5 ms·

Different country, but I'm basically one of those people who fit in the category of unemployed and not looking / don't want to work. Why would I? Why would an

Different country, but I'm basically one of those people who fit in the category of unemployed and not looking / don't want to work. Why would I? Why would anyone want to sacrifice one third of their life, if not more, only to still be short on rent for a studio appartment? Especially in my country where rents are through the roof and leases are 1 year max. There is no stability. I cannot build anything here. Not even a home. Plus the older I get, the less interested I am in material things. I have a Toyota Yaris. It gets me from A to B reliably. I don't need, or want a Ferrari. It's the same with everything else that I own. They all do their jobs perfectly fine. I have no need for more 'stuff' so I have no need for more money to buy better and more stuff. I can't take any of that with me to the grave anyway. If I don't care about this 'stuff' then why would I care to work for someone whose only goal is to acquire more of this stuff for themselves? Or why would I want to work for a company that only produces more of this stuff to sell to poor souls who find meaning in this meaningless stuff? Especially when most of it just serves to destroy our environment further. I really don't care about work any more and for the first time, I feel free.

bowsamic 4y ago
Basically my attitude too, although I do have a job. I don’t understand how people are so motivated by getting more stuff. I just like buying food and drink. I’m not sure for what reason we’re supposed to be working beyond that. I feel like I’m being gaslit into wanting more simply to convince me to work harder. There definitely isn’t some intrinsic push inside me to work harder
sofixa 4y ago
> If I don't care about this 'stuff' then why would I care to work for someone whose only goal is to acquire more of this stuff for themselves That's a legitimate question. The "trick" is to either work for someone not trying to acquire more stuff for themselves, like a non-profit or a collective. And of course working something that is pleasurable to yourself, not random busywork with no real purpose. Realising how that sounds, I'm not trying to convince or argue with you, just sharing a different perspective. Every person is different - some like material wealth ( i personally enjoy various stuff money can buy, although certainly not Ferrari-level stuff), some like wealth for the sake of it ( most billionaires still at it).
- midasuni 4y ago
  I’m currently sat under a lorry monitoring various video feeds of the jubilee (having set them up yesterday), it’s great fun, and something money can’t buy.
DeWilde 4y ago
Excuse me for asking, but how do you expect then to pay the rent, that is already sky high, or service your car and pay for gas, or even buy basic necessities? Genuinely curios.
- lethologica 4y ago
  The short answer is, I have absolutely no idea. And that excites me. The way I see it is I can slave away at a job I hate to barely afford the things I need to live and be miserable, or I can do away with all of that and still face the same level of uncertainty and miserableness. Might as well make it a bit easier on myself in the process.
  - chaps 4y ago
    I did that for a while. Word of caution: there's a point where you run out of savings and you hit bottom hard. Not wanting to work is one thing, but not wanting to work when you're without savings is much harder. Existential dread plus financial dread just plain sucks. But it sounds like you have a lot in savings so maybe it won't be an issue?
    - the_only_law 4y ago
      > I did that for a while. Word of caution: there's a point where you run out of savings and you hit bottom hard. Not wanting to work is one thing, but not wanting to work when you're without savings is much harder. Existential dread plus financial dread just plain sucks. OTOH, this is the only thing that consistently breaks me from stagnation.
      - chaps 4y ago
        Yeah, I'm not saying don't do it. Just, it's good know what you're getting yourself into before you start. There is a tipping point.
  - bsnal 4y ago
    What excites you, the thought of having to panhandle to be able to eat?
afroisalreadyin 4y ago
There is a very mid-20th-century idea that work, as in going to a certain place, doing something mildly productive for 8 hours, and getting money at the end of the month, is a good thing, and although this is practically dead, the idea is still alive in many people's heads. I took a leave for three months last summer, to wind down after the stress of the pandemic, and friends and family were part surprised, part frightened ("Doesn't he want to work anymore?") and part anxious that I wouldn't find a new job. Working regularly again since a couple of months, and I'm looking forward to saving enough money to have another long holiday.
- the_only_law 4y ago
  > doing something mildly productive for 8 hours Oh man I’d love to spend my days productively, unfortunately I have to work.
- synergyS 4y ago
  We should normalize such pauses lasting several months
  - afroisalreadyin 4y ago
    Absolutely, the best thing I ever did. In Germany, the social democrats had a plan to pay people a large chunk of their salary for a year so that they can take a sabbatical after working a number of years (8 or 10, I'm not sure). Of course it was shelved quickly after they got elected and things went south with the Ukraine invasion and the economic downturn.
    - Seriomino 4y ago
      My company allows you to save your working hours and spend them in your sabbatical. It's primarily a good thing in regards of taxes as you pay less in that time. Do you mean something different? Haven't heard a free sabbatical from spd
      - 4y ago
kortilla 4y ago
How do you pay for rent, food, gas for your Yaris? Is society supposed to just support you the rest of your life?
- midasuni 4y ago
  If you have done the work for a tech company keeping your outgoings low you can live indefinitely off a few years savings
- llampx 4y ago
  Benefits I suppose? Benefits can take various forms. One person I know has been on subsidized housing for almost a decade after a low-paying stint, even though they now earn very well.
Seriomino 4y ago
I'm still working as long as I can (I'm 35) so I have enough money to not work and spend a few years on building my own house/farm/greenhouse. On the other hand I know the story from a few people getting rich fast (crypto and fang) who just sit at home and play the same game for years now. Good for them (if that doesn't make them depressed) but normally not having any money makes life quite different. I also think it's unfair for me to have this plan and being able to achieve it while on the other side of our planet people still work like 6 days a week for consumerism.
soco 4y ago
You aren't really out of material things. Do you produce your own gas and food and energy? If not, somebody else is paying for your material things - me and the girl from the grocery shop who sells you lettuce and the guy from the gas pump, we are paying your freedom with a little part of our earnings called "taxes". It's your decision which is affecting me and that girl and that other guy, a decision which siphons a little money from the hospital maintenance to your freedom. Do I mind? Not that much, but it bears saying: you are not free, just living off us.
donclark 4y ago
What about healthcare? Going to the Dentist if you have a problem?

