this post was submitted on 29 May 2025
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Instead of even trying to chase jobs that seem out of reach, Gen Z is embracing living like a rat—not showering or leaving the house for days at a time.

The millennial era of “work hard, play harder” and “girl bossing” has given way to a new trend. In China, at least, Gen Zers are proudly calling themselves “rat people”—they’re spending entire days procrastinating in bed, scrolling on their phones, snoozing and ordering take out.

I think it has something to do with "giving up" on the economy: if you have very low chances of landing a job anyways, why even try?

The article does not directly tell us how many people participate in this movement consciously. It does hint, however:

Today, over 4 million American Gen Zers remain jobless. In China, the government has said that as of February, 1 in 6 young people are unemployed.

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 6 days ago

The whole gig economy / hustle culture was deliberately abused by companies treating people like consultants except with low wages and certainly zero benefits. People are taking all the downside and businesses are completely covered from any liability. It has to end somewhere.

[–] [email protected] 218 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Hard not to sympathize. World is fucked.

[–] [email protected] 78 points 1 week ago

Solidarity with rats worldwide

[–] [email protected] 132 points 1 week ago (5 children)

The millennial era of “work hard, play harder”

I hate to be that guy that calls everything Orwellian, but this is NOT how Fortune was describing Millenials 15 years ago

[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 week ago

Yeah wtf is that? I’m a fucking burnout who is so lazy my hair is just a matted mess and has been for like a month

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Ah, yes, the rhetoric 'grind culture' disguising working three jobs just to eat and sleep in conditions that are semi-humane. But being scolded and scorned for never being able to buy a house because we like avocado toast. Working so hard, but never working enough in the same breath.

It was never about the fucking toast. 'Goblin mode' and 'adulting' and 'gamer shut-in' and 'NEET' was never about being lazy. It was always about painting out the propaganda to guilt us into not meeting the model of expectation instead of our elders accepting blame. Maybe, hear me out, they should open their eyes and see that we're living in a level of poverty so hilariously deep that not even our kids--Gen Z and Gen Alpha--will be able to dig it out.

They're not giving up because they're lazy. They're opting out of a system designed to fail.

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[–] [email protected] 69 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Today, over 4 million American Gen Zers remain jobless. In China, the government has said that as of February, 1 in 6 young people are unemployed.

I hate mixed comparisons...

There's about 69 million (nice) Gen Z in America.

So America = 5.7%

China = 16.6%

[–] taladar 15 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Are those 69 million all adults/working age already?

For full context it might also be useful to see the unemployment rates in other age groups in both countries.

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[–] [email protected] 57 points 1 week ago

I'm sorry, but Millennials or Genz did not invent quiet quitting. The media made it up to describe just doing your damn job

[–] [email protected] 53 points 1 week ago (5 children)

Aren't rats notable for their hygiene and social skills? Seems like a poor comparison.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 1 week ago (11 children)

Chinese culture has almost satirical levels of disrespect and misunderstanding of animals so it's very much on character.

I used to have 3 rescue rats and they are incredibly clean, active and social animals. I'd used to take them outside and observe how they explore new areas and its was really incredible how coordinated and thought out their exploration plans would be and executed with utter most curiosity. Also very cute how they'd come back to me and ask to be taken home to their cage by basically hugging my foot.

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[–] [email protected] 48 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The rat seems to be their equivalent totem to the raccoon/opossum

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 week ago (1 children)

the gutterpunk peoples speak of this as a sign

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[–] [email protected] 48 points 1 week ago (1 children)

That’s just called depression. I’ve been experiencing that for years

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

Late-stage capitalism induced depression 👈

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[–] [email protected] 45 points 1 week ago (1 children)

You sure it's not just depression?

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 week ago (2 children)

If it is, staying in a dark house and not exercising is definitely not what one wants to do.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 week ago

well, depression doesnt make it easy to do those things

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[–] [email protected] 42 points 1 week ago

I can get behind this. Overthrow your country's oppressive working conditions by simply refusing to engage and proudly calling yourself a rat. Everyone in capitalist hellscapes should do that.

[–] [email protected] 33 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Friend, fuckin' same. It seems like all the propaganda hit pieces do is make them feel more relatable, damn.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 week ago

You have more in common with a Chinese or Russian worker than any billionaire.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)
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[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Isn't there the japanese thing "lay flat" where it's just about surviving and not excelling in life

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I'm doing the same thing in the US after getting laid off, have no energy or motivation to apply for jobs or prep for interview. I'm kinda depressed about this situation but also kinda happy to have the freedom to actually rest and breath again, for a first world country the American work system is draconic, and tying Healthcare access to a job is just inhumane

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[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 week ago (2 children)

If only all the rats of the world combined into an unruly rat king... Then things would change.

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[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Wasn't there also the "lie flat" trend? It's not just Gen Z who are calling uncle. If I had the means, I'd join them.

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 week ago (5 children)

how can you afford staying in bed scrolling on phone and ordering takeouts? rent, electric, phone, gas bills? is it because their boomer parents have one child and pay everything for them even when they grow up?

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 week ago (1 children)

My guy, gen Z's parents are gen X and millennials, not boomers

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 week ago (9 children)

So how do they keep a roof, four walls and food?

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 week ago

I would too if I didn't have to work full time for affordable health care pouts

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 week ago

holy fuck i want to spend days in bed

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 week ago

A sudden seemingly coordinated wave of "China is horrible" stories, just as the courts start striking down Trump's 145% tariffs.

Crazy coincidental.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Most of us spend entire nights in bed, we should not judge

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 week ago

It would be so very Warhammer 40k if sheer capitalism warped humanity into the Skaven.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 week ago

Fuck ya. Go rat people go!

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 week ago (3 children)
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[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

The greatest tragedy of 21 century is masses of pacified people who farm karma and validity online in some circlejerks to feel dopamine hits from moral superiority.

It’s the real brain drain of today.

When they give up, the Machiavellists who were countered by brave people in the past come in full force.

I ask you… no I beg you. Use the internet to enhance communication, not just as an escape. We cannot afford to run from the problems any longer

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 days ago (1 children)

To tell another story, workers are like kindle of the great furnace of the industrial-capitalist complex, and to stay at home is to take away the fuel from the machine.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Only when the machine stops can we finally take it apart and fix all its problems. (I dont entirely know what this means I just wanted to say something profound-sounding)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 days ago

thank you, i have been saying the same thing :D

Only when the machine stops can we finally take it apart and fix all its problems

That is what meditation is. Deliberately pausing for a while, to fix your internal problems.

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