Hanging out is a lifestyle: When Avoiding Responsibility Becomes a Trend

WHEN THINGS GO SIDEWAYS | Culture & Responsibility

By TLS

I saw a Bluesky post the other day that briefly caught my attention.

Unfortunately I didn’t get any of the posters’ handles to reference. A responder to a primary post complained parents, or adults, want kids to grow up and be productive. Hmmmm. I’m assuming this poster was a late-teen or twenty-something that was finding adulting not to their liking.

The responding poster argued hanging out is an acceptable lifestyle and implied making something of ones life should not be forced by parents or society. Okaaayyy…

The poster in question chose not to elaborate on who was going to pay for that hanging out lifestyle. This conveniently overlooked detail I find quite common in those who seem to covet this lifestyle.

However, if one can afford on their own to hang out, fine. If that individual needs someone else, or the state, to support their hanging out, very not fine.

Outside of agreed upon relationships such as earner and house keeper or some other such mutually beneficial arrangement between two or more people, get a job ya bum. Become a contributing member of society instead of another drain on extremely limited resources.

An adult with an able mind and body leaching off of another, or the state, while ‘smoking pot and playing video games,’ is a failure. If this ‘judgement’ is unpalatable to that poster, too bad. However, I doubt that poster reads Substack and I’m just talking to myself.

If we want a future that works, it has to be built by people who do. There’s room for leisure, creativity, and exploration, but not at the expense of accountability. The world doesn’t owe anyone a living just because they don’t feel like earning one.

If you agree, share this post or leave a comment below. If you don’t, tell me why. Either way, stop by, just don’t hang out too long.

Clip art

<a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/family-enjoying-time-together_8089453.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=1&uuid=40dee3ac-8ce9-4f3d-b7b4-630d63a1a4fe">Image by freepik</a>