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I think that doing meaningful work is a privilege that is quite rare. Usually, the work that one is likely to find meaningful pays less, so there is a trade-of
by agota 7y ago
I think that doing meaningful work is a privilege that is quite rare.
Usually, the work that one is likely to find meaningful pays less, so there is a trade-off.
This trade-off might not seem significant to a single person without any responsibilities, but I'd imagine that people with families to support often simply can't afford it (though in that case the meaning can be found in providing for the family).
Maybe one can also find meaning in well-paid but meaningless jobs by working towards financial independence (FIRE).
I do agree with you on the whole "producing digital junk" phenomenon, though, and of course meaningful work is ideal.
- hinkley 7y agoThe counterargument I often hear is that janitorial work is, in the grand scheme of things, very important and yet nobody would do it if we all just did what we wanted to do. As a veritable army of curmudgeons has pointed out, "that's why they call it 'work'". That said, when those of us who have the privilege and opportunity to take this advice don't follow it, that's unfortunate. The American legacy of Calvinism is that you do well by doing good, or working hard. If people work their asses off and there's no payoff at the end... if nobody 'arrives', if it's slaving away until you're old and broken... Then what's the whole point? Why do we think we are more right than the slackers? Where's the evidence?