PowerSwitch

A great piece from 2010 on how modern work lifestyles drive consumerism:

http://www.raptitude.com/2010/07/your-l ... -designed/

from Boing Boing

Very good piece indeed. It sums things up exactly.

But we could certainly do well to understand what big commerce really wants us to be.

And we end up actually wanting to be those consumers, for the reasons given in the piece.

I decided to work fewer hours, for proportionately less money, some years ago. Fortunately, the nature of the job allows that.

This so-called 'day off' (which it is not - it's a 'day on' for my life) allows me to do precisely the type of things Cain talks about: reading, loving my dog, learning new tunes, trying out new recipes, working in the garden etc etc.

I urge everyone that can to cut their working hours and get some of their life back. I know several people who only started enjoying being alive following their heart bypasses.

A good article. But there are some other excellent ones on there as well. I recommend "How to walk across a parking lot" and "A day in the future".

Yes, an interesting writer (must get a better word than 'interesting' - stimulating? scintillating?). When did goods get so bad? is relevant to PS.

That "A Day In The Future" piece is kind-of how I feel every day (except the bit about the car). Am I mad?

RenewableCandy wrote:Am I mad?

Some people are barely there because they’re staring at a machine in their hands while they eat, walk down the street, or even while people are sitting right next to them.

And when they ask a question, they think I'm mad when I answer it. "Where are you?" is the most common. "I'm here", says I. Mad.

Chateau Renewable is so enormous that I have had to try and ban the answer "here" to the question "where are you". In turn, if somebody calls me then rather than answer "yes?" I name the room I'm in.

Chateau woodburner is so huge no one ever hears anybody else calling (or else they just don't answer)

To be fair that often happens here too.

emordnilap wrote:Very good piece indeed. It sums things up exactly.

But we could certainly do well to understand what big commerce really wants us to be.

And we end up actually wanting to be those consumers, for the reasons given in the piece.

I decided to work fewer hours, for proportionately less money, some years ago. Fortunately, the nature of the job allows that.

This so-called 'day off' (which it is not - it's a 'day on' for my life) allows me to do precisely the type of things Cain talks about: reading, loving my dog, learning new tunes, trying out new recipes, working in the garden etc etc.

I urge everyone that can to cut their working hours and get some of their life back. I know several people who only started enjoying being alive following their heart bypasses.

I'm so lucky...

"Work", for me, the day before yesterday involved spending the day taking a Russian TV crew and some friends wandering in the woods in search of edible fungi and then having the finds cooked for us by head chef of a local restaurant. I hardly ever watch the damned thing. Much more fun this way round!

Yes, the article hits the nail on the head. And the further you get away from this life that has been designed for you, the more bizarre and disturbing it looks.

UndercoverElephant wrote:And the further you get away from this life that has been designed for you, the more bizarre and disturbing it looks.

Yes!

great article. Thanks

Yes, great article and my 21 year old son thought so too!

Cain almost attacks his own article.

And finishes in a way I often say: "These are the good old days."

Cool article. Seem to be plenty more worth perusing there too. Thanks for the link!

As a musician I'm pleased to say my days are reasonably variable, and I feel very lucky to do what I do. On the other hand, my other half has an IT job, so I get to deal with his work schedule grumbles and dissatisfaction at least. Haha.