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Human-mediated work often does more than just the job itself. The elevator operator isn't just pressing a button; she is also a greeter, perhaps a conversationa
by javajosh 9y ago
Human-mediated work often does more than just the job itself. The elevator operator isn't just pressing a button; she is also a greeter, perhaps a conversational partner, or a friend. In terms of "user experience" a human elevator operator is doing far more than just the mechanical act of operating the elevator, doing things that are (still) impossible for machines.
(Of course, there are trade-offs. A human worker is more expensive, more complicated, and can do things like have a bad day, or be a vector for disease. But still, I'm in favor of more "bullshit jobs" like elevator operator, in lieu of universal income.)
- Spivak 9y ago> But still, I'm in favor of more "bullshit jobs" like elevator operator, in lieu of universal income. This is literally throwing away money and human effort. Our country could be so much better than it currently is if only we had the drive and man hours to do it. The very idea that "bullshit jobs" are even necessary ignores all the real problems that that the hypothetical person could be tackling.
- javajosh 9y ago>This is literally throwing away money and human effort Yes, that is correct. This is essentially what Keynes, et al, suggested as reasonable stimulus during difficult times (although they used the example of digging a ditch and filling it in again, a job which has the benefit of getting people to exercise out of doors!) >ignores all the real problems that that the hypothetical person could be tackling. There are large classes of problems that cannot be touched by the population at large. War is literally the only human endeavor where more hands are almost always better (only almost because hands are attached to mouths which must be fed). I'd love it if millions of people worked at SpaceX, but what would they do? What could they do?