Would you like to live in solitary confinement?

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Well, Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in near-solitary confinement and it case you didn't notice he didn't feel bad.

He just spent his time studying Afrikaans, art, politics and the history of South Africa and the ANC (clandestinely). Now how's that solitary?

My thoughts. Being able to choose to live in Isolation would be nice. I would love to live out in the middle of nowhere (having a fully refurbished missile silo like a titan missile base or an atlas F silo would be cool. just go in seal it off from the outside world and forget they exist. But I would not want to ever be forcibly shut off from the outside world. I need to communicate with the outside world and to be able to persue my special interests.

Being in Solitary confinement is very much like being buried alive, entombed in a concrete cell and only given the very barest essentials, food and if your really lucky a book to read now and then. It's just like being dead except you are still breathing in all other respects you might as well be dead.

Actually I considered this when I was in college searching for a career. I came across a book of unusual jobs which included a description of life at an Antarctic research station.

The "solitary" element involves being separated from family and friends, and interacting only with scientists who tend to be introverted nerds who prefer spending their off hours alone. The research base actually looks for people with this personality trait since they're most likely to be comfortable (and functional) in that environment.

The "confinement" element is obviously due to the hostile weather/terrain. It's like living on a Martian colony. You can't just take a stroll outside when you need to get away from people. And there aren't any malls, libraries, parks, etc. to hang out in. It's a closed system.
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Fides solus

I've wondered at times what it would be like. I think if someone asked me to do it for maybe a week or so, I would try it. Kind of like a vacation from the demands of everyday life, responsibilities, social interaction, etc. But absolutely no longer than that, because as much as I have difficulty dealing with people at times, sometimes I do feel I need that interaction. Kind of a catch 22, I know.

However, it needs to be said that solitary confinement is completely different from choosing to isolate yourself in your room or house, as it's a voluntary action and you still have the freedom to come out of isolation if you want to, not to mention the comforts that your own house provides. That's why, as I said above, I wouldn't do solitary confinement any more than a week, at most.

I don't think that I'd like it, very much. I like to be around my friends and my family.

slowmutant asked:

I saw this show on National Geographic that was talking about how prisoners survived living in solitary confinement at Alcatraz. They were talking about how they would take all of their clothes away from them and just stick them in a room with no bed, no mattress, no blankets, no nothing. I was thinking about one of my AS boys whose room is stark. I mean a bed with one sheet, one pillow, one pillowcase, one blanket, two bookshelves (not shelves with several shelves each, I'm talking 2 shelves about 3 foot long each) one for school books and one for his reading books, no posters, no computer, no toys in sight. 7 outfits, one for each day of the week. 2 sets of pajamas. 2 pairs of shoes, one dress, one gym.

I was thinking how much he probably would have liked solitary confinement in Alcatraz. They kept saying "complete sensory deprivation". My student would love this!

No.

I used to think about it a lot, and I almost liked the idea of being confined on my own, provided I had my own desk, library and a comfortable bed. Now, the whole idea is repulsive. I like spending a lot of time with myself and being isolated from others, but having that day after day, constantly, with absolutely nobody else to talk to, no family, no friends - that's a totally different thing.

So while I need a lot of time to myself, and though I consider myself a retiring, reclusive type of guy, I could not cope with solitary confinement. It might be nice for a day or two, but the novelty would soon wear off.

Solitary is cool. Confinement is not. My hatred for being told what to do, imprisoned, subordinate to another, etc. is stronger than my love for isolation.
I think I know what the OP was getting at though. Sometimes I don't leave my house for a day or two, and up to three days in the dead of winter. I have no trouble keeping myself amused with indoor pursuits: reading, writing, drawing, playing guitar, listening to music, internet, porn, etc.
Ultimately I do need to interact with people, and I enjoy the city bustle on my terms.
I would last a long time in a CONTEST involving solitary confinement. Something like a large cash prize for living in a small space for a set amount of time. The reward money would allow me to stave off freaking out for a long time.