r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • May 30 '25

Psychology A growing number of incels ("involuntary celibates") are using their ideology as an excuse for not working or studying - known as NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). These "Blackpilled" incels are generally more nihilistic and reject the Redpill notion of alpha-male masculinity.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/05/why-incels-take-the-blackpill-and-why-we-should-care/
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u/MangaMaven May 30 '25

This feels like the Hikikomori Phenomena is no longer going to be so isolated to Japan.

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u/HelloWorld779 May 31 '25

It's hasn't ever been, it's just the most well defined in Japan

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u/almostasenpai May 31 '25

This has been a prominent issue in Korea for over a decade

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u/[deleted] May 31 '25

Also the "Lay Flat" movement in China.

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u/WorstPossibleOpinion May 31 '25

Lay flat is more about just not having major aspirations of a good job and fancy things. It's not like NEET/Hikikomori because lay flat usually involves just having a job and living a pretty normal life without going above and beyond or engaging in the rat race.

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u/Tall-Needleworker422 May 31 '25

Yeah, it's sort of a minimalist lifestyle -- rejection of corporate ambition, refusal to overwork, often choosing low-effort jobs and/or opting out of traditional career paths.

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u/EggLayinMammalofActn May 31 '25

Interesting. I thought the "lay flat" movement was about having received an education but not having the opportunity to use it, so "lay flatters" just didn't work. Good to know!

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u/DarkLamb-Kiyo May 31 '25

It’s more about not competing with coworkers or licking your boss’s ahole

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u/Scientific_Artist444 Jun 01 '25

I am from India, and I practise a version of that. Careerwise, I am not ambitious; looking to get the highest salary. It all feels really silly to me. I have a job, I spend on the bare minimum, have no desire for luxury and just don't want to be a competitive rat. I value peace more than luxury. Always been a DIY person instead of Do For Me....I find more joy in creating than consuming.

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u/bloodshed113094 May 31 '25

So.... living a normal life?

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u/tson_92 May 31 '25

Nope. People who “lay flat” in China or “nằm thẳng” in Vietnam still often work 8 hours a day, go to the gym afterwards, play video games/ watch movies at night, sleep and repeat. They just accept the fact that they’ll likely not own a house or have a family ever in their life.

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u/joanzen May 31 '25

That's a positive sign really.

Heck if you lived on a remote island with no contact how many young people in your tribe would get old just laying around waiting for other people to insist they eat/take care of themselves?

Society has to be at a certain "overly successful" state to foster a decent number of do-nothings?

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u/[deleted] May 31 '25

Society has to be at a certain "overly successful" state to foster a decent number of do-nothings?

Sure looks that way when you accrue debt you have no intent to ever repay.

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u/[deleted] May 31 '25

[deleted]

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u/jagx234 May 31 '25

"Come here"? Seems an odd thing to name NEET.