3 kids in to a family right now, some are pregnant, some are getting married in this year etc, we all moved out of our parents houses so we've all got rent or mortgages. It doesn't leave a lot of room to plan a sesh, the stars have to align so that everyone is free, not absolutely shattered from work, has money, is off the day after in case we get wankered and so on...

That's where Funhaus comes in, 20 minutes a day or so of friendship for the masses, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that really.

I think as long as you feel you can still maintain relationships then take what you can get, you don't want to get to a position where you become socially moribund from relying completely on a one way form of friendship. When I've had counselling for anxiety a thing they tried to drill in to me was always have 3 social interactions a day - doesn't have to be anything special, just talk to another person. Ask how the cashier is in the shop, ring your Gran, say Hi to your neighbour if you see them - just keep your social skills lubed up. If Funhaus is the Diet Coke of Friendships, then brush your teeth or they'll go brown and fall out haha (you can have that RT Marketing).

Finally though I'll just say - you should never feel bad for having a connection to someone or something. I love everyone at Funhaus, if for some reason they found themselves stranded in England, they could all come and stop at mine and I'd feed and clothe them, and drive them to the airport like they were my family, same for the community.