[UglyIsBeautiful]

Do you find that although you have a few good friends here and there, its difficult to socialize with them because either they are in a serious relationship or they already have their own group of friends whom you don't really know?

I'm in that situation. I have friends. But they tend to be in relationships and I find it awkward being the 3rd and 5th wheel. Also, when your friends being their SO, its hard to be yourself. You gotta be considerate. So I have trouble speaking my mind.

And the friends who are single, they tend to have their own groups already. And for one reason or another, I tend not to really get along with their friends for one reason or another. I mean, we like each other fine. But there's just not much of a friendship kind of feeling.

I find myself spending a lot of time alone these days. I just find socializing a frustrating experience. I try and it just doesn't seem to work. Maybe I'm too picky and expect too much from people. I'm not the kind of person who enjoys empty socializing. Maybe what I need is a girlfriend but its hard to meet girls when you hardly go out. So it's like this vicious cycle.

I have hobbies and my career to keep me occupied but sometimes I get these lonely feelings that make me feel bad.

[donporkuloin]

Being the 3rd wheel does suck. It's worse when the 2 people you're out with point it out, and makes jokes that you're the 3rd wheel. I've never been the 5th wheel before. Socializing can be hard sometimes. For me it is hard sometimes, because I meet a lot of fake people, and my tolerance is low for it. But when you get a chance to socialize do it, and keep trying to meet new people when the opportunities come.

[princesspoppy]

Dude, we need to hang out...lets get it kRuNkK!!!

[heyitzthatfc]

Do you find that although you have a few good friends here and there, its difficult to socialize with them because either they are in a serious relationship or they already have their own group of friends whom you don't really know?

I'm in that situation. I have friends. But they tend to be in relationships and I find it awkward being the 3rd and 5th wheel. Also, when your friends being their SO, its hard to be yourself. You gotta be considerate. So I have trouble speaking my mind.

And the friends who are single, they tend to have their own groups already. And for one reason or another, I tend not to really get along with their friends for one reason or another. I mean, we like each other fine. But there's just not much of a friendship kind of feeling.

I find myself spending a lot of time alone these days. I just find socializing a frustrating experience. I try and it just doesn't seem to work. Maybe I'm too picky and expect too much from people. I'm not the kind of person who enjoys empty socializing. Maybe what I need is a girlfriend but its hard to meet girls when you hardly go out. So it's like this vicious cycle.

I have hobbies and my career to keep me occupied but sometimes I get these lonely feelings that make me feel bad.

You're not picky, or expecting too much, it's understandable. My best advice is to forget they're in a relationship, and hang out with them as friends. Just make sure you're not invading in their comfort zone/time. I've been a 5th wheel a couple times, and my friends had been the 5th wheels a couple time.. But we're all there to just have fun and kick it.

If you wanna meet girls, then start with people you know, they're closer then you think. If you insist on looking for a girl where you need to get out, then do just that.. Just make sure you're not rushing into it.

[HERMIT]

Man, 3rd or 5th wheel?! Lucky you!
I actually wish I was in your shoes.
It beats being the farty old muffler, making odd noises that embarrasses everyone else in the group.

[PoppinBC]

I usually avoid being third wheel big time... I have a tendency to be flirtatious, even if I don't mean anything by it, and that typically gets one person very very angry...

Plus it's really awkward. Last time I was third wheel we went bowling... nothing like them kissing every time one of the two get a strike or spare. What happens when I get a strike or spare? crickets...

[tasty]

i refuse to be the 3rd wheel ever.

lol. my close friend (20) is dating a 16 yr old guy and i can't be bothered meeting him. ew.

[phoenix rise]

one of my friends has a SO and their own group of friends and i don't know them never met them. we only hang out sometimes like once a month. and you could say im the 4th wheel. don't know if hes a real friend or not.

[nefastus07]

I usually avoid being third wheel big time... I have a tendency to be flirtatious, even if I don't mean anything by it, and that typically gets one person very very angry...

Plus it's really awkward. Last time I was third wheel we went bowling... nothing like them kissing every time one of the two get a strike or spare. What happens when I get a strike or spare? crickets...

ouch that sucks. haha but the crickets part is funny. i'm not flirty but my friends say i'm a perv though for a girl they think it's just funny.

not sure which is worse 3rd, 5th, or 7th wheel. last time i hung out with my friends i was the 7th wheel with everyone facing their partner at the long dinner table while i was left facing an empty chair. it was really sad...i think all the single people here should get together and hang out.

[princesspoppy]

i think all the single people here should get together and hang out.

werd. I second that.

