I often daydream about how society would be if we were not forced by society to pigeon hole ourselves into a specialized career for maximizing the profits of capitalists, and sell most of our time for it.

The idea of creating an entire identity for you around your “career” and only specializing in one thing would be ridiculous in another universe. Humans have so much natural potential for breadth, but that is just not compatible with capitalism.

This is evident with how most people develop “hobbies” outside of work, like wood working, gardening, electronics, music, etc. This idea of separating “hobbies” and the thing we do most of our lives (work) is ridiculous.

Here’s how my world could be different if I owned my time and dedicated it to the benefit of my own and my community instead of capitalists:

  • more reading, learning and excusing knowledge with others.
  • learn more handy work, like plumbing and wood working. I love customizing my own home!
  • more gardening
  • participate in the transportation system (picking up shifts to drive a bus for example)
  • become a tour guide for my city
  • cook and bake for my neighbors
  • academic research
  • open source software (and non-software) contributions
  • pick up shifts at a café and make coffee, tea and smoothies for people
  • pick up shifts to clean up public spaces, such as parks or my own neighborhood
  • participate in more than one “professions”. I studied one type of engineering but work in a completely different engineering. This already proves I can do both, so why not do both and others?

Humans do not like the same thing over and over every day. It’s unnatural. But somehow we revolve our whole livelihood around if.

  • Hot SaucermanEnglish
    93·
    10 months ago

    Actually they won’t leave because in the wilderness, if you fall and break your leg, you die, because there isn’t a hospital nearby to get to. You’re being obtusely reductionist.

    “If you don’t want to contribute in the ways I define as contributing, then go live in the wilderness where you’ll most assuredly die of exposure” is not the grand argument you think it is.

    I have cancer, I didn’t choose it. I literally cannot live without modern medicine. But sure, I can make the choice now to fuck off into the wilderness to pursue my hobbies while dying a horrible painful death. You’re being willfully obtuse.

    • ATQ@lemm.ee
      46·
      10 months ago

      So you’re saying OPs life is massively easier in their current capitalist society? 😂🤣😂

      • Hot SaucermanEnglish
        103·
        10 months ago

        Any society offers the same trappings, you fucking nonce. Capitalism doesn’t have ownership of modern living standards.

        Or are all the roads in China made of dirt and everyone is wearing rags? Last I checked, China is where half our fucking microchips come from.

          • Hot SaucermanEnglish
            73·
            10 months ago

            Shifting goalposts, I see. Ah yes, once again, they’re supposed to drop their entire life because they have a difference of opinion on how things aught to work and whether or not regular people deserve more of their own lives to themselves. As the old saying goes, take shit or get off the pot, dude.

            • ATQ@lemm.ee
              35·
              10 months ago

              There’s no goalpost shifting. You’re just upset. Because unlike OP who can make changes in their life and childishly refuses to, you feel trapped. But that doesn’t change OPs answer. OP should either fuck off or cowboy up and take ownership of their own life. And it only reinforces for you that you, too, are much better off in a society.

              Anyway, best of luck with your illness. Have a nice day.