A Hikkikomori StopGap

No country or population is more pure than another

Full quote:

No country or population is more pure than another, they each have flaws, although they can be different, and the definition of a ‘flaw’ can vary depending on culture and history, it’s all the same when it comes to the victim.

Like I said in an earlier comment, you’ll enjoy your life far more if you just forget instead of discovering more of the world. I don’t regret my decision since I rather see cruelty and face it daily than be ignorant, but this doesn’t even come close to what some people would call ‘sick and awful’ anymore, and you can see in the comments that I’m far from the only one who knows that.

The context of this quote is directed at a far far more severe issue than why I’m quoting this

…however the reason I wanted to share this with my fellow Hikikomoris is because of the way some anxiety based ones feel they are worthless compared to their fellow non-Hikikomori neighbors and how some people feel that Japan should have the monopoly on who should be categorized as Hikikomoris.

I have even read some posts pointing out how that this wouldn’t happen in America for example because the parent would just throw the person out on the street. They have some validity but sometimes these…”words” feel like one culture saying these things to “one up” another culture or another group.

I don’t have a quote with me but there are some forums where they would even argue which of their idol’s hometown is more dangerous just so they can say that their guy has more “street cred”.

Exceptionalism is very detrimental to a community and is in fact one reason why despite saying I had an elitist definition of Hikikomoris, I am not for pushing those people who don’t fit the definition to leave our environment. (This is also a hint at why some Hikkis can be so affected emotionally by some people forcing them to leave and alter their environment that they would go to such an extent as to kill or hurt that person.)

That’s why this quote comes off good (for us); with or without the context.

It is able to hint that it’s not just a country issue but a population issue. That means it can apply to any group even a small one like ours.

It highlights the stupid side of patriotism and alludes to exceptionalism without offending those same people by bringing up some specific issue they did but rather by challenging these people’s view of how pure they see themselves as a group.

It even hints at how escapism is not about withdrawing but on choosing to be ignorant of certain things.

On the flip side, it also hints at how withdrawing can also be a decision to escape or forget.

One compliments the Hikikomori’s decision, the other shows the noble necessity for why a huge portion of being a Hikikomori is about making a decision — for without that component, a Hikikomori would not know or forget what they are withdrawing from — and without that, the definition of Hikikomori loses any intangible quality that makes it different from normal social anxiety.

(except the fact that the word is Japanese if you buy that exceptionalist perception)

Posted via email from A Hikikomori StopGap | Comment »

Are Western ‘nerds’ and ‘geeks’ deserving of the label of ‘hikikomori’ and being consigned to rehab centers like they are in Japan?

No.

I think the real issue is that in hierarchy conscious Japan, with each thing having and knowing its “place”, that the minute a new phenom appears and there is no previous history or tradition in Japan of dealing with it, there is a panic, if you will, to categorize and label it; to make it safe and understandable to society. This categorization occurs even if this flattens the phenomenon down into an overly simplified two-dimensional label that does not completely take all aspects into account nor is an inaccurate descriptor of what is happening.

No one feels threatened by the phenom anymore because they can label it and dismiss it from their own personal lives; they can keep it at arms length. Not to mention they no longer need to consider what caused it to appear in the first place. By not taking cause into account and treating from that base, there appears to be a ‘build-up’ as a social issue gets really out of control. It is at this point, when things reach critical mass, that Japanese society takes corrective measures. This can be seen with numerous school-related problems such as school-refusal, violence against teachers, suicide, and so on.

I feel that naming and labeling in Japan is much much more dangerous and comprehensive once it enters the public discourse as conformity and group-ism is valued.

Labeling is like a net or heavy blanket put on top of a smoking pile of leaves. The fire may or may not be out, be we will never know as a big heavy blanket is safe and unthreatening to look at. You never again see the phenomenon that is underneath, unless of course the fire underneath gets so intense that it sets the blanket alight; but then it is far too late.

Labeling is a way for society to exercise power upon something currently outside its ken. It creates a two dimensional symbol of the phenomenon in the discourse of the mass consciousness; it’s a short hand if you will, that is not really an accurate picture and perhaps even a pale shadow of reality cast by the fire in Plato’s Cave.

—

Source: http://towakudai.blogs.com/my_weblog/2004/11/are_western_ner.html

Basically I’m sharing this for the same reason I shared this post.

I wouldn’t even be surprised if many prefer this version over all of my writings.

Let’s face it: This is simple and direct.

Sure, I hate this style because it’s “stock”.

It’s so deprived of emotions… so safe from major criticisms… so lacking in substance that these kinds of writing can often evict an act of *nod *nod or *shakes head* and nothing of substance ends up getting discussed by the group who needs to talk about it most. (us)

…

(Let’s not forget that while the analogy of the smoking pile of leaves sounds good, it can really be applied to anything outside of Hikikomoris)

…

Nevertheless, it is what it is: An opinion that matches with my own but explains it in a succinct manner that, if I wasn’t a Hikikomori, I wouldn’t have much disagreement with it.

Unfortunately I am (or I consider myself one) therefore I just can’t let my criticism go because we can’t afford just agreeing or disagreeing on this issue. We REALLY need to address and discuss it.

Unfortunately, I don’t even know how to begin communicating why this issue is a serious one — so you might as well consider my criticism as just “hot air”. (I wouldn’t even be surprised if someone accused me of just being jealous of this person’s writing style.)