[YUNA!]

werd. I second that.

^single's awareness day is coming up.
good timing huh

OP:
I never go out with friends if I know I'm gonna be the 3rd or 5th wheel.
If I absolutely cannot miss the function/event, then I make sure there's another singlet attending too. Haha~

[GooNiEGooGoo]

yea..lets all go out and do something fun....laser tag, paintball, snowboarding, left4dead, bowling, rave......ummm :DDDDDDDDDDD

[Millou]

when I hang out with my friends, in a small group, they normally don't bring their s/o with them. And when we're in a big group it's not a very big deal. there are mostly other singles.

friends in a relationship should be more considerate of their single friends..

[tlydia]

^single's awareness day is coming up.
good timing huh

OP:
I never go out with friends if I know I'm gonna be the 3rd or 5th wheel.
If I absolutely cannot miss the function/event, then I make sure there's another singlet attending too. Haha~

There's a Single's Awareness Day? I never knew.

As for the whole issue about being the 3rd/5th wheel when hanging out with friends, I don't do it. When I'm with my boyfriend, we have our alone time. If we do go out with friends, we tend to hang out with couples so that none of our friends feel left out. When I'm by myself, I go out w/ a big group of friends so it doesn't matter if I'm with my s/o or not. The last thing I would want is to feel out of place by being the 3rd/5th wheel. I wouldn't want my friends to feel that way either.

Man, 3rd or 5th wheel?! Lucky you!
I actually wish I was in your shoes.
It beats being the farty old muffler, making odd noises that embarrasses everyone else in the group.

I like farty old mufflers!

[hangook/korea]

c'mon it's not that bad...

I don't see what the big deal is- I hang out with couples all the time. They know better than two start acting all couple-like around
me. I will break that sit up- sit in between them, shouting out a 'hey guys! look at that!', take a pic, etc.

[watcher]

^single's awareness day is coming up.
good timing huh

OP:
I never go out with friends if I know I'm gonna be the 3rd or 5th wheel.
If I absolutely cannot miss the function/event, then I make sure there's another singlet attending too. Haha~

haha.. i never liked that term. let the couples have their day. shoot, when i was single, i used to ask out random girls and have fun. date night without the commitment! those were fun times! y'all should try. live a little

[idyllsend]

Do you find that although you have a few good friends here and there, its difficult to socialize with them because either they are in a serious relationship or they already have their own group of friends whom you don't really know?

I'm in that situation. I have friends. But they tend to be in relationships and I find it awkward being the 3rd and 5th wheel. Also, when your friends being their SO, its hard to be yourself. You gotta be considerate. So I have trouble speaking my mind.

And the friends who are single, they tend to have their own groups already. And for one reason or another, I tend not to really get along with their friends for one reason or another. I mean, we like each other fine. But there's just not much of a friendship kind of feeling.

I find myself spending a lot of time alone these days. I just find socializing a frustrating experience. I try and it just doesn't seem to work. Maybe I'm too picky and expect too much from people. I'm not the kind of person who enjoys empty socializing. Maybe what I need is a girlfriend but its hard to meet girls when you hardly go out. So it's like this vicious cycle.

I have hobbies and my career to keep me occupied but sometimes I get these lonely feelings that make me feel bad.

Your situation mirrors mine pretty much exactly. Sadly because of that, I can't offer any advice or words of comfort.

[uhhuh_5]

If you are friends with everyone in the group then being the 3rd or 5th wheel may not be that bad. But, I usually don't know the SO and avoid those situations for the benefit of my friend's SO, since my shyness makes them uncomfortable. Lol But, I know what you mean about maintaining your relationships with friends in a serious commitment. After my friends started dating (all except for me) I felt like I had to work around the schedule of their relationship. And I understand that they want to spend most of their time together, it just sucks that I don't have any single friends close by to hang with. And like the OP, it resulted in spending lots of time alone, which I now have actually come to feel more comfortable with. Sometimes, I think it would be better to have a boyfriend over new single friends because you could always depend on your bf to be there, while your girl friend could always find a SO and place you back to your lonely singledom lifestyle. Oh, the tragedy. kekeke

[Fuznut88]

3rd wheel? You guys mean like a tricycle?

[Myss Blewm]

I definitely know what it's like to feel like a third or fifth wheel because it's happened so often. Best advice I have is when you're third wheeling get to know your friend's SO. At least you won't feel so left out if you feel like they're both your friends.

You can either find your own SO or accept being alone. I don't know why but I don't see the big deal with what's so wrong with being alone. I find it pretty nice, especially when my friends are pissing me off.