Capacity to grind negates the usefulness of the gains.

[derpyderpins]

I don't understand the type of people who like working and would do it if money weren't a factor. But, those people exist. And, because they naturally work harder, they'll get more money . . . Which they'll never use to stop working. My dad is like that. He's got plenty but keeps working more and more. A lot of lawyers are like this. They're in their 70s, have multiple houses, zero wants, yet they keep going for more and more for no reason than their pride, I guess, and the fact that they never developed any passions outside work.

The people who hate work or otherwise aren't suited for working and grinding, on the other hand, won't make the money they need to free themselves from work without some streak of luck.

I'm not like my dad. I'm not suited for a lifetime of grinding. I have passions I want to pursue but lack the energy for. I get interested in things and want to learn them and try, but don't have the time.

I guess there's no point to this. I have no solution. I have no right to ask for anything beyond my production and no one owes me the results of their labor. It's just frustrating to hear the rich workaholics simultaneously brag about not having to work and liking work at the same time.

We neither understand each other, but those misunderstandings are completely in their favor. What do you say to it? You're supposed to lie and say you're one of them. You, the one getting the raw end of the deal, have to lie and hide your feelings, because they have all the power.

 

[pyx]

don't know if this is relevant, but i felt quite jaded last night for similar reasons. for context, i knew a guy once who was by all measures superior to me, whether that be academically, socially, physically. he seemed to be a person who was borne into appropriate conditions for working hard, and didn't need to rely on competition as a motivator since he was already in a position well above the threshold of stigmatization. i don't believe in the grind other, but i often feel that those who can afford to operate in terms of equity and not competition are already in positions of security. it's very difficult to be able to mirror the expectations of workaholics who seemingly profit from an endless love of labour, and similarly those who profit from an endless love of learning. and i agree, you're always compared to such people and made to feel like the lesser person, purely because they have the power to enforce their own values onto others, making it always seem that your contribution isn't enough, despite not having the resources to effectively work out adequate enough payoffs in your favour. i don't know how relevant that is, as it's just rambling from my part

 

[derpyderpins]

don't know if this is relevant, but i felt quite jaded last night for similar reasons. for context, i knew a guy once who was by all measures superior to me, whether that be academically, socially, physically. he seemed to be a person who was borne into appropriate conditions for working hard, and didn't need to rely on competition as a motivator since he was already in a position well above the threshold of stigmatization. i don't believe in the grind other, but i often feel that those who can afford to operate in terms of equity and not competition are already in positions of security. it's very difficult to be able to mirror the expectations of workaholics who seemingly profit from an endless love of labour, and similarly those who profit from an endless love of learning. and i agree, you're always compared to such people and made to feel like the lesser person, purely because they have the power to enforce their own values onto others, making it always seem that your contribution isn't enough, despite not having the resources to effectively work out adequate enough payoffs in your favour. i don't know how relevant that is, as it's just rambling from my part

That was very relevant. Thanks for sharing. I guess one difference for me is that I was born with resources and security. I've never had to really struggle financially, though I pay my own bills. My academic background is very strong, I'm attractive and 6 feet tall. I say that not to brag, but because you brought up resources and security. Other than my mental health issues - which, who knows how much those are my own fault - I have no excuse. I just don't want to: I don't have the energy, focus, or drive. I struggle to focus on the day-to-day because I picture the long road: With a reasonable retirement age I'm looking at 8,000 or so more work days. Getting through "today" doesn't make a dent, and I'll only get more tired as I age.

 

[pyx]

That was very relevant. Thanks for sharing. I guess one difference for me is that I was born with resources and security. I've never had to really struggle financially, though I pay my own bills. My academic background is very strong, I'm attractive and 6 feet tall. I say that not to brag, but because you brought up resources and security. Other than my mental health issues - which, who knows how much those are my own fault - I have no excuse. I just don't want to: I don't have the energy, focus, or drive. I struggle to focus on the day-to-day because I picture the long road: With a reasonable retirement age I'm looking at 8,000 or so more work days. Getting through "today" doesn't make a dent, and I'll only get more tired as I age.

at the end of the day, no one should be subject to the antagonism of competition, whether that be those in more secure positions like yourself or the antipode of that, the lumpenprole.

