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There Have Always Existed People Who’ve Simply Wanted to Be Alone

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Re: There Have Always Existed People Who’ve Simply Wanted to Be Alone

#51

Post by nashashmi »

fiatjaf wrote: post #48
nabla9 wrote: post #42

Being alone and hiking and camping in the wilderness without human contact for longer period can be amazing experience. There can be initial anxiety and intense desire to go back after romance goes away and your internal shit comes to light. When there is constant need for do chores to survive but also free time and no human contact, no books, radio or music, mind gradually settles into itself. It's like coming from…

How much time before the eye adjusts?

+1 for this question. Is it a day, a week, a month... Or longer?

Re: There Have Always Existed People Who’ve Simply Wanted to Be Alone

#52

Post by icantdrive55 »

"On this planet, we don’t know what to do with people who don’t belong."

1. I think this is the real issue. I don't think this guy truly wanted to live alone.

2. I think there are a handful of people who want to live the life of a hermit, and that's fine. Today---it's practically illegial?

If Jesus reappeared, he would probally break a bunch of municipal laws the first day: 1. Loitering. 2. Not getting the right permit for the event(sermon). 3. "He isn't wearing underware!" Indecent exposure ticket. 4. Fishing in the wrong stream 5. Fishing without a license. 6. And another ticket for sleeping in the park. 7. "His crushed grapes must be hooch?" another ticket--maybe a visit by ATF?

My point is it's basically illegial to be without house, and money.

It's not right.

I knew some people who were between jobs, and they were harassed to no end. One guy committed suicide because of the harassment, actually just cops doing their jobs. We have way too many laws, and not enough help.

Re: There Have Always Existed People Who’ve Simply Wanted to Be Alone

#53

Post by sliverstorm »

evervevdww221 wrote: post #24

I have the impulse to become a hermit myself, fundamentally because I'm tired of living up to other people's ideologies: going through schools and finding a job in a cubical. getting married at the right age and then raising the right amount kids, saving for their college fund and then for retirement. but why? I can't help but compare with my surroundings, even I have quit Facebook for many years. I can't be myself w…

Trouble is at the end of the day we need food and shelter. Reading some really fascinating papers or code is great, and so are painting and playing guitar. Do all those things. But most everyone will have to work to live, and working a good job is easier with schooling, and you might meet this girl...

It seems like an artificial treadmill from afar, but IMO the underpinnings are fairly sound. You just have to find the flavor that suits you. Buying farmland and working in your fields 12 hours a day, is still an option :)

Re: There Have Always Existed People Who’ve Simply Wanted to Be Alone

#54

Post by [deleted] »

sseagull wrote: post #23
grabcocque wrote: post #14

The idea of introverts and extraverts being distinct groups of people with completely different neurological responses to social situations is a largely false one, created by self-help woo merchants to unhelpfully pathologise the feeling that EVERYONE has from time to time that they want to be left the fuck alone. You know what? It's a normal, neurotypical part of life as a homo sapiens to want to be by yourself some…

> The idea of introverts and extraverts being distinct groups of people with completely different neurological responses to social situations is a largely false one Why would you say that? Even perusing the wikipedia article shows that there is at least some evidence for a biological basis, and that it is being researched. Maybe it's not up to your standards, but it's far from being settled as a bunch of 'woo' https:…

[deleted]

Re: There Have Always Existed People Who’ve Simply Wanted to Be Alone

#55

Post by vorg »

pm90 wrote: post #47
white-flame wrote: post #15

It baffles me that people think it's so shockingly outlandish that there are people who don't reactionarily buy into the tribalistic pressures around us to simply act like everyone else. Humanity is not homogeneous, yet some notions like these are always projected out to be considered an immutable, inescapable constant. I can only guess that's that same fear of being different shining through. I presume that on sites…

There are very real evolutionary pressure on humans to be social and pliant and buy into the notion that society is a net good, whether it be a tribal one or a more modern version. Just think about it: the outliers get ostracized and more often than not don't pass on their genes to the next generation. Until very recently, we had extremely tribal behavior among human societies as well. So it makes sense that most peo…

> I am living in an age and country where not being socially pliant isn't something that would get me killed

Not killed, but certainly the victim of gossip, even smear campaigns and gang stalking. You're an ideal patsy to cover up some sociopath's schemes. "You may not be interested in war, but war is interestwd in you."

