Foolness: Thanks for the video. There are many things I often do that I didn't really attribute to being a Hikikomori until this video. It was a good confirmation on what other similarities I have. (The choice of eating alone for example.)

Anonymous: I'd just like to thank OP for his/her awesome contribution, this was really interesting.

I try so hard to make sure no one finds out, that no one finds out. And then I feel even more terrible and alone.

As a sort of ex-hikki I can attest to how difficult this is, I've tried to hide my fear etc from others, I thought I was doing a good job of pretending it never happened, that I was a normal person. Sometime later someone let slip about how much everyone pitied me, this completely obliterated what confidence and dignity I had built up for myself. As people get to know you, the harder it is to hide something like this.

Foolness: This is stating the obvious but I'm only mentioning this because you used the term "normal person"

The good news here is that (what you consider) normal people suffer from this too. The bad news here is that (what you consider) normal people often address this in ways like you mentioned: Through letting others feel bad of how they think of themselves. I'm only speaking from experiences though. The ones you often find aren't doing this aren't often people who don't pity you but who rather keep silent of their impressions of you. However, there are moderate amounts of rare exceptions to these. It's just often times, it can be hard to quickly find it out because it's a matter of degree. (How much at this point in time are they willing to tel you and how much do they look down on you but feel like they care for you that they actually tell you)

This might not solve your confidence issues but I felt it's still better that someone spells it out rather than try to nod with you in agreement even if you know these things already. I find often times, the same thing coming from different people still helps add to my obliterated confidence and re-grows it again. I'm not sure how it is for everyone though.

Edit:

"Through letting others feel bad of how they think of themselves."

I meant to type: through letting others feel bad of how they think of that person so as to not be reminded of their own faults or as a way to rationalize that they too are "normal" now, that they too belong in the makeshift illusion of normality.

Anonymous: The hostess is a bitch. She treats the kids like less than human while feigning concern and sympathy for them. Pretty bangable though.

Foolness: Nah, not to assume too much but if you've ever worked with any activist minded group, you'll eventually meet lots of people like the host.

It's all very culture shock to them that there can be a kind of person they didn't meet. A type of person who if the person they're exposed to breaks all the rules they think should happen, they try to cope by redefining the rules and saying, see? It's such a shame that so and so is so. They go into a stage where they try to act like they get the person by stating how it reminded them of some experience or momentary perspective they have but at the same time, act like they wouldn't do the same choice (but might think of doing them) as a way to self-rationalize to themselves that they actually get the person even if they don't.

Of course many in mainstream society are like these. It's just often times the activist minded person - being a person who see themselves as one of the brave people actually contributing to society through pursuing things - are more often likely to be Honne with their feelings especially when put in a situation where they think what they are saying is only to better pursue their altruistic intentions but still...most people think behind your back when the curtains are close. To these people, the curtains are just closed in a different way.

Anonymous: Foolness, you sound as if it's wrong of her to try to be empathetic. Hikies obviously make people uncomfortable- whether most know it or would admit it, peoples' body language reflects their attitudes. As a result, most hikkis come off as being incedibly awkward. I find it quite unbelievable that you're faulting a "normal person" for attempting to break the barriers that hikkis' social ineptness create. Conjures the image of a morbidly obese person mocking slightly overweight celebrities attempts at dieting.

Foolness:

That's just the unfortunate artifact of trying to fit people into a definition so that others might understand. Still, if you noticed, I didn't mention that she was wrong in any way.

In fact the very criticism you are assuming me of is the same structure of criticism she is getting. I am actually also empathizing with her and giving a clue to people who might not.

Surprise, surprise, why it makes me seem as if I'm being cold to her? Hikikomoris also don't make people uncomfortable. You already pointed it out. Body language do and most humans do that already to each other.

What makes people uncomfortable with Hikikomoris (even to that host) is in the end, their answers. Notice how the host's reaction only goes to uncomfortable levels when she hears the things the Hikikomoris did like saying they're just 22 or they're not a Hikikomori.

If you were really paying attention, you'd see the actual time the host even reacts uncomfortably to any sort of body language is when she's pointing out to the non-hikikomoris studying in the tutorage.

Still, I won't fault you for misinterpreting my words though. This is what happens when people have the de facto thinking that Hikikomoris are abnormal while everyone else is normal.

