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A man who became a hermit at 20
- krtkush 7y ago> He tried to cause as little damage as possible, but the sheer number of break-ins - more than 1,000 over the years, caused a lot of anxiety for some of the cabin owners. > Why had he turned his back on the world and gone off to live completely alone? I would hardly define his way of living as turning his back from the world. He was still very much dependant on it and could obviously not live without it.
- Rerarom 7y agoYeah, I'd like to read an account of a 'true' hermit
- ashildr 7y agoSomeone would call it invalid because a “true hermit” would not communicate with society.
- justforyou 7y agoTrue hermits are as rare as true Scotsmen. It's fascinating how emotional people get over an individual pilfering a few supplies.
- Noos 7y agoTom Neale wrote "An Island to Oneself" in which he lived on a remote island multiple times in his life. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Neale https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Neale The government still checked up on him on occasion and he had to return to society due to injury, but he was very much a hermit otherwise.
- fredsir 7y agoFinding materials in nature (e.g. an untouched-by-humans forrest) vs in society (e.g. someones cabin) is not much of a difference if you are not a part of society. All living things need food and other stuff to sustain its life. You go out, shoot a deer to survive, chop down a tree, and head home and you got some food and supplies. You go out, find a cabin, take some food and other stuff and head home and you've got some food and other supplies. The difference is only significant if you follow the rules of society where we don't take each others stuff. But just like we don't bat an eye when we go out and take the life or supplies from an animal that is not part of society, why should a person or another creature that is not part of society think any different when they go into someones cabin and take food and supplies instead of finding the things in untouched nature? Why craft an axe from raw materials when you can just take the one that something else made that is laying right there in that log of wood?
- navigatesol 7y ago>why should a person or another creature that is not part of society think any different when they go into someones cabin and take food and supplies instead of finding the things in untouched nature? Because the creature or its family isn't going to be planning retribution, like I'd be doing if you broke into my property and stole my stuff.
- jdironman 7y agoAh, the gatherer becomes the hunted.
- taneq 7y agoIt's not "gathering" if you're taking things that someone's deliberately prepared for their own future use.
- FakeComments 7y agoIs it inaccurate to say “bears gather honey”?
- snambi 7y agoAbsolutely true. This guy is not a hermit, sounds like an anti-social to me.
- tw1010 7y agoHe's aged remarkably well for 53.
- lota-putty 7y agoI see a complete loss of hope here, small joyous moments of human life are too good to leave the world behind. I suppose these people are stuck between two truths, life & death.
- rramadass 7y agoYou are looking at this from the wrong pov. The objective of solitary living is to cut yourself off from "society" and its demands/interactions. The ensuing mental calm and peace (there is "joy" in this) is what "hermits" are striving for.
- GuardianCaveman 7y ago“Despite the bitter Maine winters, when temperatures can plummet to -20C, Knight says he never lit a fire, in case the smoke attracted attention.” He dropped off the grid a few miles from thousands of cabins and survived exclusively on the contents of those cabins and the work of other people who filled those cabins with supplies. Had he truly survived alone in Wilderness instead of the equivalent of camping in the backyard and going inside the house for snacks he could have afforded to light a fire instead of pacing at 3AM to keep warm. He’s a parasite in the way he lived - not some noble outdoorsman. He’s a criminal.
- rlt 7y ago> He’s a parasite This guy’s cost to society is likely far lower than your average homeless person in a city like San Francisco, which spends something like $250,000,000 per year on the problem. That said, I’m not saying putting homeless people in the woods to steal from nearby cabins is a scalable solution.
- mushbino 7y agoSpending on the homeless in SF was just recently increased to $600,000,000.
- ashildr 7y agoI don’t think that being a hermit (avoiding any social interaction in ‘nature’) and being a criminal (acting against law) are mutually exclusive. And I think it’s very interesting to read about people who chose to become hermits, because I don’t understand the motivation and may learn something. I find it less interesting to discuss stolen batteries, because I understand that motivation and logic. You may choose to not understand things that you don’t agree with, being that kind of intellectual hermit is your proper, if sad, choice as a free human.
- CGamesPlay 7y ago> I don’t think that being a hermit (avoiding any social interaction in ‘nature’) and being a criminal (acting against law) are mutually exclusive. I don’t think anyone here disagrees with this. But this man was certainly more in the latter category than the former. He was just as dependent on civilization putting groceries in the supermarket as any of your suburban neighbors, except instead of paying for those groceries, he stole them. Sure, he also lived in nature and didn’t talk to people.
- ashildr 7y agoI wonder if they would be diagnosed ADHD or on the autism spectrum if they had to function in society.
