Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Would you say that the only purpose in life is to work?

Macheath · 06-05-2003, 03:36 AM

I think the problem is, in a less complicated or smaller society you were able to understand the role you played and the importance of your work. If you were a farmer who didn't work, everyone starved to death.

An artisan was able to build a machine or piece of furniture and appreciate the finished product as something that they had made with their own hands - this may be who diy TV programs are so popular.

Then the assemby line came along and the sense of pride disappeared - was it really possible to take off that hairnet at the end of the day and be proud of you work on part P3245#IO007?

In the white collar workplace, you don't even have a physical object that represents the consequences of your work. In a complicated office bureaucracy you will always have the suspicion you're doing pointless busy work - if the boss is an idiot you may actually BE doing pointless busy work.

I call it the TPS report syndrome.(from Office Space)

If we lived in a society where machines could take care of ALL our basic needs - would we force people who weren't highly educated to continue working in dead end robot jobs? What does that say about us? What does that say about (dare I say it) capitalism?

My favourite part time job was assistant cellarman at a really busy Bar - every Friday night I had to keep massive amounts of beer flowing by keeping dozens of kegs going at once. The knowledge that the whole operation would fall apart without me there is REALLY satisfying.

I'm terrified that one day my job will define me completely - that without it I may as well commit suicide. I've seen this happen to too many professionals. Their soul withers up and dies.

06-05-2003, 03:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
Macheath Junkie Location: Sydney, Australia	I think the problem is, in a less complicated or smaller society you were able to understand the role you played and the importance of your work. If you were a farmer who didn't work, everyone starved to death. An artisan was able to build a machine or piece of furniture and appreciate the finished product as something that they had made with their own hands - this may be who diy TV programs are so popular. Then the assemby line came along and the sense of pride disappeared - was it really possible to take off that hairnet at the end of the day and be proud of you work on part P3245#IO007? In the white collar workplace, you don't even have a physical object that represents the consequences of your work. In a complicated office bureaucracy you will always have the suspicion you're doing pointless busy work - if the boss is an idiot you may actually BE doing pointless busy work. I call it the TPS report syndrome.(from Office Space) If we lived in a society where machines could take care of ALL our basic needs - would we force people who weren't highly educated to continue working in dead end robot jobs? What does that say about us? What does that say about (dare I say it) capitalism? My favourite part time job was assistant cellarman at a really busy Bar - every Friday night I had to keep massive amounts of beer flowing by keeping dozens of kegs going at once. The knowledge that the whole operation would fall apart without me there is REALLY satisfying. I'm terrified that one day my job will define me completely - that without it I may as well commit suicide. I've seen this happen to too many professionals. Their soul withers up and dies.