💯 %. Let me amplify your thoughts-
I moved here from Singapore in 2023. What I have seen & observed in my own behaviour is exactly what you said.
In SG, I could put out a whatsapp message in a group of 15 on wed Saying "Let's meet on fri 6:30 at Masala bar on ECR ". And 6-10 guys would turn up. All Indian expats.
In BLR, I better make plans at least a week/ 10 days in advance, message people 1:1, campaign a bit & build up a quorum. Else, I'm going to be drinking alone..or maybe 1 other chap.
The reason is not that people in bangalore are not social or are too busy. Its what you have said. The sheer grind of the commute.
In SG, the guys would have finished work at 5:30, gone home, changed, freshened up & are at the bar at 6:30 - 7:00. You are done by 10:30 max. You are home by 11:00. I.e if you are not inclined for late night partying .
In BLR, 7:00 pm is peak traffic. NOBODY wants to spend 1:5 hrs in the bloody traffic. Their first thought when you make plans is " Where is this place& How long is it going to take me?"
So they make excuses. Can't blame them.
In 2 yrs my first thought when I have to go anywhere is - "What's the traffic going to be like?"
This applies to other kinds of social interaction as well. We hesitate to visit relatives who are more than an hour of commute away. ( 1 hr commute is like 10 km in BLR , btw).
On a weekend I don't want to spend half the day dealing with traffic.
Result: Haven't met a lot of people in years.
We don't really live in Bangalore. We only live in Bellandur & travel as far as Indiranagar on one sidev& HSR on the other. Anything beyond silk board is no no.
Sorry for the rant. Your tweet triggered traffic-trauma 😄