At what point does being a recluse become a “bad” thing?
There are two reasons to become a recluse: 1) One simply desires to be alone or 2) One is a freak. I do not see where, or why, #1 would become bad and #2 starts out being bad. The simple desire to be alone is just that, a desire to not mix with humanity for a variety of reasons such as being a hermit (contemplation of God or other esoteric questions). Or, like me, one is a born misanthrope. Being a freak is complex: sending bombs through the mail, paranoia, being a pervert, etc. Florence King, my favorite author, said if you meet someone that looks favorably upon solitary confinement, you’ve met a misanthrope. I have been a misanthrope all my life. My school years, including college, were a freakin’ nightmare. I, unlike socialized people, am never rude and I try to never be inconsiderate. (To be either one is to possibly increase the amount of time spent with a person.) I am married, purposefully and with no regrets, but I abhor socialization. My job is almost by definition a solitary
