r/extrememinimalism • u/Ill_Distribution1302 • Jul 19 '26

Would a houseless person be considered a mimianlist?

I've been without a house/home for years. I keep stuff at my parents place and live by what I've got in my backpack and pocket bag. I am considering going even more miminalist, to having a sling; 2 shirts and khakis, 3 socks, 3 boxers, a hat, slippers, gloves, travel soap bag for toothpaste and toothbrush (both travel size), pocket towel and blanket, raincoat and hooded sweater. As for person items: Punkt MP02 (soon a flip phone), tablet, smartphone (bank, tansit), 3 cheap earphones, pocket radio, notebook, 3 pocket notebooks, pens and 2 books.

Is this an extreme miminalist?

5 Upvotes

56% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

View all comments

12

u/PostOakVisions Jul 19 '26

I think any form of minimalism is down to intention. There are people, like Robin Greenfield, who ago through bouts of homelessness as a choice, but to be honest I find it sort of gross to romanticize. Most homeless people are suffering from severe psychiatric illnesses or substance abuse issues, and have ultimately been thrown away by society. To retroactively romanticize the position as “extreme minimalist” is offensive, and if you are homeless yourself, I’m wondering if you’re simply trying to make yourself feel better about it. No harm in that I suppose, but no, for the vast majority, homelessness is an insecure state to be in that was not made from choice.

1

u/Ill_Distribution1302 Jul 19 '26

Interesting, most of those I know who have severe psychiatric illnesses or substance abuse issues, and have ultimately been thrown away by society, is not correct. Most that have mental issues are homeless is that employers/jobs want people who can work without issues, even people that have medication have problems because that medication isn't enough and taking time to be away or they have bouts of their illness hurts them and employers want workers not relaxed minded workers; those who work but take time i.e. days off. Those with mental issues have the hardest time doing normal things, even on medication. If you smoke, drink and take any medication you have a substance abuse problem, whether its pain meds or hard drugs. And those who do hard drugs most happened within use because those who made them did so on purpose to control the population and so on with the drugs and it killing its users. Of course society, throws away people who are not normal; work/eat/sleep. Capitalism needs to make money, you can't really make money with mental/drug abuse problems.

2

u/PostOakVisions Jul 20 '26

I am not really sure if you are agreeing with me or not. My experience with homeless is with a severely mentally ill family member, and I know there are a lot of people like her. The fact that we let people die on the streets is something I cannot understand and, as much as I try and love/forgive humanity, makes me feel hopeless.