i might be paranoid, but it seems that everyone around me are beginning to enter into increasingly technical vocations, where the energy required to labour at these far exceeds my own, even if treated as the average. it feels like our expectations are getting higher, and the road to optimization is becoming increasingly strenuous for those who don't meet the desired threshold. everyone is moving at a pace far quicker than i am, and i am naturally expected to move at this same pace, lest i be viewed as an underachiever whose only purpose can be served in blue-collar work.

and yeah, i get that day-to-day contributions don't seem to pave the way for the long haul. that's why i regress so easily whenever i try to improve.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I think work can be a coping mechanism for life, just as any other 'aholism'- alcohol, drugs. It's like this more socially accepted way of hiding away from life sometimes. No- I can't socialise. I have too much work to do. If you're lucky enough to enjoy what you do, it's a distraction that takes up a third or more of your life!

I know what you mean though. If they're not chasing money (not like they have the time to spend it!) What is it that keeps them so committed? Power maybe. Feeling appreciated for being good at what they do.

I definitely was a workaholic. I probably still am compared to most people- I generally work every day. Although, my enthusiam is waning now. My job's creative though. So- not a lot of money there! Plenty of creative people work hard just to make two pennies to rub together. We do tend to do it for love though. To get better at our craft. To produce something we're half way happy with. Plus, it's meditative I find. Stick some music on in the background and lose yourself in something task based.

 

[Demi-Fiend]

Yep, and with the crumbling infrastructure and scarcity of jobs, most are forced into a position where they cannot easily migrate to another position, because those jobs are highly competitive.

Look at PRs eating up the blue collar companies.

 

[Chinaski]

My academic background is very strong, I'm attractive and 6 feet tall.

Me too ladies, jsyk

 

[derpyderpins]

Me too ladies, jsyk

I know that was dickish. I just mean to point out that I do acknowledge that I haven't gotten a bad roll of the dice or anything. The alternative is to not acknowledge what's working in my favor, and then it would be that I'm not seeing things clearly. The world isn't oppressing me or holding me down, it's my issue. It's a character flaw.

 

[Chinaski]

I know that was dickish. I just mean to point out that I do acknowledge that I haven't gotten a bad roll of the dice or anything. The alternative is to not acknowledge what's working in my favor, and then it would be that I'm not seeing things clearly. The world isn't oppressing me or holding me down, it's my issue. It's a character flaw.

Tbh l get it, l too was born with advantages which *should*, on paper, have advanced me beyond the grinding poverty l was born into but by that same token l didn't recognise the (again, on paper) advantages that set me apart from those born in similar socio-economic circumstances, we are essentially the same and we land where we land.

What l will observe is the need to point out your adherence to the 6ft algorithm, a very confected binary which only has value as a signifier of attractiveness online, where all other key points of attractiveness are withheld. It's an incel criteria. I was down on my objectively decent looks when l was at my peak because l wasn't as handsome as my dad, who looked like a fucking film star and literally everyone fancied him and l saw this. Motherfucker was 5'9". I'm 6'1" and get that had l been literally two inches shorter I'd have been a total write off according to the internet in 2024 but there are guys taller than me who are ugly as fuck and l would not swap the things that have made me appealing for being them with their shitty height stat and literally nothing else.

 

[derpyderpins]

Tbh l get it, l too was born with advantages which *should*, on paper, have advanced me beyond the grinding poverty l was born into but by that same token l didn't recognise the (again, on paper) advantages that set me apart from those born in similar socio-economic circumstances, we are essentially the same and we land where we land.

What l will observe is the need to point out your adherence to the 6ft algorithm, a very confected binary which only has value as a signifier of attractiveness online, where all other key points of attractiveness are withheld. It's an incel criteria. I was down on my objectively decent looks when l was at my peak because l wasn't as handsome as my dad, who looked like a fucking film star and literally everyone fancied him and l saw this. Motherfucker was 5'9". I'm 6'1" and get that had l been literally two inches shorter I'd have been a total write off according to the internet in 2024 but there are guys taller than me who are ugly as fuck and l would not swap the things that have made me appealing for being them with their shitty height stat and literally nothing else.

I agree the 6ft thing is stupid because it's arbitrary, just being a round number.