What a curious thought: the Dining Hall Walk of Shame, when a lone diner searches for a seat. And, according to Matt Hymowitz, "It is a noble, and sometimes pathetic quest, because this Walk makes one feel and sends the message to others that he is a loser because he does not have a friend to eat with." There are innumerable reasons why one might eat alone; it's not worth my time to list them.

But being labeled a "loser" because one is eating alone is overly harsh. I have spent many pleasant, quiet hours engrossed in a book while eating. And I choose to do so, not because I lack friends, but because I find that a quick meal between classes is most easily accomplished without waiting for friends. And it makes meals with friends more of a special occasion. Being a loner doesn't preclude friends -- it simply means that one prefers to be solitary in certain activities.

Being a loner can be tough. But being a loner doesn't make you a loser.