Deep in the woods of North Carolina is a man name Joe Hollis who's lived of the grid for 50 years. Here he's mastered the techniques of a life tuned to natur...
I hate how these videos are titled “off the grid” because they imply he’s living independently from civilization and one with the nature. In reality he lives alone and without certain luxuries, but is enjoying others. It’s dishonest. Mind you, am not hating on his decision to live the way he does, am hating on authors for presenting this as a better way to live your life.
In reality, he’s very much dependent on others, even more so than us living in the cities. His health and sanity are largely thanks to genetics and to a smaller degree thanks to life style. Having an active life style is possible in nature as well in city. You don’t have to take every escalator or drive your car everywhere. Main difference being, he doesn’t have a choice.
This is another thing people don’t realize. These videos come with a claim people didn’t want to work in some office until the rest of their lives. In reality they are working harder for the rest of their lives as now they have to take care of every aspect of their needs. Heating, water, food, tools, clothing. Everything has to be done and prepared by you. And it’s a lot of work. A LOT. As someone who has grown up as a child of farmer parents, I can tell you for sure he’s not self-sustaining with that “garden”. People don’t realize just how much food one consumes. You need a huge garden just to sustain one person, not to mention extra work needed to prepare for winter months when there’s no food to forage or grow. And food needs to be diverse. All this requires work.
What irks me the most is obvious disdain towards money and systems we have in place. Unless there’s a tree growing glass bottles and metal roofs they are being very hypocritical. They talk about people having to change their lifestyle and then proceeds to use refined alcohol to preserve foods for the winter. This need to reconnect with nature they talk about without realizing that living far away means buying anything, including clothing, boots, glass, sheets, spices and the rest… all requires more energy than if they lived close to cities.
Living in nature is one thing and completely a matter of choice I respect. Claiming it’s better than living in city is hogwash. If you feel good in nature, so be it but at the same time most people feel good living in the city. This whole “holier than thou” mantra is annoying and dishonest. Do what makes you happy, but don’t belittle others for not sharing the opinion.
This reminds me so much of typical libertarian arguments about how taxation is theft and that life would be so much better without government. They have no idea how dependent they are on the things that the government and taxes provide for them. Things they absolutely take for granted.
“Oh the ‘statist’ is bringing up roads again as if only the government can build roads.”
Which also makes me think of Obama’s infamous “you didn’t build that” speech that so angered entrepreneurs everywhere. Good luck manufacturing and delivering goods without government provided infrastructure of all kinds.
Pretty much. This claim that without taxes life would be better is easily disproved if you ever visit Jerusalem. Since city is split to West and East Jerusalem, West being capital of Israel, East being capital of Palestine. Israeli people pay taxes while Palestinians don’t. Walking from one side of the city to the other feels like traveling through time. West side is clean, with watered lawns and nice gardens, public transport and other amenities. Eastern side, time has stopped. Locations I’ve provided are less than 1km apart but feel like two different countries. Of course, exact comparison is not really possible but public services matter.
I hate how these videos are titled “off the grid” because they imply he’s living independently from civilization and one with the nature. In reality he lives alone and without certain luxuries, but is enjoying others. It’s dishonest. Mind you, am not hating on his decision to live the way he does, am hating on authors for presenting this as a better way to live your life.
In reality, he’s very much dependent on others, even more so than us living in the cities. His health and sanity are largely thanks to genetics and to a smaller degree thanks to life style. Having an active life style is possible in nature as well in city. You don’t have to take every escalator or drive your car everywhere. Main difference being, he doesn’t have a choice.
This is another thing people don’t realize. These videos come with a claim people didn’t want to work in some office until the rest of their lives. In reality they are working harder for the rest of their lives as now they have to take care of every aspect of their needs. Heating, water, food, tools, clothing. Everything has to be done and prepared by you. And it’s a lot of work. A LOT. As someone who has grown up as a child of farmer parents, I can tell you for sure he’s not self-sustaining with that “garden”. People don’t realize just how much food one consumes. You need a huge garden just to sustain one person, not to mention extra work needed to prepare for winter months when there’s no food to forage or grow. And food needs to be diverse. All this requires work.
What irks me the most is obvious disdain towards money and systems we have in place. Unless there’s a tree growing glass bottles and metal roofs they are being very hypocritical. They talk about people having to change their lifestyle and then proceeds to use refined alcohol to preserve foods for the winter. This need to reconnect with nature they talk about without realizing that living far away means buying anything, including clothing, boots, glass, sheets, spices and the rest… all requires more energy than if they lived close to cities.
Living in nature is one thing and completely a matter of choice I respect. Claiming it’s better than living in city is hogwash. If you feel good in nature, so be it but at the same time most people feel good living in the city. This whole “holier than thou” mantra is annoying and dishonest. Do what makes you happy, but don’t belittle others for not sharing the opinion.
This reminds me so much of typical libertarian arguments about how taxation is theft and that life would be so much better without government. They have no idea how dependent they are on the things that the government and taxes provide for them. Things they absolutely take for granted.
“Oh the ‘statist’ is bringing up roads again as if only the government can build roads.”
Which also makes me think of Obama’s infamous “you didn’t build that” speech that so angered entrepreneurs everywhere. Good luck manufacturing and delivering goods without government provided infrastructure of all kinds.
https://images.app.goo.gl/FUSiFew8WfSrDKdp6
Pretty much. This claim that without taxes life would be better is easily disproved if you ever visit Jerusalem. Since city is split to West and East Jerusalem, West being capital of Israel, East being capital of Palestine. Israeli people pay taxes while Palestinians don’t. Walking from one side of the city to the other feels like traveling through time. West side is clean, with watered lawns and nice gardens, public transport and other amenities. Eastern side, time has stopped. Locations I’ve provided are less than 1km apart but feel like two different countries. Of course, exact comparison is not really possible but public services matter.
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