The plight of Japan's hikikomori
My wife’s uncle became a social recluse after his wife passed away. Everyone in the family sees him as just this odd person, but I’m pretty sure he is either depressed, mentally ill or both. After his wife passed he would not go out of the house for long stretches. He is retired and collects a good pension so money is not an issue. Despite living maybe 20 feet across the street from us, we hardly ever see him. He goes to his mother’s for dinner every day but to catch a glimpse of him is a rare sight. I’d say I’ve seen him maybe twice a year these past few years. It’s unknown what he does at home and how much technology plays a role in his behavior, but I suspect he is a gamer or has some sort of addiction.<p>I have personally struggled with gaming addiction for years, leaving at times and then getting sucked right back in without any self-control. Just recently I got hooked on Elder scrolls online and it took some struggling to let go. I can say for certain that gaming deepens whatever emotional state of isolation one can experience. Despite having fun, the feeling of loneliness gets stronger. I think if I didn’t have my wife and kid I would probably spend my life hunched over a screen dying while I play an mmo. I would get so depressed I’d probably let go of any form of self-care and fade into a blob of flesh and bodily fluids.<p>For all the bringing together that technology is supposed to do, I feel like it had a complete opposite effect. Sure, for some it’s awesome to stay in touch with people you wouldn’t have stayed in touch with otherwise, but in general it has made society more closed and people isolated from one another.