The Monks in the Casino
9 days ago
- #digital-addiction
- #casino-capitalism
- #male-loneliness
- The article discusses the lives of two young men, Spishak and Kyle, who represent extreme cases of addiction to pornography and gambling, respectively.
- Spishak, a 28-year-old 'pornosexual,' avoids real-life relationships, preferring digital erotica due to social anxiety and fear of intimacy.
- Kyle, a 26-year-old, became addicted to sports gambling, leading to job loss, financial ruin, and isolation.
- The article highlights a broader trend among young men in America: increasing isolation, sedentary leisure time, and preference for digital interactions over real-life social connections.
- Societal shifts, such as the rise of 'casino capitalism,' have made gambling and digital entertainment more accessible, while traditional social and financial milestones (e.g., homeownership) feel out of reach.
- The author argues that the issue is not a 'loneliness crisis' but an 'absence-of-loneliness crisis,' where young men no longer feel the need for human connection due to the pleasures of digital isolation.
- Policy and technological changes have made it easier to engage in risky financial behaviors (e.g., gambling) while making traditional community-building activities harder.
- The article calls for a reevaluation of societal values and policies to address the moral and economic consequences of this shift toward isolation and digital addiction.