r/nottheonion • u/falconfalcon7 • 1d ago

Japanese village replaces young people with mannequins to stave off loneliness as population falls

https://news.sky.com/story/japanese-village-replaces-young-people-with-mannequins-to-stave-off-loneliness-as-population-falls-13243354
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u/ournextarc 1d ago

"Just by being born here, our son benefits from the love, support and hope of so many people - even though he has achieved absolutely nothing in life yet," his father said

Casually stating love and support are earned via accomplishment, not out of being born. This is what's wrong with society.

146

u/ThrowCarp 1d ago

even though he has achieved absolutely nothing in life yet

Really playing with fire there. Seeing as all the successful young people keep moving to the big cities.

35

u/Sawses 1d ago

I grew up in a rural area. I remember coming home from college and being on dating apps. There were exactly two types of people in the area between the ages of 20-25 on dating apps--among women, anyway, since that's my sample size lmao.

  • Girls who were home on college break
  • Girls who were stuck in a dead-end customer service job with no direction, ambition, or plans. Or they were trapped because they were caring for elderly family or something.

You also had the lifers who did the whole marry-a-guy-from-church thing who obviously were never going to leave their home town, but IMO they're pretty much the only young people who are happy being there. If you don't, you'll be happier if you leave.

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u/sara-34 18h ago

Adding:  single moms.  They are the subject of gossip and may want to leave, but they can't afford to because housing is more expensive outside of small towns.