Our Lure Of… events at the Cockpit are back for 2026. Intimate, open conversations where Byline Times contributors, readers, and supporters – along with anyone curious – come together to explore the forces shaping life in an increasingly fractured world.

On February 2nd, our first session back will be The Lure of... Loneliness.

In recent years, loneliness has moved from a private feeling to a widely discussed social condition. Research shows that social circles are shrinking, particularly among younger people, even as digital platforms promise constant connection. Many of us spend more time online than ever, yet feel increasingly disconnected.

At the same time, the everyday places that once brought people together – community venues, clubs, local institutions – have quietly disappeared or become harder to access. The result is a growing sense that we’ve become disconnected, not just from one another, but from shared civic and cultural life.

This event will open up a thoughtful discussion about why loneliness has become such a powerful force, what draws us toward solitude and digital echo chambers, how hateful ideologies spawn from our fragmentation, and what might help rebuild meaningful connection in an age of atomisation.