Re: There Have Always Existed People Who’ve Simply Wanted to Be Alone

#56

Post by tray5 »

roceasta wrote: post #45
tray5 wrote: post #17

My personal theory for explaining hermits throughout history is simple, these people had/have aspergers. I have aspergers myself, and I can very easily see someone who has aspergers who for whatever reason no longer wants to socialize anymore getting up and doing their own thing out in isolation. I don't truly believe that any neurotypical person, and for that matter many aspies could do it, but if you're brain is wi…

>socialization doesn't provide that reward that it does for most other people Exactly. If one doesn't get the reward then it's too easy to commit errors and not worth the effort to correct them. However I do think 'spergs' have a better knowledge of the rules than normies. Just as a native speaker doesn't need to know grammar in order to speak correctly, so normies don't need to know the rules of social interaction.

>However I do think 'spergs' have a better knowledge of the rules than normies.

You're absolutely right. It's intuition for neurotypical people, it's just something they get. For aspies socialization is about learning all the hidden rules that come naturally to others. But I do admit that knowing the rules and applying them in real time is a very, very difficult thing to do. It gets exhausting quick, and if this was one of the reasons hermits decide to become hermits, I can empathise massively.

Re: There Have Always Existed People Who’ve Simply Wanted to Be Alone

#57

Post by Mikeb85 »

The title IMO is far more interesting and thought provoking than the actual story. So this guy lived in the woods somewhat near people, and stole to get by...

I've personally always been fascinated by the topic as I have met several hermit monks, have a friend who lived as one for half a year, and contemplated it for myself. The history of religious asceticism and hermits is quite interesting, and many of history's most famous philosophers/religious leaders/prophets were either hermits, or had periods of reclusion. And nearly every single religion has these hermit figures.

Anyhow, the downside is that being alone is tough. Physically and mentally. Humans are social creatures. However I have personally benefited from periods of isolation and reflection, even if I'd much rather be around others.

Re: There Have Always Existed People Who’ve Simply Wanted to Be Alone

#58

Post by lgas »

nabla9 wrote: post #42

Being alone and hiking and camping in the wilderness without human contact for longer period can be amazing experience. There can be initial anxiety and intense desire to go back after romance goes away and your internal shit comes to light. When there is constant need for do chores to survive but also free time and no human contact, no books, radio or music, mind gradually settles into itself. It's like coming from…

I know the feeling you are talking about but I don't think that you're any less you when you're around people and external stimuli, you're just the you that are when you are around people and external stimuli. No more or less you than the you that you are when you are alone, just different.

Re: There Have Always Existed People Who’ve Simply Wanted to Be Alone

#59

Post by syshum »

Mikeb85 wrote: post #57

The title IMO is far more interesting and thought provoking than the actual story. So this guy lived in the woods somewhat near people, and stole to get by... I've personally always been fascinated by the topic as I have met several hermit monks, have a friend who lived as one for half a year, and contemplated it for myself. The history of religious asceticism and hermits is quite interesting, and many of history's m…

I think the idea that "Humans are social creatures" is spread by the part of humanity that are social creatures and us introverts are not normally around to challenge that assertion.

While undoubtedly there are many many humans that desire to socialize and be around other humans, there are many of us that find socialization less enjoyable.

So while I personally have benefited from periods of social interaction, I'd much rather be in isolation and self reflection.

Re: There Have Always Existed People Who’ve Simply Wanted to Be Alone

#60

Post by smallnamespace »

syshum wrote: post #59
Mikeb85 wrote: post #57

The title IMO is far more interesting and thought provoking than the actual story. So this guy lived in the woods somewhat near people, and stole to get by... I've personally always been fascinated by the topic as I have met several hermit monks, have a friend who lived as one for half a year, and contemplated it for myself. The history of religious asceticism and hermits is quite interesting, and many of history's m…

I think the idea that "Humans are social creatures" is spread by the part of humanity that are social creatures and us introverts are not normally around to challenge that assertion. While undoubtedly there are many many humans that desire to socialize and be around other humans, there are many of us that find socialization less enjoyable. So while I personally have benefited from periods of social interaction, I'd m…

Being social and being sociable often conflated.

Every time you buy something from Amazon, drink tap water, or live in a dwelling that you didn't build yourself, you are being a social creature. Few animals are capable of interacting in these highly complicated and choreographed ways.

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