In a capitalist world, it can be hard to remember this. But despite what you are pressured to think, your value as a person does not come through what material value you create for others.

  • Anticorp
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    1 year ago

    What do you envision your value being derived from? Just existing doesn’t make someone valuable, it make them a drain on society. You need to contribute something.

    • Adramis [he/him]@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      I think the misunderstanding here is: What does productivity mean?

      I interpreted the OP to mean productivity as “capitalist productivity” - meaning, how much money can you make for your king boss. People can still be productive in lots of ways that aren’t considered “capitalist productivity” - for example, I love to garden, take care of greenscapes, and grow food on a small scale. Some people might not be able to do that, but they are wise and great at navigating social situations, and act as the center of their community. Both of those are productive, but often are not “capitalist productive”, if that makes any sense.

      So I agree with both OP and you - a person’s value isn’t determined by their ability to produce capital.

      • inasabaOPM
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        1 year ago

        Exactly. Far too many people misinterpreted this on /r/antiwork as well — they were never saying that everyone should sit around waiting on someone else to provide everyone for them; they were talking about ending the capitalist work paradigm.

        Many people here have never read a shred of political theory, and it shows. People should start here. It explains just how much of the work we do under capitalism is unnecessary for the wellbeing of society, and only serves to enrich the capitalist class. It is very possible for us all to do less work, have more leisure, and still have plenty for everyone.

        • Anticorp
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          1 year ago

          Exactly. That’s what I meant by putting “something” in italics. You don’t necessarily need to produce capitalist output in the current sense, but you need to contribute some value to a community unless you’re fundamentally unable to. If you’re unable to contribute (not unwilling) because of an disability or some other constraint, then I think the community should help you with your challenges. But those situations are very exceptional, since even disabled people can usually contribute quite a lot to society. I clarified in a comment lower down but someone removed it without explanation, even though it broke no rules, insulted no one, and clearly outlined the concepts of differing ideologies.

        • inasabaOPM
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          1 year ago

          Not everyone has to contribute to make a society functional. From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs.

          You’re being exceptionally ableist.

    • MossBear@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      What would you say to someone with a chronic illness? What would you say if that person was you or your own kid?

      • Anticorp
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        1 year ago

        If their illness is to a degree that they’re completely disabled then that’s an exception. Under those situations I think their community should provide what is needed for that person so that they’re comfortable for whatever duration remains in their life.

        • MossBear@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Just to go a bit deeper, would you tell your own disabled child that they are a drain on society? Would you think highly of others who told them that? I’m willing to bet in those circumstances your views would change, so why not reconsider them now?

          Laughter is a social good, even if it makes no money. Practicing compassion is a social good. Receiving compassion is a social good. Disabled people are capable of all of these and much more. You are free to believe as you wish, but as someone who has lived on both sides of this issue, I don’t believe your views will sustain themselves under the scrutiny of experience, should that experience ever find you.

      • natbas@mas.to
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        1 year ago

        @MossBear i accept that your physical pain is real and difficult to cope with, but please don’t make it worse through emotional distress and mental pain

        • MossBear@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          No worries in that regard, I’ve lived with my situation for a long time and my mind is at peace. I just think many people lack perspective on these things and if it were them or someone they cared about, they’d either maintain their attitudes and despair or realize their opinions were flimsy things that would crumble.

          • natbas@mas.to
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            1 year ago

            @MossBear sorry this is the conversation I have with my son and I was inconsiderate to reply without being aware of the context

            • MossBear@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              Sorry, I misunderstood before. I didn’t realize you were responding to the question I posed. I thought you were speaking to me directly. No worries! :D

    • eskimofry
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      1 year ago

      biggest lie there is. Case in point: People don’t need incentive to preserve their environment. Incentives actually corrupt our motives.

      • Anticorp
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        1 year ago

        Preserving your environment would be contributing something, so I’m not really sure how your statement is meant to be interpreted.