"needing" =/= "needy"

My feeling is, as a human species we are social beings, so we do need some interaction to grow, learn, and survive. But everyone has different levels, and we don't necessarily "need" a relationship, which is also different from want. For me, I want other people there, that's my choice. It makes my life feel more full and meaningful to be able to support and share with others. I'm happy with friendship, but I also want a relationship. Perhaps some may see this a "weakness" -- I don't. Because for many years I didn't want it because I was afraid; I see it as a strength that I'm working through those fears.

I define "need" as cannot physically survive without it. One CAN make it to old age on their own. It happens every day. Whether or not mere survival is pleasant and fulfilling is another matter. Thus I WANT the company of another. I can survive without it, but would choose companionship, given the option.

"Is it not true we all need someone whether it’s a lover, friend or just some one that cares?"

Of course, we do. That has nothing to do with being independent.
Being independent is about not needing to be "taken care of".
To me, that means financially, emotionally, or any other kind of way.
It does NOT mean that I don't want certain people around for company.

I Pretty much have no problem being alone.
That's not to say that I am opposed to having friends, or a girlfriend.
I do have friends, and it's nice having them.
But I just don't need another to be happy.

Not every post on here is for validation.

You don't NEED a significant other, and if you do, then you NEED to work on yourself.

Just my opinion, and I don't NEED validation for it.

While I can’t know what the other OP intended, it seemed like their post was about not relying on their partner, but still choosing to be with them. It didn’t appear like anyone who commented on it, interpreted it to mean that the OP didn’t need anyone. Being independent is about empowerment, not isolation.

I can see how semantics or individual interpretation can muddy the waters on this subject.

I'm a people-person and while I value my time alone, I also really need social interaction. I'm also really touchy-feely and need that skin on skin contact. So....while I consider myself pretty independent, I definitely need people. Friends are great but ultimately it would be ideal to find a partner in life.

Some folks just don't "Get" that it is Social Media.

Yes some of us are introverts. But I presume we still crave human interaction.

Sometimes the negativity makes me shake my head.

I think except for some very rare individual everyone needs some form of human contact I consider myself a very retiring person but I still have a very small number of friends and family that are very dear to me

I can't speak for the other post, but I see this thing in our culture where we don't need anybody. I hear people say, "I just need to love me..." But I don't think it can work that way. I think we learn to love others by loving ourselves, and we learn to love ourselves by loving others.

I know it's a crazy generality, but I think that inside of that are ways of bonding ourselves to each other in healthy ways. We need each other on just about every level. We need a military looking out for our best interest, we need regulators making sure our food is safe, we need distributors getting our dinner to the grocery store. We need friends who can see into our blind spots and helps us become better people.

As to beating someone up because they value independence, that may very well be the reason they feel they need that independence. We should be good to each other, even when we disagree.

I would say we all need something from someone... it's just that sometimes we don't even know it. Usually time takes care of it and eventually we all realize that we need someone

It's possible to need someone and maintain independence.

There seems to be all different degrees of need for others , and ability to function perfectly well all alone - and a whole lot of choices in between ! No one size fits all !

You make a good point! It may have something to do with co-dependency, which is not a good thing! Co-dependency, says, i don’t have meaning without you or I am nothing without you! We are not operating independently...together...with another person.
I agree, we all need other people in our life, but our society may have lost some of the trust that another person has our best interest at heart. Which really boils down to our doubts in our own ability to deflect the barbs and arrows, produced in living in this world...or paired up with another person!

Need != Want

As others have already said, humans are social animals. We do vary quite a lot though in our need to live with others around us. After we leave our parents care and make our way in the world as adults, we make choices about the sort of relationships we wish to form with others. Most of us have a circle of friends which has been forming from childhood. If we are lucky we still have a few friends from our earliest school days, then college, then work and so on, adding and subtracting some as we pass through life. Those amongst us who find a really compatibile mate at some point along the way and marry or cohabit and reproduce with them are lucky, not everyone does or even wants this. I have experienced all of the above, and now in my later years I have lost my husband and feel my life has been fulfilled enough to allow me some me time. I now enjoy life living on my own, but my friends and children and grandchildren still enrich it, I may choose to live alone but I am never lonely.

I mean I don't need the likes on my posts or anything for validation. I am who I am until I decide there is an upgraded me option by making a change.
Not because random people disagree.

I think we all need different types of "social" in our lives. Some more than others but I do believe we all require some social interaction on some level

An interesting topic. In my opinion, it all depends on what one defines as "need". Oftentimes, people use words in a less than literal sense. I need a coffee right now. I need to get laid. I need a stiff drink. All of these (outside of getting laid if you happen to be a female ferret) are wants, not needs, as long as the end result was to stay alive. Which brings me to my next point, I think it depends a lot on what ones end game is. If the goal is just to stay alive, it doesn't take a lot. If one intends to stay mentally and emotionally strong along with being physically healthy, then I could see how one may "need" human interaction. But it's not necessarily going to be the same for all of us. I am content by myself more often than I am content around most people. It may be different for you. Also, in regards to your final question, not everyone posts for validation, some of us post because we want other opinions to compare and contrast our own, or to share a thought of some new bit of news or information, or probably an endless amount of other reasons.

I stand by my original post. I would much rather be wanted than needed, and I hope my partner would feel the same. I certainly wasn't looking for validation. I simply shared a meme that rang true to me. Isn't that what most posts here are all about?
I find it interesting that there is so much ado over semantics. Seems like I struck a chord.
I certainly didn't expect to be called out and told my "notion" is wrong. For that, I might as well hang out with my religious family.

I need someone, always have, never lied about it either. We are social creatures and that is why we need others.

Studies show isolation is not good for humans either so easy to conclude the need exists.

Odd why so many act as though they are somehow fine without contact.

I think independence and validation are kinda two different things.