- h0l0cube 7y agoAs for Christopher Knight, that might be the case: https://www.gq.com/story/the-last-true-hermit?currentPage=1 https://www.gq.com/story/the-last-true-hermit?currentPage=1 > I followed his cue and looked over his shoulder while he stared over mine. We maintained this arrangement for most of the visit. Chris had recently been given a mental-health evaluation by Maine’s forensic service. The report mentioned a possible diagnosis of Asperger’s disorder, a form of autism often marked by exceptional intelligence but extreme sensitivity to motions, sounds, and light. > Chris had just learned of Asperger’s while in jail, and he seemed unfazed by the diagnosis. "I don’t think I’ll be a spokesman for the Asperger’s telethon. Do they still do telethons? I hate Jerry Lewis." He said he was taking no medications. "But I don’t like people touching me," he added. "You’re not a hugger, are you?"
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- anoncake 7y agoNever being bored isn't exactly a symptom of ADHD. Autism is more likely.
- arkitaip 7y agoHad this man been born in, say, the 18th century, he could have become a garden hermit [0]. British aristocracy used to employ hermits to live on their estates, sometimes in hermitages or grottoes, as living garden ornaments but also counsel. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_hermit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_hermit
- Avshalom 7y agoThe framing this asshole gets from the press continues to astonish me. "He didn't come out again for 27 years"... well except the 1000+ times he came out to steal shit. And yeah I'm damn sure 27 years of weekly break ins and theft "caused a lot of anxiety" christ that phrase is doing some heavy lifting. "he tried to cause as little damage as possible" which is a hell of a thing to say about 27 years of making the conscious decision to break into people's houses and steal their shit.
- fredsir 7y agoAren't we also breaking in and stealing other, not people, but livings things "stuff" when we mow down their home, destroy their supplies, and then kill them off completely? Is it really a "break in" and "theft" if you are not part of the society that has defined those collective myths? If you are not part of a society that deems that individuals can own stuff, why should you follow those rules? What about when we put upon others our will when we start a war? Is it always wrong to take other peoples possessions or put upon them our will? Is it wrong to take from others that have plenty if you have none? Isn't our modern societies built upon taking stuff that isn't inherently ours, claiming it, and then forcing our will upon those around us, humans and animals alike? If you are not part of our society, maybe going in and taking our stuff is not as much "break in" and "theft", but just pure and simple survival.
- imtringued 7y agoIf you're going to take the "might is right" standpoint then society with it's huge police and military force always wins. I don't even understand why you need to ask these questions. In the past countries routinely ignored other countries' laws by going to war. Even nowadays China is extraditing Chinese Americans who break Chinese laws even if what they did is completely legal in the US.
- fredsir 7y agoI ask because the one I asked seems to believe break ins and theft is anything but collective myths existing only because the individuals in our society believe in them. Outside of society, where nature and war takes place, none of those things exist, and since the hermit was not part of society, it’s not break ins and theft, it’s survival. The only thing not allowing things out there is ethics and morals, if one is capable of such, and that, understandably, seems to crumble when standing in the way of survival.
- 0xd171 7y agoYou can really strip down and simplify your life, spend time in silence and adjust your social interactions to suit your personality in many ways that are much better than this.
- jfk13 7y ago> He wanted to live out his life in that small place in the woods, to die there among the trees, leaving nothing behind. Well, the people whose cabins he raided might not agree with the "leaving nothing behind" aspect. That would sound more convincing if he'd lived on wild berries and roots, fish from the streams, etc., taking no more than the environment could comfortably sustain. He didn't become a hermit; he became an outlaw in the forest, and we shouldn't be surprised that the sheriff eventually came after him.
- rramadass 7y agoFrom the comments here, it seems people have not studied any philosophy and are treating these folks as selfish and thieving. Not so; as a living organism you need the minimum to feed, clothe and house yourself. This can be done in any manner (in ancient history Sages/Monks used to "beg" for food which was an accepted norm) and it simply is that some ways are looked down upon in today's society. Nothing more. For some more accounts on solitary living and solitude see; 1) Read up on Dick Proenneke - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Proenneke https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Proenneke He lived alone for 30 years (from age 50 to 80) in the Alaskan Wilderness; built his cabin by hand and filmed his activities. Those documentaries and journals are a must watch/read. 2) Into Great Silence - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_Great_Silence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_Great_Silence A beautiful documentary on Carthusian monks in the French Alps.
- hutzlibu 7y agoBut don't you think there is a big difference in people who lived in and off the wilderness, than someone who lived of by stealing (and causing fear)?
