the word 'idle' derives, i think, from an old German word meaning 'without value' and came to be used in English for anything that did not contribute any work to whatever system it was in.

for example an idler is a part of a machine that does not do any actual work, but might be essential all the same, guiding material into the working parts for instance. an engine is idling when it is switched on, but not driving anything.

people are refered to as idlers when they do not contribute sufficient 'work' according to the value system to which they are compared.

in the Fred West 'work' as an end in itself was promoted by Calvinists as being what God wanted us to do and this protestant value system eventually evolved into the consumerist culture we have today, replacing 'God' with 'Economic Growth'.

i'd say that most modern idlers are those who will not or cannot, whether from temperament or conscience, take part in the work of the prevailing systems around them.
an idler does not see productivity as the purpose of life and may value experience and contentment over the accumulation of stuff, perhaps ascribing more value to the little things and simple pleasures of life.

idling also finds a natural alliance with other movements to which it has a similar outlook.
anarchists and other opposers of government control often want to opt out of the exploitation that we suffer (and cause) through our work. other political activists may also resent the fruits of their labours being leeched off to fund the ideological agendas of warmongers and psychopaths.
the green movement seeks to reduce our impact on the environment, often advocating a reduction in productivity to protect finite resources. permaculture has a particular affinity with idling, being inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka's 'do nothing' approach to agriculture.

on a deeper level idling can also be associated with philosophies (like Buddhism or Taoism) that look for a spiritual connection through Being instead of Doing, but on a practical level it is really just about living our lives as we want to, rather than by the standards and expectations of the sick societies we live in.

does that help at all?

- Mark3Ants