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I think for the people who are so passionate they can't imagine not engaging with politics at work should look for careers in NGOs. I don't feel any disdain for

I think for the people who are so passionate they can't imagine not engaging with politics at work should look for careers in NGOs. I don't feel any disdain for activists, I just don't really want to work with them, and I think we'd both be happier if they were engaged in work that had first order effects on their beliefs instead of second or third

randoramax 5y ago
Not necessarily work for a ngo, but volunteer for one, join a union, join the local political groups that actually make a difference locally in your community. So many options, besides the work place.
fighterpilot 5y ago
This assumes that it's an earnest desire to improve society (which it sometimes is), and not a desire to gain/maintain status or power through virtue signalling.
- seoaeu 5y ago
  > a desire to gain/maintain status or power What you're describing is basically a textbook definition of 'politics'. I find it funny that you call this virtue signalling when that term was literally invented to describe the opposite: halfhearted political activism that isn't trying to build power.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
  - fighterpilot 5y ago
    Well, the word "politics" has various connotations in general usage, and many of them don't describe the phenomenon I'm talking about. What I'm talking about is a cynical attempt at elevating one's zero-sum standing in a social group by showing conspicuous adherence to the group's purported moral orthodoxy. This[1] is good reading on the phenomenon. [1] https://scottbarrykaufman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Ok-et-al.-2020.pdf https://scottbarrykaufman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Ok-...
majani 5y ago
Or a job in actual politics
- grphtrdr 5y ago
  lol come on, that makes too much sense.
cblconfederate 5y ago
People who are passionate about something would most likely like to recruit new people to their cause. Working for an NGO is a dead end as everyone is already on the same page there.
- seoaeu 5y ago
  It is also a dead end because corporations have most of the power in the country.

randoramax 5y ago

Not necessarily work for a ngo, but volunteer for one, join a union, join the local political groups that actually make a difference locally in your community. So many options, besides the work place.

fighterpilot 5y ago

This assumes that it's an earnest desire to improve society (which it sometimes is), and not a desire to gain/maintain status or power through virtue signalling.

seoaeu 5y ago
> a desire to gain/maintain status or power What you're describing is basically a textbook definition of 'politics'. I find it funny that you call this virtue signalling when that term was literally invented to describe the opposite: halfhearted political activism that isn't trying to build power.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- fighterpilot 5y ago
  Well, the word "politics" has various connotations in general usage, and many of them don't describe the phenomenon I'm talking about. What I'm talking about is a cynical attempt at elevating one's zero-sum standing in a social group by showing conspicuous adherence to the group's purported moral orthodoxy. This[1] is good reading on the phenomenon. [1] https://scottbarrykaufman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Ok-et-al.-2020.pdf https://scottbarrykaufman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Ok-...

majani 5y ago

Or a job in actual politics

grphtrdr 5y ago
lol come on, that makes too much sense.

cblconfederate 5y ago

People who are passionate about something would most likely like to recruit new people to their cause. Working for an NGO is a dead end as everyone is already on the same page there.

seoaeu 5y ago
It is also a dead end because corporations have most of the power in the country.