On July 22nd， it was reported that in a recent program， host Lu Yu expressed her view that young people do not inherently desire to “lie flat” (a term describing a passive， uncompetitive approach to life and career). Instead， she believes they are driven to this stance due to a lack of opportunities. Lu Yu further stated that if work only provides basic sustenance and fails to offer dignified treatment， she too would opt to “lie flat.”
Lu Yu posits that everyone harbors aspirations for life and a sense of professional honor. She argues that opportunities are the catalysts that enable individuals to stand up， and even to run forward. “Lying flat，” in her opinion， is not a choice born of laziness， but rather a period of waiting during challenging times， anticipating a moment that sparks the impulse to re-engage and strive.
This sentiment echoes prior expert observations that the societal burden of intense competition， or “involution，” has long been felt. Despite this， the “lying flat” phenomenon appears most prevalent among the younger generations， specifically those born in the 1990s and 2000s， although they may not be the most profoundly affected by involution.
One evident reason for this trend is the greater responsibilities and concerns that middle-aged individuals carry， which potentially makes them less carefree than the younger generation. However， a more significant factor likely lies in the generational differences in mindset. Influenced by their upbringing， individuals from the 1970s and 1980s tend to be more conformist and have， to varying degrees， internalized societal expectations and norms.
The current generation of young people， conversely， possesses a different outlook. They have been exposed to more open educational environments and， benefiting from relatively more abundant material conditions， possess a greater sense of confidence. This empowers them to express their thoughts and concerns more readily， including openly voicing their aversion to intense competition. This assertive approach has been demonstrated by some young people who have used unconventional attire to satirize prevalent workplace issues such as disguised overtime or unreasonable client demands， often with striking effectiveness.
