Forum: Author Hangout

NILFs vs. MILFs

JoeBobMack 🚫

Admission 1: This is random.
Admission 2: And maybe only related to writing stories somewhere in the as-yet-unexplored areas of my allegedly normal psyche!

Reading today about the increasing lack of participation of males aged 18-54 in the workforce, I ran across the term "NILF" - Not In Labor Force. It means those who are neither working nor looking for work. For women, most of these are engaged in child care or household duties, but for men, they seem to be mostly engaged in screen-based activities.

That's an interesting topic in itself, especially for those who believe that a post-scarcity economy we'll result in many people taking up new hobbies, doing creative stuff, helping their communities, etc. Seems like a lot of guys are going to play video games, and even that may be better than doom scrolling through social media.

Anyway, my head came up with NILFs vs. MILFs. I'm not sure why I thought "vs." which suggest some kind of confrontation instead of "and" which might suggest cooperation, but that was the first thought that popped in my head.

Anyway, the rhyming sound and the image of a bunch of NILFs with easy access to a load of MILFs set off a "story alert"in my brain.

Anybody else?

Replies: julka Soronel Switch Blayde Justin Case awnlee jawking

julka 🚫

@JoeBobMack

I haven't seen the term NILF before! I've generally heard about the acronym NEET, Not in Education, Employment, or Training - so it describes a similar although somewhat broader situation. In Japan, where the term is reasonably popular, it comes with a connotation of antisocial tendencies or being a shut-in.

And yes, your story alert is hitting on something. There are vast reams of erotic japanese fiction, illustrated and non, about NEETs who are in conflict with their mother or mother figure - encouraging her son to go out and meet people by boosting his self confidence; making up for a lousy childhood; allowing the son to replace his own absent father figure etc etc. If it's the sort of story you're into, there's a lot of stories to get into!

Soronel 🚫

@JoeBobMack

The one I've heard is "NEEP" - "No education, employment or prospects"

Replies: Dominions Son John Demille

Dominions Son 🚫

@Soronel

The one I've heard is "NEEP" - "No education, employment or prospects"

NEEP and NILF wouldn't be equivalent.

NEEP is explicitly someone who has never had employment prospects beyond menial labor.

NILF on the other hand covers people who have voluntarily dropped out of the labor force due to any number of factors such as retirement or a parent dropping out to raise children full time.

Replies: DBActive Soronel

DBActive 🚫

@Dominions Son

NILF is important politically since the historically low rate of workforce participation we now have lowers the unemployment rate. That allows politicans to point to low unemployment as a indicator of a good economy while it is really the result of people simply giving up work.

Soronel 🚫

@Dominions Son

I was responding specifically to "NEET", I'd say "NEET" and "NEEP" are pretty much equivalent.

John Demille 🚫

@Soronel

The most common term is NEET:

Not in Education, Employment or Training

Switch Blayde 🚫

@JoeBobMack

Not In Labor Force. It means those who are neither working nor looking for work. For women, most of these are engaged in child care or household duties, but for men, they seem to be mostly engaged in screen-based activities.

I think that statement is mixing up "facts." I put "facts" in quotes because today you don't know if the fact is true, opinion, biased to make it seem true, or just made-up bullshit.

Anyway, Fact 1 is that there are less men in the workforce. But the reason for that is men and women are switching roles. More women are now the breadwinner and men talking care of household duties and the children.

Fact 2 is that men in that age group are more likely to be alone in a room participating on screen activities (porn, virtual/AI relationships, video games, etc.) than dating with a real live woman. I think the trend began before Covid, but exploded during the Covid lockdowns. That has nothing to them not being in the workforce.

Justin Case 🚫

@JoeBobMack

I ran across the term "NILF" - Not In Labor Force. It means those who are neither working nor looking for work.

Sounds like "UNEMPLOYED" or perhaps "DEADBEATS"

Replies: Pixy Dominions Son

Pixy 🚫
Updated:

@Justin Case

As a 'NILF' I'm obviously going to disagree with that uninformed statement.

I have a house, two cars and I am well within working age. I'm not working through choice. Partly because I am educated and worked hard during my younger years. One of the benefits of possessing an education, is knowing that you can't take your wealth with you when you snuff it. So you might as well as enjoy the fruits of your labour whilst you still can.

Another side to having money and no expenditure (other than state obligations and living expenses) is that it gives you the choice not to work for complete arseholes. Of which there seems to be many.

There seems to be a growing shift by many in the UK, who are realising that there is no point in working for dickheads if you don't need to.

This isn't the same as 'Lying flat' in Asian countries where a lot of youngsters have decided that there is 'no point' in working. As to why that condition exits, there are many theories. I favour 'burnout' as many youngsters (especially in Japan) have truly horrific expectations laid upon their shoulders when they are children.

Edit:added a missing 's'

Dominions Son 🚫

@Justin Case

@JoeBobMack

I ran across the term "NILF" - Not In Labor Force. It means those who are neither working nor looking for work.

Sounds like "UNEMPLOYED" or perhaps "DEADBEATS"

NILF could include retirees, the idle rich, spouses in a one income household that are working in the home (housekeeping, childcare).

awnlee jawking 🚫

@JoeBobMack

NILFs vs. MILFs

Needs more LILFs (Lesbians I'd Like to Fuck)

And KILFs (eg B'Elanna Torres).

AJ

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NILFs vs. MILFs

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