The monastic community of Mount Athos, Greece. It's free in the sense you don't pay anything, but you have to become an Orthodox monk, with whatever that entails
Is there anywhere in the world someone can just live for free?
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Re: Is there anywhere in the world someone can just live for free?
#12Earlier quoted context omitted.
It is also immoral. EDIT: As this is collecting downvotes quite quickly, would any of the downvoters care to explain their stance?
'It' ? What exactly is immoral and why?
That support comes with requirements and they will try to get you "reintegrated" and into a job so that you can support yourself. To use it as a salary with no intention to work is not according to the purpose of this service.
Re: Is there anywhere in the world someone can just live for free?
#13This brings up an interesting philosophical question: we are a species that need two things at a minimum at all times to survive: an oxygen atmosphere and a planetary surface with some level of gravity[1]. We've evolved under conditions where both were freely available for millions of years. While oxygen is still free, the right to set foot on a hospitable part of the earth without paying is rapidly disappearing. Should this be normal for a civilisation?
[1] I didn't include food and water in this list because all evolved species that we know of have had to compete for these resources from the day they leave their parents' care. There's an argument to be made for food and water too, but I think it's a separate, weaker argument than the right to live on the surface of the planet.
Re: Is there anywhere in the world someone can just live for free?
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
It is also immoral. EDIT: As this is collecting downvotes quite quickly, would any of the downvoters care to explain their stance?
'It' ? What exactly is immoral and why?
Taking money from the state for which others worked to finance your life without making an attempt to finance your life yourself.
Re: Is there anywhere in the world someone can just live for free?
#15It's interesting how quality of life baselines have increased so much in the last century. If you wanted to have the QOL of someone that lived in the American West a hundred years ago, it could be done today for probably $100 a month all-inclusive of food, clothing, and shelter. But you'd be eating the same 5-10 things repeatedly, wearing the same clothes, have a few books for entertainment, minimal or no electronics, no car, and so on. This was typical, to be expected a century ago, but with the nature of marketing and social pressure, almost no one is willing to make that kind of sacrifice today.
I am somewhat surprised that there aren't more cheap-living communes in the US. A few thousand dollars could probably pay the living expenses of a few dozen people – assuming they are all on-board with such a materially minimalist lifestyle.
Re: Is there anywhere in the world someone can just live for free?
#16International waters (the 'high seas') are free and represent about 50% of the world's surface
Re: Is there anywhere in the world someone can just live for free?
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
'It' ? What exactly is immoral and why?
That support comes with requirements and they will try to get you "reintegrated" and into a job so that you can support yourself. To use it as a salary with no intention to work is not according to the purpose of this service.
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Re: Is there anywhere in the world someone can just live for free?
#18This brings up an interesting philosophical question: we are a species that need two things at a minimum at all times to survive: an oxygen atmosphere and a planetary surface with some level of gravity[1]. We've evolved under conditions where both were freely available for millions of years. While oxygen is still free, the right to set foot on a hospitable part of the earth without paying is rapidly disappearing. Sho…
Don't many species compete for territory? And once an area gets overcrowded fights break out and the weaker ones die off?
Re: Is there anywhere in the world someone can just live for free?
#19It's interesting how quality of life baselines have increased so much in the last century. If you wanted to have the QOL of someone that lived in the American West a hundred years ago, it could be done today for probably $100 a month all-inclusive of food, clothing, and shelter. But you'd be eating the same 5-10 things repeatedly, wearing the same clothes, have a few books for entertainment, minimal or no electronics…
You could probably set up a business of "economical retreats"... Live in the old fashion for a week or so. Very low costs to the business owner, and an interesting experience for the patrons.
Call it "the simple life".
You'd need to arrange things for them to do as well.
Edit: perhaps not possible, as most people would lack the skills to e.g. wash clothes or cook manually. Maybe it could have instructors and classes too. All paper and verbal, no devices!
Re: Is there anywhere in the world someone can just live for free?
#20This brings up an interesting philosophical question: we are a species that need two things at a minimum at all times to survive: an oxygen atmosphere and a planetary surface with some level of gravity[1]. We've evolved under conditions where both were freely available for millions of years. While oxygen is still free, the right to set foot on a hospitable part of the earth without paying is rapidly disappearing. Sho…
Setting foot on a hospitable part of the planet is the competition for food and water (and shelter). Humans don't need dirt, humans need what's on (or under) that dirt.