Re: Hikikomori: Why are so many Japanese men refusing to leave their rooms?

[Robert <http://dummy.us.eu.org/robert>]

 > From: Flora  <http://profiles.yahoo.com/flora>
 > Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2013 17:42:58 -0700 (PDT)
 >
 > You're absolutely right about the computer and our other electronic devices. 
 > They can be a big distraction - facilitating our avoidance. I personally feel 
 > that I waste a lot of time - mostly deleting the junk email that I receive, 
 > checking the weather, looking at my bank account, etc. I also feel I spend a 
 > lot of time looking at the newspaper when I get home - not sure if this is a 
 > good use of my time. I do want to see what is going on in our community without 
 > going online. It can be quite useful.

I, of course, disagree with this.  I like my machines and, while I try to
minimize the amount that I depend upon them, find them useful for
accomplishing various tasks.

 > You guys should contact Xander. He told me that he was doing online courses 
 > this summer. I haven't talked to him since they went to the lake about it. I 
 > know that he has homework over the summer.

Homework?  Over the summer?

You should look up the book "The Homework Myth" by Alfie Kohn.

 > My concern is that he is leaving the 
 > work until the end of the summer. This past school year was the first time that 
 > he had a C. This past school year, as soon as he got home, he would start in on 
 > a computer game that he always plays. He wouldn't start his homework until 
 > really late. He would then stay up really late (or really early - depending on 
 > how you look at it).

I used to do this.  Until I found that I was spending all my time playing
the game and talking about the game and all that.  I gave it up cold
turkey and handed my player role to somebody else.

I find writing computer games much more fun.

 > Take care,
 > Flora