Even the hosts while not doing anything abnormal by my consideration can be seen as one of the people doing abnormal stuff by being naked in Playboy. Something "normal" people don't do so it can be said that she's not representing all normal people unless you consider all normal people as being hot ladies going to houses with a video camera.

Still, this ultimately is a straw man reaction to your straw man reply. In the end, my only contention is that there are no "normal" people. There are just people who conforms better to modern society. To assume I was faulting them simply to fault them is just misinterpretation on your part.

Even these morbidly obese people (who are still normal) are not wrong by default for mocking someone else. This kind of thinking just insults the idea that normal people have a supposed superior role in mocking less normal people (as considered by you) and is ultimately wrong on all fronts.

Also I will point out that she is not breaking the barriers that Hikikomoris' social ineptness creates. She is simply being part of the activist group while in this video. It doesn't mean she doesn't want to be but do you really think making Hikikomoris look pathetic is breaking down barriers? Please, that is like assuming you're breaking down barriers for humans and sharks when people see a Discovery Channel show on them.

No, this is educational TV. First priority is to give people an introduction to things they might not know about. (but not really attempting to break the barrier since it would take too long) 2nd, is to make it entertaining enough. Beautiful host? Check. 3rd, as far as New Start's goal is, is to "cure" Hikikomoris as they see fit or as mainstream society sees fit. They're not there to communicate with Hikikomoris as much as they're there to convince Hikikomoris to either join New Start or change Hikikomoris to something more conformed by society's standards.

I'm not saying these are bad or non-well intentioning people but that's a lot of hoops before you get to the "attempting to break the barriers that hikkis' social ineptness create" part.

Note: I think the person I'm reply to here deleted their post because I can't find the #2551 post other than the numbers above my reply:

Foolness: It does while at the same time it doesn't. It's really the downside of any medium. Even sensationalizing something doesn't automatically bring it bad effects as much as the negative effects can often as you said, distort something beyond repair.

As far as your criticism, I will say that it's less about the activist's goals than the core structure of using television as a medium.

In the end, I will lean towards yes because even disagreeable, it still makes Hikikomoris talk about it compared to say a post by anyone here especially not written by a Japanese.

Also even if it doesn't accomplish anything positive on our side, it will happen and any kind of disagreement on any person's part especially us Hikikomoris will only look like we're trying to censor bad stuff about us.

Overall, when it comes down to it, this things while often opening us to distortion also causes as a culture to either step up or let people define who we are and try to run our lives so it does accomplish something for putting the ball on our court even if we might not want it. Also it is these kinds of events that will truly test whether hikikomoris are just people who feel trapped and are forced to be inside or we really made the decision to be one and regardless of success/failure rate defending ourselves, did we really choose this path as a withdrawal or are we really about social "shut-ins"?

That's why if it seems like I'm dodging your question it is only because the question has no true one answer except for what happens next and what we do next. Then the answer becomes a part of history and the victor defines the simple result.

...or rather, to the victor goes the simpler defined answer.

Preservative Woman:

Best sound bite always wins. Conversely, you're only as good as your last sound bite.

What have you bitten for me lately? Chewable history, now in cherry flavor.

Foolness: Nah. Soundbites are only for when the media interviews you and when you want to an idea to gain critical mass.

In history, it is often rewritten because the victor has equivalently showed that the other side was either flawed or wrong and hence their victory provided the results which allow them to have some sort of credential.

This doesn't always happen though, especially with a group concept which can easily gain cult status.

Also I wasn't necessarily pointing to winning as much as when looking for a simple yes/no answer.

QUOTE:

The Spielberg classic has been digitally remastered, using computer technology to enhance the animatronics that originally brought E.T. to life.

New scenes have been added, including a restored scene that shows E.T. in the bath, which could not have appeared in the original due to difficulties with the puppetry. Digital animation has been used to change the infamous 'phone home' scene, lip-synching E.T.'s mouth with his speech.

More controversially, while government agents held guns in the original movie, digital techniques have substituted these with walkie-talkies. This move has angered purists, who regard it as a blatant attempt to gain widespread box office success. Similarly, the scene in which the mother tells Elliot that he cannot go Trick or Treating dressed as a terrorist has been altered, with the word 'terrorist' replaced by 'hippy'. This decision was made purely on the grounds of taste following the events of September 11.

According to Spielberg, the re-release utilises modern technology to include scenes that could never have been part of the original due to limited technology. He has denied allegations that he is 'doing a George Lucas', pointing out that no substantial changes have been made to the film - just subtle editing.