I think NEETs get a bad rap. Really, I'll go even further and say NEETs deserve some admiration, in the same way that monks do.

Not being in education, employment or training isn't inherently bad, we know that. Most of us aspire to be NEETs in a sense, when we hopefully one day retire (please, please, let us retire).

What pisses people off is the age when NEETs become NEETs, which is several decades before the common retirement age. The sentiment is then that they are lazy parasites on society, while the elderly have earned their NEET-hood.

But is this not a double standard?

The trust fund millionaire, who hasn't worked a day in their life, while not exactly respected, is not viewed as negatively as a NEET.

A better example may be a 20-something year old entrepreneur, who exits after their startup is sold, with a bajillion dollars, and retires. These people are lauded in the newspapers, and there are many people aspiring to be like them. Sure, they have worked, but was their work truly that many times more valuable than someone who can only retire in their 60s?

So it is clear now that standard for whether NEET-hood is acceptable or not is based on money.

But if the NEET has the financial or practical means (eg, a vegetable garden) to maintain their NEET-hood, how is it any different?

Well, obviously, the argument goes, many NEETs live off of welfare, or family handouts, giving nothing back, and are therefore parasites. But the NEET is not extorting any money, or stealing. The government, or family, are willingly lending support, in the same way a community gives alms to a monk.

Though, many monks provide spiritual services to alms-givers, or at least giving alms spiritually benefits the alms-giver in some way. This is not a very convincing argument to someone not sharing the same religion as the monk, of course.

Some monks create works of art, such as sculpture or literature. They also do work, just not as part of employment. They probably have religious duties, like rituals or prayers, and physical chores like cleaning or taking care of a small garden.

So if a NEET does the same, either creating works of art or doing chores, are they not similar? Can we not justify them too?

I think we can, anyways. While being a NEET is not quite the same as a bum, [Utah Phillips](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_Phillips) was a vagrant trainhopping bum for several years, and I would say he ended up providing great value to a lot of people, including me. Just as one example. It wasn't like he "recovered" from or disavowed being a bum, it was a key component of his successes.

NEETs, again similar to monks, typically live a simple and poor lifestyle. To be satisfied with what you have is quite admirable in my eyes. Being poor is not easy.

A common framing of the media and others is that NEETs are an economic problem, because they are not creating value for society in the typical way. Sure, this is true. If the whole nation became monks many problems would arise too. But this is not the fault of the NEETs. NEETs are a symptom of a sick society. Just as monks increase when there is war, famine, or general instability, NEETs are increasing because the world kinda sucks, y'all.

Given my admiration for NEETs, why not become one?

I've thought about it.

I somewhat believe people have an obligation to society, that we should pay through work, so that is part of it. But there is no doubt that people can be of service to society while still being a NEET. Further, it is arguable whether most jobs are indeed really making value for society. So that is pure cope on my part.

The truth is I do not have the balls or bravery to do it. I do somewhat care about how people I know perceive me. This is unsarcastically unfortunate. I would characterise myself as much less materialistic than typical, and I don't wish I was uber wealthy, but I am scared of being in poverty, still. These are the same exact reasons why I wouldn't become a monk, or a drifter or some sort.

To have the courage and lack of greed to be a NEET, or, if it was not by choice, the courage to accept the situation and still be happy, is something that we can strive for, at least to some extent.

===

Some addendums:

- This should almost go without saying, but not all NEETs are noble, there are surely some who do nothing, hate their situation, and abuse others. But that's pretty much true for any group of people, I guess
- My main criticism of NEETs, is the tendency to be hikikomoris. I mean that in the strictest definition; that is, not going outside. I'm pretty sure this is not healthy over a long period of time. It is not that I am against refusing social interactions, or generally isolating oneself. I simply believe that mentally it is better to go outside, go on a walk, and see nature, like how traditional ascetics
- Being a monk is also not always a life-long vow, again like NEET-hood, depending on the religion and tradition
