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> I would rather be poor than make a lot of money doing something I hate. I too would love to have that choice. But my wife and kids might disagree

by yfw 2y ago

HPsquared 2y ago
It depends just how miserable it makes you, and the rest of the family's views. I wouldn't want my parent/spouse to be absolutely miserable just so I can have nicer things. Also a parent who is absolutely ground-down by their work might have psychological problems as a result which could negatively affect the child, or at minimum less time/energy to directly give to the family.
- treffeer 2y ago
  This is what Kafka’s Metamorphosis is about. Most everyone only ever talks about parts 1-2, probably because that’s the beetle stuff. Everyone in his household is miserable and depressed and he is killing himself working hard to try to carry that burden for his family, just barely holding everything together, to the point it breaks him and he transforms. Part 3 is his slow death and then a quick denouement takes place after dies, and it’s about how happy and healthy everyone else is after he’s stopped making himself ill trying to give them something they clearly are happier without.
  - libertine 2y ago
    The subtle thing is that the family becomes the main character in the second half of part 2 into part 3, once they start getting agency. > it’s about how happy and healthy everyone else is after he’s stopped making himself ill trying to give them something they clearly are happier without. You can even say that in the end everyone feels relief, like they got rid of a burden.
- cjameskeller 2y ago
  Most people, past or present, have had to do whatever labor they can to (hopefully) simply survive at the contextual standard of living. Some kids may love a parent who lets them go hungry so they can do work they don't dislike as much -- but the other adults around them probably won't have such a generous view, and I think rightly so.
tonyedgecombe 2y ago
In general kids follow their parent's lead for things like this.
Alacart 2y ago
It's also entirely possible, maybe even likely, for people to get burnt out doing something they love because we don't set the natural boundaries we would with something we're strictly doing pragmatically. I still think it's the best way to live, but the saying "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life" really is double edged.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

> I would rather be poor than make a lot of money doing something I hate. I too would love to have that choice. But my wife and kids might disagree

by yfw 2y ago

> I would rather be poor than make a lot of money doing something I hate. I too would love to have that choice. But my wife and kids might disagree

HPsquared 2y ago

It depends just how miserable it makes you, and the rest of the family's views. I wouldn't want my parent/spouse to be absolutely miserable just so I can have nicer things. Also a parent who is absolutely ground-down by their work might have psychological problems as a result which could negatively affect the child, or at minimum less time/energy to directly give to the family.

treffeer 2y ago
This is what Kafka’s Metamorphosis is about. Most everyone only ever talks about parts 1-2, probably because that’s the beetle stuff. Everyone in his household is miserable and depressed and he is killing himself working hard to try to carry that burden for his family, just barely holding everything together, to the point it breaks him and he transforms. Part 3 is his slow death and then a quick denouement takes place after dies, and it’s about how happy and healthy everyone else is after he’s stopped making himself ill trying to give them something they clearly are happier without.
- libertine 2y ago
  The subtle thing is that the family becomes the main character in the second half of part 2 into part 3, once they start getting agency. > it’s about how happy and healthy everyone else is after he’s stopped making himself ill trying to give them something they clearly are happier without. You can even say that in the end everyone feels relief, like they got rid of a burden.
cjameskeller 2y ago
Most people, past or present, have had to do whatever labor they can to (hopefully) simply survive at the contextual standard of living. Some kids may love a parent who lets them go hungry so they can do work they don't dislike as much -- but the other adults around them probably won't have such a generous view, and I think rightly so.

tonyedgecombe 2y ago

In general kids follow their parent's lead for things like this.

Alacart 2y ago

It's also entirely possible, maybe even likely, for people to get burnt out doing something they love because we don't set the natural boundaries we would with something we're strictly doing pragmatically. I still think it's the best way to live, but the saying "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life" really is double edged.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]