the world is a lonely and cruel world- a website like this is a crutch, a cane, the proverbial bone
I don't agree with this at all. The world is a wonderful place with the vast majority being wonderful people. It is the phobia indoctrinated by the Borg that makes people think the world is lonely and cruel. There is loneliness and cruelty but those are characteristic of the tiny minority of people; there is no need to be either when there is so much love and kindness to be found.