Those are the things that don't cost money or relatively little money in societies where everything social costs money. Land and housing is super expensive for someone without a high paying job. In the US at least, anything social costs money. There is no public place where people can meet others. Public spaces are either dedicated to cars, office space, or retail. It seems different in europe with social public plazas, not sure about Japan. But people like to have some kind of say in the area around them, and improve their environment. Any city I've lived in has a city government where the most input you can have is 'feedback sessions' where only pre-approved questions can be asked. If you don't have land to yourself or assets or already have a strong social network, what work can you do where you feel like you are making progress and improving yourself or your community and not just contributing to someone else's profit? As someone in software, I feel like I had a path to obtaining some wealth, but I understand why people without it might just want to detach and from the 'real world' and spend time doing things that make them happy. You also have to consider that the 'work' that they are choosing not to do might be bad for their mental/physical health if it is depressing/stressful work that doesn't reward them.
I'm not saying this lifestyle is healthy, but I can see why some people want to opt out of a system that doesn't consider their desires or wellbeing.
Also, not everyone can be a software developer. Why do you consider being a game dev to be noble and productive, but playing games to be a drain on society?
I'm not saying this lifestyle is healthy, but I can see why some people want to opt out of a system that doesn't consider their desires or wellbeing.
Also, not everyone can be a software developer. Why do you consider being a game dev to be noble and productive, but playing games to be a drain on society?