Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
OK, maybe that's not the best way of asking it. But to me, I cannot really see the point of working more than the bare minimum for subsistence. As they say, you can't take it with you. Life is limited, there is a finite number of hours to our existence. So why waste hours of your life (hours you can never get back) working for a bunch of useless stuff?
Why not instead live a minimalist existence? Ensure that basic necessities of food, clothing, and shelter are taken care of, and maybe take on more work temporarily if there is some thing that really is that important to you.
After all, 100 years from now, every one of us will likely be no more than a memory. A rotting, decaying corpse planted 6 feet underground, eaten by worms.
Well, that's my morbid thought for the day. Is life really worth anything?
Because acquisition and consumption is the idea you have been indoctrinated with, by the people who profit from your consumption.
We have no freedom from indoctrination, which which means no freedom at all.
In spite of all the people on these forums who constantly bang the drum for what they call "personal responsibility"---which is a fine idea, to them, as long as you personally take responsibility for your share of consumption and acquisition on behalf of the oligarchs.
Food and shelter are sold by the rich to the highest bidder, who must then work for the purveyors in order to pay the price. All the while, the purveyors get richer and more powerful, and create new things for workers to acquire, and they possess a monopoly on persuasion. They control the schools, the churches, the media, the government, because money is power to indoctrinate.
True freedom is the freedom to say "No", without being crushed.
Because you need to occupy your time between birth and death. If we had the lifecycle of a fruit fly then there would be no time to do stuff. We at least have the time to post on inane matters on websites and work to buy stuff. Stuff is what life is about.
It's easy to see how you'd feel that way and true, as my grandmother used to say, "you can't take it with you" but, none of us know how long we have left on this earth so even though some of us do live very simplistic and minimalistic lives, I think the others here would like to have as much of an enjoyable life as possible which means having materialistic things, or maybe to travel, or any number of things. But the point I'm making is this, while I'm here, I want to have a certain life and certain level of comfort while I'm here. If I can work, I will and sure it would be nice to only do the bare minimum but that would just make my life less comfortable. LOL
I think the OP is taking about the trade-off. You get to acquire and consume things that might be enjoyable, but you must forfeit many of the finite days of your life in exchange for them.
The question is, is it a good trade (for you) to sacrifice so many of the days of your life in order to acquire things of passing fancy. Instead of buying things, you can buy time, in which to do as you wish.
Indoctrination has been used to persuade you to make the trade in favor of the persuaders, and give up a good part of your precious and valuable life, in exchange for what they profitably dangle in front of your big eyes. Once you take the vows of that lifestyle, there is no going back.
It's easy to see how you'd feel that way and true, as my grandmother used to say, "you can't take it with you" but, none of us know how long we have left on this earth so even though some of us do live very simplistic and minimalistic lives, I think the others here would like to have as much of an enjoyable life as possible which means having materialistic things, or maybe to travel, or any number of things. But the point I'm making is this, while I'm here, I want to have a certain life and certain level of comfort while I'm here. If I can work, I will and sure it would be nice to only do the bare minimum but that would just make my life less comfortable. LOL
You know, I heard a saying that when an individual realizes life is meaningless, that individual either commits suicide or travels. And I can't think of much that I enjoy more than traveling. In fact, I bought a fuel efficient car just so I could travel more.
I'm with you on the comfort as well. But the comfort has to outweigh the amount of work performed for comfort to be worthwhile. Some jobs do come with a certain degree of personal satisfaction as well. A job well done is something anyone can feel proud of.
I'm not really as morbid as my topic post might lead you to believe, just thought it could be an interesting discussion.
I think the OP is taking about the trade-off. You get to acquire and consume things that might be enjoyable, but you must forfeit many of the finite days of your life in exchange for them.
The question is, is it a good trade (for you) to sacrifice so many of the days of your life in order to acquire things of passing fancy.
Indoctrination has been used to persuade you to make the trade in favor of the persuaders, and give up a good part of your precious and valuable life, in exchange for what they profitably dangle in front of your big eyes. Once you take the vows of that lifestyle, there is no going back.
You hit the nail on the head. Depending on what society deems your time is worth per hour, some things can be worth it or not.
When I see something that I want (not need), I often take the dollar amount and divide by my hourly wage to figure out how many hours of my life I would have to give up in order to buy it. Many times, I figure it is not worth it.
It's the same reason I don't speed on the road. Work 40 hours to pay a speeding ticket, to shave 5 minutes off a commute. The trade is not equivalent. It is not worth it.
You know, I heard a saying that when an individual realizes life is meaningless, that individual either commits suicide or travels. And I can't think of much that I enjoy more than traveling. In fact, I bought a fuel efficient car just so I could travel more.
I'm with you on the comfort as well. But the comfort has to outweigh the amount of work performed for comfort to be worthwhile. Some jobs do come with a certain degree of personal satisfaction as well. A job well done is something anyone can feel proud of.
I'm not really as morbid as my topic post might lead you to believe, just thought it could be an interesting discussion.
Oh no, not morbid at all. I like the topic. And of course there are jobs that one can really take great pride and satisfaction in. But, while here, I just want to enjoy my life as much as possible and do the things I want. When I die, I don't really care what happens to my stuff LOL
Persaonlly i still have too much i want to do;and that takes money to go those things.Sounds like OP has stopped living really and just existing.But then if he/she really looked around his excistence is likely tied to others who work harder than just the minimum.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
And of course there are jobs that one can really take great pride and satisfaction in. But, while here, I just want to enjoy my life as much as possible and do the things I want. When I die, I don't really care what happens to my stuff LOL
