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

hazlitt.net

61–70 of 183 posts

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

#61
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

His methods aren't insane. They're rational for survival in human society/civilization without participating in it. Think of a rat or other mammal pest. They effectively survive off of civilization in the same way. And since he got away with it for the entire time...successfully...it seemed effective, too. > alaska Living fully alone isolated from civilization in terrain as hostile as wild alaska isn't realistic. See…

Your sample size is one. Let me double it for you, I highly recommend Dick Proenneke's story, Alone in the Wilderness. https://youtu.be/iYJKd0rkKss

Reading [0], Dick was significantly more prepared, and had a friend that regularly fly in supplies.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Proenneke#Site

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

#62
post #58
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.

Yes, but I also think there's a kind of latent potential that is either explored or not. We would never learn that we have an innate potential for language if we do not grow up in a social setting. Likewise, we don't realize our innate potential for such a rich...interior life if we don't spend time in isolation.

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

#63
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Bokononism is based on the concept of foma, which are defined as harmless untruths. A foundation of Bokononism is that the religion, including its texts, is formed entirely of lies; however, one who believes and adheres to these lies will have peace of mind, and perhaps live a good life. The primary tenet of Bokononism is to "Live by the foma that make you brave and kind and healthy and happy." https://en.wikipedia.…

Reminds me of pronoia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pronoia_(psychology)

I think Vonnegut is parodying the fundamental tenet of most religion.

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

#64
post #59
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…

That reminded something I said in another comment: Some people like parties, others like strange things, and we like to be alone.

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

#66

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…

Sure, but while I do agree that the neurological differences might be non-existent, I think that if you were to plot the amount of time people spend in social setting, you'd get something like a normal distribution. You could designate one end as introverts and one as extroverts.

That's important though. It's probably a normal distribution. Not some crazy bimodal or something.

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

#68
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…

There's a TV series "Alone" where they drop people off in the remote woods (far from each other) and the person that can survive the longest by themselves wins $500k.

As the season goes on, you can see a clear decline in the mental health of many of the contestants. Many drop out just out of sheer boredom or loneliness, even though they have decent shelter and can find food. The winners usually last about 2-3 months alone.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alone_(TV_series)

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

#69
post #48
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?

I think it depends how you do it. I'm not an expert, I just talk about my own experience.

For me the 'fastest' way is to hike alone seven days in wilderness without meeting anyone and not staying still in one place. Having clear physical task helps to settle things.

First time I did it, I think the one of the biggest revelations came in the morning of the 5th day. I was really unhappy. Never been outdoors long time. I was tired and dirty first 4 days. Everything I did I hated. I hated walking. I hated putting up a tent etc. and did everything sloppily and as little effort as possible. Then just woke up at one morning and there was no internal bitching. I had to cross a tiny river, undress and go into cold water and carry things over. I just did it without thinking or aversion. I just took the shock of cold and horrible slimy feel in the mud without flinching. I was not assessing my performance or proud of my new stoic style of doing stuff. It was not fun but it was very peaceful and matter of fact.

I have lived in a hut for a few months in a summer in constant isolation with nothing to do and the idleness brings up weird mental states. Like several days of vivid fantasizes followed by sleeping a week 9-10 hours day with weird dreams and being little paranoid. Creativity bursts where you think you are very close to some breakthrough were the worst. The urge to do abstract carvings or build gadgets could get out of hand for me. Eventually things settle down at least for me.

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

#70

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…

A cubicle? You'd be lucky. Today's Modern, Dynamic, Collaborative workplace has no room for outmoded concepts of "personal space". Welcome to your new workspace: a cubic meter on a cafeteria style table in a sea of cafeteria tables. Join the team of tomorrow -- always chattering, always discussing, always collaborating to build a better future!

Now you need to get these stories done by end of sprint. We have a release in six weeks, people, let's get moving!

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