bowsamic 4y ago

Basically my attitude too, although I do have a job. I don’t understand how people are so motivated by getting more stuff. I just like buying food and drink. I’m not sure for what reason we’re supposed to be working beyond that. I feel like I’m being gaslit into wanting more simply to convince me to work harder. There definitely isn’t some intrinsic push inside me to work harder

sofixa 4y ago

> If I don't care about this 'stuff' then why would I care to work for someone whose only goal is to acquire more of this stuff for themselves That's a legitimate question. The "trick" is to either work for someone not trying to acquire more stuff for themselves, like a non-profit or a collective. And of course working something that is pleasurable to yourself, not random busywork with no real purpose. Realising how that sounds, I'm not trying to convince or argue with you, just sharing a different perspective. Every person is different - some like material wealth ( i personally enjoy various stuff money can buy, although certainly not Ferrari-level stuff), some like wealth for the sake of it ( most billionaires still at it).

midasuni 4y ago
I’m currently sat under a lorry monitoring various video feeds of the jubilee (having set them up yesterday), it’s great fun, and something money can’t buy.

DeWilde 4y ago

Excuse me for asking, but how do you expect then to pay the rent, that is already sky high, or service your car and pay for gas, or even buy basic necessities? Genuinely curios.

lethologica 4y ago
The short answer is, I have absolutely no idea. And that excites me. The way I see it is I can slave away at a job I hate to barely afford the things I need to live and be miserable, or I can do away with all of that and still face the same level of uncertainty and miserableness. Might as well make it a bit easier on myself in the process.
- chaps 4y ago
  I did that for a while. Word of caution: there's a point where you run out of savings and you hit bottom hard. Not wanting to work is one thing, but not wanting to work when you're without savings is much harder. Existential dread plus financial dread just plain sucks. But it sounds like you have a lot in savings so maybe it won't be an issue?
  - the_only_law 4y ago
    > I did that for a while. Word of caution: there's a point where you run out of savings and you hit bottom hard. Not wanting to work is one thing, but not wanting to work when you're without savings is much harder. Existential dread plus financial dread just plain sucks. OTOH, this is the only thing that consistently breaks me from stagnation.
    - chaps 4y ago
      Yeah, I'm not saying don't do it. Just, it's good know what you're getting yourself into before you start. There is a tipping point.
- bsnal 4y ago
  What excites you, the thought of having to panhandle to be able to eat?

afroisalreadyin 4y ago

There is a very mid-20th-century idea that work, as in going to a certain place, doing something mildly productive for 8 hours, and getting money at the end of the month, is a good thing, and although this is practically dead, the idea is still alive in many people's heads. I took a leave for three months last summer, to wind down after the stress of the pandemic, and friends and family were part surprised, part frightened ("Doesn't he want to work anymore?") and part anxious that I wouldn't find a new job. Working regularly again since a couple of months, and I'm looking forward to saving enough money to have another long holiday.

the_only_law 4y ago
> doing something mildly productive for 8 hours Oh man I’d love to spend my days productively, unfortunately I have to work.
synergyS 4y ago
We should normalize such pauses lasting several months
- afroisalreadyin 4y ago
  Absolutely, the best thing I ever did. In Germany, the social democrats had a plan to pay people a large chunk of their salary for a year so that they can take a sabbatical after working a number of years (8 or 10, I'm not sure). Of course it was shelved quickly after they got elected and things went south with the Ukraine invasion and the economic downturn.
  - Seriomino 4y ago
    My company allows you to save your working hours and spend them in your sabbatical. It's primarily a good thing in regards of taxes as you pay less in that time. Do you mean something different? Haven't heard a free sabbatical from spd
    - 4y ago

kortilla 4y ago

How do you pay for rent, food, gas for your Yaris? Is society supposed to just support you the rest of your life?

midasuni 4y ago
If you have done the work for a tech company keeping your outgoings low you can live indefinitely off a few years savings
llampx 4y ago
Benefits I suppose? Benefits can take various forms. One person I know has been on subsidized housing for almost a decade after a low-paying stint, even though they now earn very well.

Seriomino 4y ago

I'm still working as long as I can (I'm 35) so I have enough money to not work and spend a few years on building my own house/farm/greenhouse. On the other hand I know the story from a few people getting rich fast (crypto and fang) who just sit at home and play the same game for years now. Good for them (if that doesn't make them depressed) but normally not having any money makes life quite different. I also think it's unfair for me to have this plan and being able to achieve it while on the other side of our planet people still work like 6 days a week for consumerism.

soco 4y ago

You aren't really out of material things. Do you produce your own gas and food and energy? If not, somebody else is paying for your material things - me and the girl from the grocery shop who sells you lettuce and the guy from the gas pump, we are paying your freedom with a little part of our earnings called "taxes". It's your decision which is affecting me and that girl and that other guy, a decision which siphons a little money from the hospital maintenance to your freedom. Do I mind? Not that much, but it bears saying: you are not free, just living off us.

donclark 4y ago

What about healthcare? Going to the Dentist if you have a problem?