- scribu 7y agoThere are fundamental reasons why stealing is "looked down upon" in most social systems, not just our current one. Having said that, I am prepared to accept that it's probably a good idea for society to give individuals a "way out" (live in solitude by choice). Otherwise, they might do some unfortunate things to themselves and/or others.
- jimmaswell 7y agoMaybe some areas of woodland should be sectioned off for people who want to live in a self-made cabin and sustain themselves. No developers or renting allowed, just solitary people and maybe communes.
- lonelappde 7y agoThis is the history of how US Western territories and States were created.
- tkjl 7y agoHumans have a tendency to normalize the common. I think most people would adapt to solitude given long enough time. What made him end up in the woods at 20 is much more interesting than how he survived all the years. This was clearly his normalized state at 20. Our senses are constantly bombarded, or maybe the right phrasing is “hijacked” with information. This will affect us in one way or another. This guy clearly choose information that has no intention to monetary profit on his decisions. But again, it’s not a calculated decision. It’s a product of his history. I’m sure you can find happiness in solitude if you’re willing to take the cost of transitioning. Hell, you might even be able to self induce happiness in the void of information. Perhaps by talking to an imaginary friend.
- krn 7y agoIf I had to guess, High-functioning autism[1] is the most likely mental disorder to lead to such a complete self-isolation. It's similar to Asperger's in a way that a person is usually of normal or higher than average intelligence, but it makes it even harder to empathize with others, which leads to extreme anxiety and complete inability to concentrate attention in adult life. In other words, such a person might not be able to socialize, study, or work despite being intelligent enough. This can unsurprisingly encourage some unusual choices in life. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-functioning_autism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-functioning_autism
- codingdave 7y agoInteresting that the Wikipedia article you linked, within the first paragraph, completely refutes your premise that HFA is a diagnosis applied to some individuals with above average intelligence, as well as social struggles.
- krn 7y agoI am not sure if we read the same article. There are plenty of sources on the subject[1]: > High functioning autism can be tough to diagnose in a very young child. There are a number of answers to that question. For example: Higher intelligence and language skills may have masked certain symptoms. > The ability to do well in school, communicate effectively, and pass an IQ test with flying colors are all impressive — and may send parents and teachers down the wrong path when looking for reasons for a child's unusual issues or behavior. [1] https://www.verywellhealth.com/high-functioning-autism-260305 https://www.verywellhealth.com/high-functioning-autism-26030...
- codingdave 7y agoDon't shoot the messenger - you are the one who linked to an article that said: "IQ of 70 or greater", and "HFA is not a recognized diagnosis"
- krn 7y ago
- sealthedeal 7y agoSo basically one break in every 10 days? I also find it crazy that he only came across one hiker in 27 years. Also, in Alaska, you are supposed to leave your cabins unlocked in case people need to use them if they were stranded, etc. I doubt that this area was that remote, just food for thought.
- zmix 7y agoPlease, a bit more diversity! "Property is theft!" -- Pierre-Joseph Proudhon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Property_is_theft https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Property_is_theft!
- dmitryminkovsky 7y agoSounds a lot like https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Thomas_Knight https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Thomas_Knight. That’s the Wikipedia but the other accounts are maybe better reads. Still, not sure how you can be considered a hermit if you’re always out burglarizing. You’re more of a homeless burglar then in my opinion. Interesting stories though.
- lonelappde 7y agoHomeless burglar hermit.
- chippy 7y agoThat is the same Christopher Knight that the article talks about.
- dmitryminkovsky 7y agoOh wow you’re right. Early morning confusion.
- patientplatypus 7y agoI feel like the people who are complaining that he stole aren't really getting it. Sure, he stole - and that's a bad thing because he took something that someone else worked hard to get. That's unfair. On the other hand, there's no real way to "really" drop out of society. If you deal with money at all you have to pay taxes, live in a house. Even as a wood cutter in the Alaskan wilderness or some such you still have to own and pay for a truck. Being homeless is a hugely social thing as you have to live in a city and beg - and everyone hates you. Even as a pure hunter there's not enough natural wilderness to support that, and you can't exactly hunt on land you don't own. So yeah, the people he stole from didn't agree to have their things taken. He (and I for that matter) didn't really agree to this whole society thing either.
- badpun 7y agoThe are plenty of options for dropping out of society. Siberia for example is millions of square kilometers of wilderness where you won't be bothered. It's not populated because the conditions for farming are bad: the soil is not suitable and the climate is not ideal - but it should be ok for a hunter-gatherer.
- fortran77 7y agoWell, he became a professional thief at age 20.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- snambi 7y agoLooks like a homeless beggar living in the woods. There are so many in silicon valley doing exactly same.
- dang 7y agoThread from 2014: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8205993 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8205993 2017: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13878801 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13878801