How hard do you want to work?
- Thread starter Hygro
- Start date
Mise
isle of lucy
I'd really like to not have to work ever again, but if I had to, it would ideally be <20 hours a week with commensurate loss of income. In reality, I don't do anywhere near 20 hours of actual work a week, and get paid for all 40 anyway, so I'd prefer the current state of affairs. Yay capitalism.
I think what's more important -- and this is quite obvious to most people -- is that I work is meaningful and fulfilling. The quality of the work, in other words, is as important as the quantity. I definitely prefer directed, goal-oriented work, to aimless, non-specific or inconsequential work. Put another way, I want to work towards something, rather than on something.
I think a lot about the "shape" of work. Lots of good responses in this thread so far.
I think what's more important -- and this is quite obvious to most people -- is that I work is meaningful and fulfilling. The quality of the work, in other words, is as important as the quantity. I definitely prefer directed, goal-oriented work, to aimless, non-specific or inconsequential work. Put another way, I want to work towards something, rather than on something.
I think a lot about the "shape" of work. Lots of good responses in this thread so far.
According to eurostat, and contrary to the vile idiocy we saw memed some years ago, north europeans work for something like 2/3 the hours/week that south europeans work, and get far better pay as well.
Lexicus
Deity
I don't like working except to get better at video games
When I was younger 50-60 hour weeks were common. Now that I'm getting closer to the end, I don't really care and looking forward to 0 hours a week.
I love the people that I tell I will be retiring saying, you'll be bored. That's the point.
I love the people that I tell I will be retiring saying, you'll be bored. That's the point.
Lexicus
Deity
hobbsyoyo
Deity
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2012
- Messages
- 26,575
There is usually some form of professional development and classrooom prep that has to happen, at least here in the states. And I think some teachers would go to shorter work weeks if they gave up some or all of summer vacation. My wife grinds during the school year, it's kind of sad the amount of OT she puts in. Some charter and private schools are also year round. But yeah, summer is a huge perk.But you get the whole summer off
Dude I can't even do this anymore. The older I get, the less appetite for grinding I get, if that's what you meant.
I'll find something.
After all the household stuff I've ignored and the golf, it's hard to go brain dead if you have a computer.
Lexicus
Deity
I don't mean grinding, I mean paying the price of a lot of lost campaigns to learn how to play a game.
As long as I can cover my needs (to be work-neutral when it comes to sum of resources per person required in total). I have no much drive for "success" in reality but same time I can race for full 3-4 or more hrs race in sim-racing or ride with bicycle for 200+ km with sleep on bench anywhere if need it. Yeah, these stuff demand to do something (bicycle maintence, power for house etc. stuff). (Guilt of taking something from someone "unfair" or on debt would drive me crazy in long run)
hobbsyoyo
Deity
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2012
- Messages
- 26,575
Let's flip the question -
Instead of how much do people want to work, how much should they have to work to support themselves? Right now, in much of the country if not all of it, it's damn near impossible to support yourself on a single income if you haven't found a niche economic market to work in. The single income household is mostly a dead concept at this point and we sort of shrug about that. And it's not the case that corporations need super-depressed wages to survive, the staggering amount of wealth accumulation that's parked and idle or going into stock buy-backs and dividends show that to be a lie; we have taken off the guardrails to meant to protect workers and have let the system evolve to suit the desires and greed of those that run it. This is so internalized that it is very common for the average Joe to denigrate the person working behind the counter or serving food as if they deserve to be in perpetual poverty. It's disgusting but I feel like that war has been lost and I don't know how or when or even if things will change.
Instead of how much do people want to work, how much should they have to work to support themselves? Right now, in much of the country if not all of it, it's damn near impossible to support yourself on a single income if you haven't found a niche economic market to work in. The single income household is mostly a dead concept at this point and we sort of shrug about that. And it's not the case that corporations need super-depressed wages to survive, the staggering amount of wealth accumulation that's parked and idle or going into stock buy-backs and dividends show that to be a lie; we have taken off the guardrails to meant to protect workers and have let the system evolve to suit the desires and greed of those that run it. This is so internalized that it is very common for the average Joe to denigrate the person working behind the counter or serving food as if they deserve to be in perpetual poverty. It's disgusting but I feel like that war has been lost and I don't know how or when or even if things will change.
Socrates99
Bottoms up!
I love my work. Even the messy parts. I did it as a hobby for years before going pro. I'm doing something that makes people happy which is rewarding. Generally I'm only there when there is work to do so the schedule fluctuates a bit. The only times I wish I could work less are when it conflicts with family life. I'd rather be with my wife and sons most of the time.
4 8s would make me happiest but I'm fine with more or less. Taking my work home at night is a privilege not a punishment lol.
4 8s would make me happiest but I'm fine with more or less. Taking my work home at night is a privilege not a punishment lol.
Just like I want ice cream, but also want to not want ice cream. I want to want to work hard
BvBPL
Pour Decision Maker
Labor on passions until your heart gives out, until your mind and body ache for release, and then do it more. Labor on necessities only so much as required to maintain the labor of your passions.
For me the novelty of working as a translator has worn off some time ago, after the first couple of books. Now three of mine are in print, and something like 8 are handed and paid for. So it is just a job, and poorly paid at that. Moreover, it messes with my own writing.
I'd like to work in some office, doing something specific and repeatable, eg check for grammar or translate business transaction. Creative work has little meaning if your actual aspiration is to create art (no need to create while working too).
AdamCrock
Polish Pirate
Ideally I would like to work soft and be paid hard . 
Exertion is not for me, especially when it's not coupled with a decent pay. Even if as OP says I would be payed "fairly" I would not be willing to go the "extra mile" just for the money in it - I would require a better incentive for exerting myself (like saving someone's life or doing something that I love - but it wouldn't be a job than )
Exertion is not for me, especially when it's not coupled with a decent pay. Even if as OP says I would be payed "fairly" I would not be willing to go the "extra mile" just for the money in it - I would require a better incentive for exerting myself (like saving someone's life or doing something that I love - but it wouldn't be a job than
)
hobbsyoyo
Deity
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2012
- Messages
- 26,575
I have learned that there is something to be said for some monotony and stability in work. Obviously there is a line where it becomes unimaginably tedious but the flip side is that even fun, challenging work can be emotional and mentally exhausting. There have been times where I was happy to stare at a boring spreadsheet for 8 hours because it was a bit of break from difficult stuff.
Similar threads
