Why do some people assume that (all) loners are socially "inept"?

Question

Ridiculous!

Answer 1

It seems you disagree with this assumption.  I think that some loners would be lacking in social skills, some would be schizoid, some would prefer the peace and quiet of their own thoughts.  I'm a loner not because I am socially inept, but because it is less stressful to go where I want to go when I want to go there instead of trying to coordinate my movements with others.  At least, that is one plausible explanation.

Answer 2

because non-social people are threatening to social people.  they think loners should be just like them when all we want to do is enjoy time alone.

Answer 3

It is easier for 'social' people to label loners as defective, rather than accept that a defective societal structure forces some people to seek solitude in order to be happy. ie you don't like the foods the rest of us like so something must be wrong with your taste buds.

Answer 4

Because, in many cases, the people you refer to are cognitively inept (aka:dumb, insensitive, etc., etc., etc..) and so they jump to some self satisfying rationale instead of paying attention.  God Bless you.

Answer 5

In my experience, social people often feel that something is wrong if a loner doesn't act as extrovertedly as more social people do.  There may be a feeling of unease, as though they did something wrong or something to offend the loner.  This feeling tends to put people on a defensive front, and accusing loners of social ineptitude is a way of clearing one's own conscience of wrongdoings, even though both problem and solution are imagined.

For example, I don't talk to a whole lot of my co-workers.  They understand now that I'm just the quiet type, but there used to be gossip of me always being in a bad mood because I wasn't talking to people.