I consider myself to be isolated but it's not like I don't strive to go out and socialize, I got no problem with that, I love people. It's just that my life turned upside down after the pandemic and my social life dwindled. Now a Hikikomori? That's a whole other league, I don't know any. In my country it's really difficult to have the privilege of being completely isolated while someone takes care of your basic needs.

 

I mean I know and I've kinda been at some rough times.
But compared to the Japanese ones it's nothing. The pressure of Japanese culture both socially and at work is immense. And so is the extreme isolation of the Hikikomori.

 

Dogs are the best. I could be having the shittiest day of my life and just seeing my dog rolling on the grass in bliss makes it all go away for a bit.

 

this song always remind me of that movie, straw dogs

 

It is not a problem only of Japan, there is a movie called "The Swedish Theory of Love" about elder getting dead for months and nobody notice.

This problem is gonna get worse and worse, with our postmodern individualist capitalist society.
People buried in life, buried in their homes of first world countries.

According to harvard studies:

Loneliness vs. isolation: Which one is worse?
Loneliness and isolation both contribute to adverse health consequences.

 

This convo reminds me of an original Twilight Zone episode, called "Enough Time at Last". They attempt to put a negative spin on isolationists. But the greatest generation can suck it.

 

Hikki has nothing to do with being introverted or otaku.

• Introversion means that social contact is mentally draining, which in turn means that introverts need to withdraw more often to regain their energy.
• Hikkikomori means living in social isolation. Not in the short term to regain energy, but permanently. Often caused by a lack of drive, trauma, loss of school or job or lack of education.
• Otaku are just nerds - mostly related to pop culture.

Of course, several points can apply to a single person, but they are completely different things. Just because someone likes to spend time alone doesn't make them a hikki.

 

Me.

 

this.

also it took me forever to realize your picture is kim dracula

 

OP asked: Is being a "hikki" a music production related thing? That's a very open ended question with many sides to it. The short answer is imho: maybe.
Another question is: what do you do with that regardless if you are a recluse, a lone wolf or an attention whore who needs personal validation or whatever floats your boat.

Some might say, I don't work at an assembly line, I am an artist and I do it when no one is watching. In fact I don't care what other people think of my work. I will never pander.
Others might say, I hope you don't die broke. I utilize my creativity not just for selfish me and bring joy to other people. I unfortunately also have to pay bills and now I can. I heard Walmart is hiring, Mr. Artist.

There was Henry Darger https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Darger, A "true" artist. He was a tortured soul and a recluse and creativity was his outlet. A very productive, original and creative person, but no one knew about him. His work was found after his death and is now in a museum.
It could have been different, if he showed his work to a publisher, but that was not in his cards.

And there was everyone's darling, Steve Jobs who loved to say bold and spicy things for effect like: Real artist ship. Full stop. Mr. Jobs was not an artist for sure and he really pissed me off by saying that, but didn't he have a point?

I believe it's a personal decision for everyone and both sides are important to a degree if you are serious. Before anyone wants to drink my blood, this is not a statement about how to be the "right" way. Just food for thought.
Peace out.

 

Last edited by a moderator: Apr 29, 2024

if the hikikomori is also a music producer, i'd say it certainly is.
just like i'd say loneliness and relationships are totally music production/composition related too.

 

I agree 100%, many people have turned lemons into lemonade and made songs about that and listeners can relate to that, because only crazy people are happy all the time and everyone has problems. Even entire genres like Black Metal were formed around very dark topics or bands like "Today is The Day". To make a song about that can be very cathartic, listening exclusively to something like that is probably unhealthy for the mind and Polka would be better, if someone is in a bad spot.

 

And for debate, Is this a music production related thing? I did this question to move tha talk to our world of music creation. Not to talk about the shitty world.

Music production in a home studio is a one person time, if you want to work and learn is a very time consuming task. And maybe the artist has to meditate about this. What is his real purpouse! Because if your goal is to share and connect, why going on a extreme loneliness period to create? There is a big contradiction

What are the alternatives in music world? (not as paying a profesional)

Where are our people out of the screen?

 

This...

 

kinda yes, there is. But not as much. Our goal (mine at least) is to share our work after its done, not the process of doing it.
If you are in a creation period, interacting with people can be distracting and deviate you from your purpose.

edit: just like performing and practicing. one is for the others, the other is for yourself

 

Last edited: Apr 29, 2024

if you're dead and no one notices, I'm not sure thats a problem for anyone but the house cleaners..

 

I am socially isolated not because i have psycho issues no no but because of the Liberal Trash Society that USA - Britain - Israel - germany promotes . I dont want to have any connection with all that psycho anomalies with 1300 genders , all girls in onlyfans all whores with the support of their boyfriends even husbands ( wtf ? No dignity , no morals , no respect ? Imagine their childrens future ... ) , men all faggots , pedos , no family , no Country etc . Also their apps , insta , x , fb etc where you cant even express yourself and from 10 msgs the 9th are erased due to whatever reason they will think of . Hitler in front of them was nothing !!! The same anomalies walk us to 3rd WW just to take control of the planet and to reduce population because after thousands of years the fart of a Cow destroys the planet when the same time they get into Air Busses to go half an hour trips instead of using a train a car etc and also by sending Weapons ( weapons are ok with the environment , they dont pollute ........ ) to Ukraine and Israel !!!! The funny thing is that most people believe them lolol even vote for these Hitlers .

 

1st one must learn and differeniate between being "alone" and being "lonely" - they are 2 different things. Many introverts prefer to be alone and do not find it lonely, they find it comfy and productive and peaceful. This alone time helps creativity and productivity and limits distractions.

Writing as in prose, is again a mostly solitary journey, the writer,and his words, building his story, for others. There is a yin and jang of our time in life, a balance that must be struck between our singular world and the common world. It is best to listen in your head and heart to find that balance, not in the words and the desires of the world.

The world will always ask more of you than is healthy or proper to give. The world exists in its current form as a marketplace to exploit you through commercialism and propaganda, the onslaught of advertising one finds in the world at large is a symptom of the disease out of control. The world must always sell you something and must take from you something you have earned. it is the current social contract.

To retreat from such a world is not insanity, it is the opposite, the path to sanity.

 

Yep, that's a well known problem in most developed countries. The more average lifespan (good thing) the more elder people vs young (bad thing because who takes care of the eldest).

But if you ask about non-elderly people, the "shut-ins" we know compared to the Japanese... there's a big difference. I know more than I'd like about Japanese culture from reliable sources. And it's scarily over-the-top. BTW, these young Hikikomoris use to live in their parents or family house, or at least depend economically on them.

That doesn't mean there's European, American etc "extreme shut-ins" that really coul use some help because it's not healthy at all.

 

I have an acquaintance who isolated himself so much after corona that he only spoke to his brother (at the front door, he wasn't allowed to come in) and neighbors had to put food in front of his door.
After two years, he probably became ill due to malnutrition or starvation. His brother had tried to reach him by phone and he wouldn't answer the door bell anymore.
The fire department eventually broke open the door and found him completely emaciated and unresponsive. A day later he died in hospital.

 

Last edited: May 6, 2024