# Are you aware of any networks for people shut in their home? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 13, 2016, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073 "2016-01-13T21:35:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2016, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/81 "2016-01-15T18:59:06Z")
So, \*get \*a driver’s license. If not, why not? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2016, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/82 "2016-01-15T19:21:10Z")
He can’t leave. What if someone calls? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2016, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/83 "2016-01-15T19:33:37Z")
Let me guess … a cell phone is the same as broadcasting your conversations to the whole world. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/84 "2016-01-16T01:07:43Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > I am not crazy – just overweight and without drivers license. Oh, well what a relief! Fortunately, both of those things are within your control! :). So stop putzing around here and go _do something_. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/85 "2016-01-16T01:20:18Z")
No need to do something; he’s told us many times that he feels no need to anything about being overweight and essentially housebound. His idea of a good change is buying a new digital camera. He’s extremely happy with everything else about his life (weighing 155kg, no friends or social life, no job or job prospects, still living with his parents even though he’s middle-aged, etc.). So don’t bother offtering him suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/86 "2016-01-16T23:42:16Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Let me guess … a cell phone is the same as broadcasting your conversations to the whole world. I do own a cell phone, it is a feature phone. But I am not permitted to have a smartphone. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/87 "2016-01-16T23:44:18Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Oh, well what a relief! Fortunately, both of those things are within your control! :). So stop putzing around here and go _do something_. My life is neither better nor worse then that of most Americans my age. It is very very different. If the price of `freedom" is wasting myself on a job, then I do not need such `freedom". ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/88 "2016-01-16T23:44:46Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > But I am not permitted to have a smartphone. What would happen if you obtained one? Would you be grounded? But you already don’t leave the house? No allowance? I suppose that’s it? ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/89 "2016-01-16T23:45:18Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > So, \*get \*a driver’s license. If not, why not? I have Asperger’s Syndrome. Driving with Asperger’s Syndrome is an unreasonable risk. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/90 "2016-01-16T23:46:28Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > What would happen if you obtained one? Would you be grounded? But you already don’t leave the house? No allowance? I suppose that’s it? Given that my parents support me I would not want to go against them. Besides, if I got a smartphone my Internet Addiction Syndrome would get much worse. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/91 "2016-01-17T00:17:51Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > Given that my parents support me I would not want to go against them. Besides, if I got a smartphone my Internet Addiction Syndrome would get much worse. That wasn’t an answer to my question. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/92 "2016-01-17T00:23:53Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > My life is neither better nor worse then that of most Americans my age. It is very very different. If the price of `freedom" is wasting myself on a job, then I do not need such `freedom". Unless you are independently wealthy, the price of being an adult is being able to care for yourself. This means earning money, which is to say getting a job. It is indescribably selfish to say that your sense of freedom entitles you to never work. There are jobs that you can do online and never leave the house. > [@CCitizen](#): > > I have Asperger’s Syndrome. Driving with Asperger’s Syndrome is an unreasonable risk. I do not believe this is an accurate statement. Autism is a spectrum, but someone with high functioning autism ought to be able to learn to drive. Have you ever studied the importance of flexibilty in life and functioning in society? I understand that it is uncomfortable, but it is a useful skill to cultivate. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/93 "2016-01-17T00:25:42Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > He’s extremely happy with everything else about his life (weighing 155kg, no friends or social life, no job or job prospects, still living with his parents even though he’s middle-aged, etc.). Indeed I am happy not to work. But I am looking for friends and social life. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/94 "2016-01-17T00:27:40Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I am so not into sports it’s kind of funny. Me and my SO were playing Trivial Pursuit the other day and I know maybe a dozen sports facts. It got to the point where everytime he asked me a sports question I started answering Derek Jeter! So: > > Where do each of these NFL teams play their home games - list the stadium. > A: Derek Jeter! > > We had a good laugh about it. FTR, I know Derek Jeter plays (played?) for the Yankees. In _baseball_. I am not into sports. I can not run. I can walk, but I do not walk much. I do play [runescape](http://www.runescape.com) a lot. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/95 "2016-01-17T00:29:39Z")
> [@ddsun](#): > > Unless you are independently wealthy, the price of being an adult is being able to care for yourself. This means earning money, which is to say getting a job. It is indescribably selfish to say that your sense of freedom entitles you to never work. There are jobs that you can do online and never leave the house. Possibly someday I will have a job. I obey my parents and they provide well for me. It is a two sided agreement. They have never used physical force or abusive language on me even when I was a child. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/96 "2016-01-17T00:32:56Z")
> [@ddsun](#): > > Autism is a spectrum, but someone with high functioning autism ought to be able to learn to drive. Driving is [dangerous](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oI33EF5c04). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/97 "2016-01-17T01:53:15Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > He’s extremely happy with everything else about his life (weighing 155kg, no friends or social life, no job or job prospects, still living with his parents even though he’s middle-aged, etc.). > > Indeed I am happy not to work. But I am looking for friends and social life. I’d be happy not to work, but not if it meant that I was stuck living in my parents’ house and unable to afford more than one annual trip outside the house. And you claim to be seeing friends but reject, ignore or deflect any suggestion how to accomplish this. > [@CCitizen](#): > > > [@ddsun](#): > > > > Unless you are independently wealthy, the price of being an adult is being able to care for yourself. This means earning money, which is to say getting a job. It is indescribably selfish to say that your sense of freedom entitles you to never work. There are jobs that you can do online and never leave the house. > > Possibly someday I will have a job. I obey my parents and they provide well for me. It is a two sided agreement. They have never used physical force or abusive language on me even when I was a child. I’m sure your parents are great, but _something_ went wrong to leave you so dysfunctional and dependent. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/98 "2016-01-17T02:03:08Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’d be happy not to work, but not if it meant that I was stuck living in my parents’ house and unable to afford more than one annual trip outside the house. I leave my house on average thrice a week – I go shopping and sometimes to the Library. I have been seeing my therapist once per three weeks recently. I would be happy to be independent, but not at the expense of the Joy of Not Working. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/99 "2016-01-17T02:25:41Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > I would be happy to be independent, but not at the expense of the Joy of Not Working. You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073/100 "2016-01-17T19:44:44Z")
What is your plan for taking care of yourself when your parents are not able to do so? It seems a good idea to start working on skills now that will allow you to survive later. Employment, cooking, transportation are all examples of things you will need to manage on your own. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-aware-of-any-networks-for-people-shut-in-their-home/743073.md?page=6)