Wow.
This new Chinese phenomenon is crazy.
Instead of loud protests, Chinese youths are identifying as "mouse people" and quietly carving out hidden worlds.
A thread on China's post-subcultural phenomenon of "autonomous escape" and "active hiding": 🧵
This new Chinese phenomenon is crazy.
Instead of loud protests, Chinese youths are identifying as "mouse people" and quietly carving out hidden worlds.
A thread on China's post-subcultural phenomenon of "autonomous escape" and "active hiding": 🧵
In the West, rebellion is loud - think protests in the '60s and '70s.
But in China, youth are adopting quiet fatalism.
Calling themselves "Mouse People," they're resigned, ironic, and deeply cynical about society.
But in China, youth are adopting quiet fatalism.
Calling themselves "Mouse People," they're resigned, ironic, and deeply cynical about society.
Emerging from a Chinese internet forum translated as "Leftover People Bar"...
These "Mouse People" aren't choosing to opt-out - they feel forced out.
To them, they're trapped at society's bottom rung, hopelessly stuck.
So they choose "autonomous escape" and "active hiding".
These "Mouse People" aren't choosing to opt-out - they feel forced out.
To them, they're trapped at society's bottom rung, hopelessly stuck.
So they choose "autonomous escape" and "active hiding".
"Autonomous escape" doesn't mean physically leaving society.
Instead, young people create mental and online sanctuaries.
They craft hidden spaces free from mainstream expectations, where their true identities flourish outside of prying eyes.
Think windowless-rooms.
Instead, young people create mental and online sanctuaries.
They craft hidden spaces free from mainstream expectations, where their true identities flourish outside of prying eyes.
Think windowless-rooms.
"Active hiding" takes this one step further.
Rather than openly defying societal norms, Chinese youth deliberately obscure their distinctiveness.
They intentionally remain invisible, avoiding direct conflict and assimilation pressures.
Rather than openly defying societal norms, Chinese youth deliberately obscure their distinctiveness.
They intentionally remain invisible, avoiding direct conflict and assimilation pressures.
Unlike the earlier "lying flat" (tang ping) movement, which explicitly was created to reject China's 996...
The Mouse People have developed distinct digital cultures and sophisticated online identities:
The Mouse People have developed distinct digital cultures and sophisticated online identities:
• Unique "rat literature" (鼠鼠文学)
• Specialized slang
• Self-deprecating memes and humor
These secret digital codes create cohesive, impenetrable online communities.
Their daily life choices are also super interesting:
• Specialized slang
• Self-deprecating memes and humor
These secret digital codes create cohesive, impenetrable online communities.
Their daily life choices are also super interesting:
It involves minimal physical activity, disrupted sleep cycles, and high reliance on technology and takeout food.
Their routine often includes waking late, extensive doom-scrolling, and low-energy lifestyles - deliberate rejections of mainstream productivity expectations.
Their routine often includes waking late, extensive doom-scrolling, and low-energy lifestyles - deliberate rejections of mainstream productivity expectations.
Mainstream society’s reactions are mixed:
• Some view them sympathetically, recognising mental health pressures.
• Others, particularly older generations, criticise them as defeatist.
• Commercial brands already reference them, signalling the cultural penetration.
• Some view them sympathetically, recognising mental health pressures.
• Others, particularly older generations, criticise them as defeatist.
• Commercial brands already reference them, signalling the cultural penetration.
To the mouse people, this is strategic adaptation.
They believe their tactics allow them to:
• Preserve their mental health and identities
• Navigate social pressures safely
• Subtly influence broader cultural shifts
Quiet resilience is their revolution.
They believe their tactics allow them to:
• Preserve their mental health and identities
• Navigate social pressures safely
• Subtly influence broader cultural shifts
Quiet resilience is their revolution.
A bit bout me:
• Former #1 poker player in Singapore (Won $3m)
• Acquired 5 businesses
• 152x from $2.5k MRR to $380k MRR in 2.5yrs
Now, I help businesses build their full-stack agentic marketing infrastructure to 10x quality output.
Work with me: tally.so/r/3XkVQj
• Former #1 poker player in Singapore (Won $3m)
• Acquired 5 businesses
• 152x from $2.5k MRR to $380k MRR in 2.5yrs
Now, I help businesses build their full-stack agentic marketing infrastructure to 10x quality output.
Work with me: tally.so/r/3XkVQj
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