Laziness elevated to subculture

Where the NEET generation is expanding and thriving

Is the world threatened by… idle individuals? A new youth movement, originating in the West, is sweeping across the globe and poses a genuine risk not only to the economy and future prospects but also to its adherents.

Doing nothing

The subculture known as NEET, an acronym for ‘Not in Education, Employment or Training’, is predominantly embraced by the youth. Certain representatives of this group espouse a rejection of any form of physical labour and active engagement. Young people neither study nor work, promoting a culture of total, ostentatious laziness instead. They can be spotted lounging on lawns, beaches, benches in parks, or in squares, or idling online, participating in endless streams that showcase their… horizontal existence at home, staring blankly at a screen.
Proponents of NEET subsist solely on ready-to-eat meals (fast food, crisps, biscuits) and whatever can be procured through delivery services, depending on their available income. Occasionally, adherents of this subculture do not shy away from consuming leftovers from cafés and restaurants, as they may not always have parents or relatives willing to financially support a child, who is too lethargic to lift a finger.
A horde of ‘specialists’ is already proliferating worldwide, eager to justify any behaviour, including unabashed laziness. They provide a rationale for the NEET subculture that not only upends the conventional understanding of the phenomenon but also portrays its followers as victims of modern society. According to them, NEET followers are not ideologically lazy; they are merely unfortunate. Society has failed to present them with the coveted education, career, and salary on a silver platter. Thus, their inertia in life is not without reason; they suffer from societal rejection. Alternatively, they may be individuals with specific psychological traits that hinder their ability to be around others, and consequently, to work or support themselves in any capacity.
While there may be some truth to the latter, the statements made by NEETs regarding their worldview and the reasons why they predominantly adopt a horizontal position in life evoke little sympathy or compassion.

People without a future

‘I wasn’t made for a 9-to-5 job from Monday to Friday’, ‘I refuse to work 40 hours a week just because everyone else does that’, ‘We want to be happy, not in constant stress’ — they proudly proclaim on social media. Such a simple yet immensely convenient stance. It implies that one is no longer merely lounging on the sofa; this behaviour is now imbued with purpose, for the individual asserts a belief in not having to exert oneself.
It may be tempting to presume that all NEETs are the fortunate offspring of wealthy parents, but there are plenty of imitators of this movement even in impoverished countries. Young people worldwide are exposed to images of an idyllic life on the Internet, aspiring to such a lifestyle without any intention of working for it.
Take, for instance, American webcam model Alyce. Previously, she worked five days a week, but now she ‘works’ three to four times weekly, spending only 20 minutes each time. “I love lying in bed all day long. Isn’t that a goal in life? Isn’t that the American Dream?” she exclaims on social media. Hundreds of like-minded individuals abandon their jobs and rush to undress in front of a camera for money, only to end up passively sprawled about.
But what comes next? This kind of income is fleeting. What will a layabout do when their physique no longer captivates fans of Internet nudity? After all, once they lose their marketable appeal, their source of livelihood diminishes too. Will they truly have to work?
This is where the complexities arise, as advocates for the NEET lifestyle naively put the cart before the horse while attempting to steer both. Young people who for months or even years isolate themselves from the world, consequently severing social, friendly, and sometimes familial ties, gradually develop psychological, and eventually psychiatric, issues, due to which re-establishing connections with reality becomes challenging, if not altogether impossible. In their lethargy, proponents of NEET become socially incompetent. A simple inclination towards idleness leads devotees of inactivity to mental health struggles.

Being active is in vogue

For a society that NEETs accuse of failing to accept and understand them, the consequences are a heightened burden on the social support and healthcare systems. Generally, NEET followers contribute nothing to production, yet they require sustenance, housing, and even medical care. Naturally, all of these expenses are covered by the taxes paid by those who have not found success in languishing on the sofa.

If a sufficient number of young people in any country gravitate towards such a subculture, it risks obliterating its economy as soon as older generations and responsible peers become unable to sustain an army of shameless idlers.

Western nations are already moving in this direction since — instead of recognising the danger of another youth subculture, they merely try to create conditions that would encourage NEETs to get up off their couches and engage in meaningful contributions to society. However, they will not get up, as audacity cannot be cured by kisses or increased unemployment benefits.
Do you know what is glaringly absent from all the lengthy discussions by ideologists and defenders of the NEET lifestyle? The simple and familiar words ‘must’ and ‘duty’. It is precisely these concepts that foster aspirations and achievements, as well as concern for loved ones. It is time to stop indulging audacious slackers, who believe themselves to be extraordinary, and occasionally give them a motivational nudge. Surprisingly, it often works wonders.
It is, in fact, quite reassuring that in Belarus, there are currently no observable supporters of the NEET movement. They may exist in isolated instances, yet they hardly make their views publicly known.
Our society does not embrace such a parasitic attitude towards life. Being active, studying, working, earning, growing, and achieving is what is truly in vogue. All necessary conditions have been created in our country to promote this ethos. Society thrives when it is geared towards constructive pursuits.

BY THE WAY  

The term NEET was first introduced by English sociologists following the economic crisis of 1998. At that time in Britain, a layer of young people emerged who were quite content to receive unemployment benefits without any inclination to seek work, pursue education, or achieve anything meaningful.

TO THE POINT

The original NEET character is Ilya Oblomov, the protagonist of the novel Oblomov by I. A. Goncharov. This young nobleman was convinced that the ideal life was one of idleness and carefreeness, which ultimately led to his premature demise. However, modern adherents of the NEET lifestyle differ from Oblomov in one significant aspect: he did not require a means of subsistence. As a nobleman, he had the luxury to engage in anything he pleased, yet he chose laziness and daydreaming. Oblomov is a rather typical character for Russia in the 19th century.

By Alena Krasovskaya