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Do you think that being a Hermit is abnormal? The reason I ask is because whenever I see documentaries on Prison life, it's often stated that the most cruel of punishments is to put an inmate into solitary confinement for a protracted time. In fact, some solitary inmates have been known to have their minds snap from the protracted isolation.
As a correlation to that, it has been shown statistically that lonely people have a shorter life span. That's why I was wondering about people who become Hermits, those who avoid socialization totally. Do you consider them abnormal? Also, have any of you ever considered undertaking such a lifestyle yourself? And why?
Do I consider hermits abnormal? Yes, I do, in this day and time. This behavior does seem to signal abnormality. I am not saying that it is destructive or bad. But it is not normal.
1000 years ago, people would live hermetic lives in order to devote themselves to prayer and contemplation. Most people do not value this activity now. We tend to think that religious people should be active in their communities to work for positive outcomes.
The difference is that a hermit has made a choice. If an inmate is a generally social person and you put them into isolation, it's like putting a hermit in the middle of Times Square.
Also, there are few totally isolated hermits. Most have access to positive interaction/activities. They can get online, they can watch tv/listen to music, read, do crafts, exercise. Even if they don't do any of that and are truly isolated by choice, it's unlikely to be in a tiny box with no comfort and the only human contact is with guards who aren't nice.
Whether being a hermit is abnormal depends on the person and their reasons.
The difference is that a hermit has made a choice. If an inmate is a generally social person and you put them into isolation, it's like putting a hermit in the middle of Times Square.
Also, there are few totally isolated hermits. Most have access to positive interaction/activities. They can get online, they can watch tv/listen to music, read, do crafts, exercise. Even if they don't do any of that and are truly isolated by choice, it's unlikely to be in a tiny box with no comfort and the only human contact is with guards who aren't nice.
Whether being a hermit is abnormal depends on the person and their reasons.
You seem to be saying doing activities alone at home such as watching TV, listening to music, reading, doing crafts somehow makes a person NOT a hermit.
One can do those activities at home alone and still be very much a hermit or recluse! Doing those home alone activities does not rescue one from being a hermit/recluse.
Watching TV or being on the internet keep a person in contact with the world, mentally involved in the world, and maybe up to date on what is happening in world, and not isolated in terms of thought, current events, some online contact, but one can still very much be a hermit/recluse.
(I wouldn't get hung up on the prison example - it doesn't really apply much to life not in prison - the more interesting conversation (to me) is about being a recluse in life, having nothing to do with prison)
Sometimes recluse is a good word for discussion. The image of hermit conjures up unrealistic ideas of what being a recluse (as a good number of people are) really is.
Last edited by matisse12; 01-01-2018 at 06:11 PM..
People for the most part are social beings. Some may be awkward but I think very few want absolutely nothing to do with others at least not all the time. Now that is not saying that people don't want a break from others and society but very few will make the choice to do it long term. So yes that makes it abnormal.
I find the Japanese culture of the lost generation, Hikikomori, fascinating. Hikikomori: Inside Japan
Then again if there parents didn't leave food for them they wouldn't be able to survive....but still a strange situation.
My mother was a recluse. She was not normal. Could not abide being nice to anyone. Ugh. Back to blocking out thoughts of her...
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