Siddarth Shukla

Why Escaping Reality Feels Like a Win

In today’s world, many adopt a mindset of moral superiority by opting out of life’s challenges. Whether it’s avoiding relationships, not having children due to environmental concerns, or rejecting societal norms, these decisions are often framed as noble or selfless. But in reality, they’re a way to escape the discomfort of facing hard truths.

Choosing to Give Up: An Easy Escape

Much like those who claim moral superiority by opting out of relationships or societal responsibilities, some people today choose to disengage entirely from life’s challenges. In this case, they see giving up as a better alternative. This mindset is similar to someone rejecting a capitalistic world in favor of communism or extreme activism, believing it offers a morally superior escape from the harshness of reality. But in truth, it’s a way of opting out rather than facing reality.

False Idealism of Non-Violence

In this context, violence isn’t simply about physical harm—it’s about engagement. Violence means challenging yourself, pushing beyond comfort zones, confronting your desires, and evolving through action. True violence is actively engaging with your inner struggles, societal norms, and responsibilities to grow and change.

On the other hand, non-violence becomes synonymous with withdrawal. People who adopt non-violence often use it to avoid confrontation, discomfort, or responsibility. It’s framed as moral superiority, but in many cases, non-violence means refusing to engage with the challenges of life, choosing to withdraw instead.

Humans are inherently violent creatures—not just in terms of aggression, but in how we engage with life’s complexities and push ourselves forward. Denying this reality—refusing to confront challenges—is to deny part of what makes us human. People who retreat into non-violence often do so because they are overwhelmed by emotions like compassion or fear. In this context, non-violence isn’t a higher moral ground—it’s a way of avoiding engagement with one’s inner desires, attachments, and responsibilities.

Moral Superiority Through Withdrawal

Those who choose not to engage with life’s struggles often claim that their decision is not only better for them, but for the world. A prime example is the growing sentiment that choosing not to have children is morally superior due to concerns about overpopulation. While this may sound like a noble cause, it’s often a way to avoid the responsibility and challenge of raising children. In reality, population decline is a pressing issue in many countries, yet those who choose not to have kids continue to anchor themselves to the outdated idea of overpopulation.

By clinging to this hypothetical ideal, they are not engaging with the truth—that life requires change, growth, and adaptability. Instead, they find comfort in the illusion that their decision is both morally superior and beneficial for the world. But in truth, it’s a way of avoiding the discomfort of personal growth and engagement with reality.

Escaping Reality by Opting Out

In many ways, this mindset is a form of giving up. Rather than confronting the challenges of modern life—whether that’s the desire for success, the challenge of relationships, or the responsibility of raising children—people find it easier to retreat and claim moral superiority. They suppress their natural desires through distractions like pornography or video games, which offer a safe space without the consequences of real engagement.

Just as violence means active engagement, non-violence becomes the easy escape, a way of refusing to take responsibility for life’s challenges. It allows people to claim the moral high ground while avoiding the hard work of personal evolution.

False Idols and Echo Chambers

What makes this mindset even more dangerous is how these ideas become reinforced in communities. Whether it’s forums for incel groups or MGTOW, people come together in echo chambers where their decision to opt out is validated by others who share the same beliefs. They see themselves as superior for rejecting the world’s expectations, but in truth, they are creating a false idol out of their inaction.

In these echo chambers, opting out becomes not just a personal choice but a moral badge of honor. They convince themselves that their withdrawal is better for society, and that the world’s problems are someone else’s to solve. But this sense of moral superiority is nothing more than an illusion—a way to avoid confronting the truth that reality requires change—both internally and externally.

Conclusion: Facing Reality Requires Action, Not Escape

The illusion of moral superiority through withdrawal may feel like a win, but in the end, it’s just another way to avoid the truth. Whether it’s embracing non-violence to avoid facing tough decisions, rejecting relationships and societal norms, or deciding not to have children for outdated reasons, these choices are escapes from reality, not answers.

True growth comes from engaging with the world, facing the messiness of human desires and attachments, and confronting the hard truths that life presents. Opting out, while convenient, keeps individuals from evolving. Reality doesn’t change by retreating from it; it changes when you engage and adapt.