4 ms·

You just gotta work hard and find a way to stick out from the crowd. How can that possibly work for the majority of the population? We're not talking about th

by alex_c 17y ago

You just gotta work hard and find a way to stick out from the crowd. How can that possibly work for the majority of the population? We're not talking about the individual here, we're talking about changes in society.

ivankirigin 17y ago
There are many niches looking for different kinds of people. That is an easy way a majority can stick out. They don't all stick out to the same people.
- alex_c 17y ago
  That's true, but are there enough niches to absorb the millions of people graduating from college every single year?
  - ivankirigin 17y ago
    No. Way too many people go to college. They'd be freed from the debt & infantilizing lifestyle and generally would better off if they didn't go to college. "Everyone should go to college" is like a giant, farcical real-world existential play about the Lake Wobegon fallacy.
    - alex_c 17y ago
      And that brings us back to the article - you're left with countless college grads with a near-useless degree who are faced with three choices: - somehow "rise above the rest" - which, by definition, not everyone can do - wallow in a career and lifestyle which is unfulfilling and doesn't live up to their expectations (as described in the article) - suck it up, cut their losses, "settle" for a "lesser" job, and live happily ever after (also see: Mike Rowe's opinion on the subject).
      - ivankirigin 17y ago
        If you're not exceptionally talented, it is a mistake to measure your life and set your expectations to have a successful career. You can certainly take pleasure in purposeful work (from a non-profit to chopping wood). But don't expect the same praises you might have received in an easy college class. They should suck it up and focus on something more interesting than work, like making or consuming some creative content, travel, sports, etc. The 4 hour work week was made for people who can't excel in a career.

by alex_c 17y ago

ivankirigin 17y ago

There are many niches looking for different kinds of people. That is an easy way a majority can stick out. They don't all stick out to the same people.

alex_c 17y ago
That's true, but are there enough niches to absorb the millions of people graduating from college every single year?
- ivankirigin 17y ago
  No. Way too many people go to college. They'd be freed from the debt & infantilizing lifestyle and generally would better off if they didn't go to college. "Everyone should go to college" is like a giant, farcical real-world existential play about the Lake Wobegon fallacy.
  - alex_c 17y ago
    And that brings us back to the article - you're left with countless college grads with a near-useless degree who are faced with three choices: - somehow "rise above the rest" - which, by definition, not everyone can do - wallow in a career and lifestyle which is unfulfilling and doesn't live up to their expectations (as described in the article) - suck it up, cut their losses, "settle" for a "lesser" job, and live happily ever after (also see: Mike Rowe's opinion on the subject).
    - ivankirigin 17y ago
      If you're not exceptionally talented, it is a mistake to measure your life and set your expectations to have a successful career. You can certainly take pleasure in purposeful work (from a non-profit to chopping wood). But don't expect the same praises you might have received in an easy college class. They should suck it up and focus on something more interesting than work, like making or consuming some creative content, travel, sports, etc. The 4 hour work week was made for people who can't excel in a career.