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Happiness and life fulfillment are very much found in the 9-to-5, pay-check-to-pay-check demographic of society. I wish this were true. The impression I get is

by azanar 16y ago

Happiness and life fulfillment are very much found in the 9-to-5, pay-check-to-pay-check demographic of society. I wish this were true. The impression I get is more of numb, passive contentment, at least from enough people in this demographic that it is bothersome. They seem to have traded happiness and fulfillment for the image of happiness and fulfillment, and it is difficult to tell the difference until you ask the hard questions that make them feel uncomfortable and defensive. That's why most people don't, and that is why the groups are assume to intersect perfectly. There are things in life one must attend to that likely force people to get 9-to-5's. You know, like a wife and kids. How much of this is a must, and how much is a result of choices they made? And how much of this forcing is a result of emotional and social pressure, as a result if imminent, tangible risk? That is, how much is a result of wanting to convince others that one is a responsible parent, as opposed to one actually being irresponsible?

argv_empty 16y ago
They seem to have traded happiness and fulfillment for the image of happiness and fulfillment, and it is difficult to tell the difference until you ask the hard questions that make them feel uncomfortable and defensive. Or perhaps a person took such a job because his life goals simply do not relate to work. Being another cog in a cube farm may not be interesting itself, but it can be used as a source of funding for things that genuinely are. A 9-to-5 isn't my weapon of choice here (since some things I find interesting also happen to be readily marketable skills), but it is an effective one.
- gcheong 16y ago
  The satisfaction, or lack of, one gets from a 9-5 or any form of work is related more to the attitude one applies to the work than from the particulars of the work itself. At least that seems to be the conclusion drawn from the research done on "flow" states by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. It seems to correlate well with my own experience and seems to be a recurring theme in shows such as Dirty Jobs and Undercover Boss.

by azanar 16y ago

argv_empty 16y ago

They seem to have traded happiness and fulfillment for the image of happiness and fulfillment, and it is difficult to tell the difference until you ask the hard questions that make them feel uncomfortable and defensive. Or perhaps a person took such a job because his life goals simply do not relate to work. Being another cog in a cube farm may not be interesting itself, but it can be used as a source of funding for things that genuinely are. A 9-to-5 isn't my weapon of choice here (since some things I find interesting also happen to be readily marketable skills), but it is an effective one.

gcheong 16y ago
The satisfaction, or lack of, one gets from a 9-5 or any form of work is related more to the attitude one applies to the work than from the particulars of the work itself. At least that seems to be the conclusion drawn from the research done on "flow" states by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. It seems to correlate well with my own experience and seems to be a recurring theme in shows such as Dirty Jobs and Undercover Boss.