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Why Do You Work So Hard?

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Re: Why Do You Work So Hard?

#11

Post by edw519 »

spend 14 hours a day at the office

What's that got to do with hard work?

The fact is, fellow hackers, as much as we'd all hate to admit it, hardly anyone here knows squat about hard work.

Go ahead and haul those 300 barrels up to the loading dock. Or hot tar that roof when it's 100 degrees out. Or open the restaurant every morning at 6:00 am and feed 2,000 people every day (yes, 7 days per week). And never miss a day or you don't eat. How about painting every room in every school building all day every day until you die. With nothing to look forward to except that maybe, just maybe, someday your grandchildren might go to college.

Don't get me wrong: I'm grateful that I sit at a desk in a heated/air conditioned office making something out of nothing. This was possible at no other time in history.

But please don't confuse long hours with hard work. Too many others really worked hard so that we wouldn't have to.

Re: Why Do You Work So Hard?

#12

Post by yters »

edw519 wrote: post #11

spend 14 hours a day at the office What's that got to do with hard work? The fact is, fellow hackers, as much as we'd all hate to admit it, hardly anyone here knows squat about hard work. Go ahead and haul those 300 barrels up to the loading dock. Or hot tar that roof when it's 100 degrees out. Or open the restaurant every morning at 6:00 am and feed 2,000 people every day (yes, 7 days per week). And never miss a day…

That is a good point, but not really what the article is about. I probably should have changed the title. It's not so much working hard as working hard on things without good reason.

It is good to work hard to provide for a family.

It is good to work hard to pursue a dream and further human progress.

It is not good to work hard just to gain unused material possessions, especially at the expense of my family.

Re: Why Do You Work So Hard?

#14

Post by vitaminj »

edw519 wrote: post #11

spend 14 hours a day at the office What's that got to do with hard work? The fact is, fellow hackers, as much as we'd all hate to admit it, hardly anyone here knows squat about hard work. Go ahead and haul those 300 barrels up to the loading dock. Or hot tar that roof when it's 100 degrees out. Or open the restaurant every morning at 6:00 am and feed 2,000 people every day (yes, 7 days per week). And never miss a day…

A little off topic, but I've always felt that physical labour is undervalued in our society. I did some work for a removalist and that was alot harder (and probably more satisfying) than my better-paid office job. My perfect job would involve some blend of physical and knowledge work, but I'm sure the economists would point out the inefficiencies of such a job.

Re: Why Do You Work So Hard?

#16

Post by bkudria »

edw519 wrote: post #11

spend 14 hours a day at the office What's that got to do with hard work? The fact is, fellow hackers, as much as we'd all hate to admit it, hardly anyone here knows squat about hard work. Go ahead and haul those 300 barrels up to the loading dock. Or hot tar that roof when it's 100 degrees out. Or open the restaurant every morning at 6:00 am and feed 2,000 people every day (yes, 7 days per week). And never miss a day…

Work has nothing to do with pain or physical discomfort.

Thinking is hard.

Re: Why Do You Work So Hard?

#17

Post by natrius »

timr wrote: post #15
bitwize wrote: post #6

If you're studying for an N.D., you're not in medical school.

This comment has absolutely nothing to do with the point of the article -- it's just a snarky attack on the author's sister.

You're the one who is interpreting the snark and the attack. It was a statement of fact with no judgment at all.

Re: Why Do You Work So Hard?

#18

Post by jwilliams »

edw519 wrote: post #11

spend 14 hours a day at the office What's that got to do with hard work? The fact is, fellow hackers, as much as we'd all hate to admit it, hardly anyone here knows squat about hard work. Go ahead and haul those 300 barrels up to the loading dock. Or hot tar that roof when it's 100 degrees out. Or open the restaurant every morning at 6:00 am and feed 2,000 people every day (yes, 7 days per week). And never miss a day…

The fact is, fellow hackers, as much as we'd all hate to admit it, hardly anyone here knows squat about hard work.

Are you saying that only physical labor fits in the definition of hard work?

Re: Why Do You Work So Hard?

#19

Post by ardit33 »

vitaminj wrote: post #14
edw519 wrote: post #11

spend 14 hours a day at the office What's that got to do with hard work? The fact is, fellow hackers, as much as we'd all hate to admit it, hardly anyone here knows squat about hard work. Go ahead and haul those 300 barrels up to the loading dock. Or hot tar that roof when it's 100 degrees out. Or open the restaurant every morning at 6:00 am and feed 2,000 people every day (yes, 7 days per week). And never miss a day…

A little off topic, but I've always felt that physical labour is undervalued in our society. I did some work for a removalist and that was alot harder (and probably more satisfying) than my better-paid office job. My perfect job would involve some blend of physical and knowledge work, but I'm sure the economists would point out the inefficiencies of such a job.

the people that usually do physical labour, generally have lower IQ. (i know, I am heavy generalizing), so to them it is ok.

For a very smart person, just the thought of doing the same physical routine, everyday, will drive them nuts. Even the thought of it can be depressing.

Probably, for a blue collar worker, the idea of sitting all day in front of the computer, and thinking these wierd problems, will drive them nuts too.

Re: Why Do You Work So Hard?

#20

Post by gruseom »

edw519 wrote: post #11

spend 14 hours a day at the office What's that got to do with hard work? The fact is, fellow hackers, as much as we'd all hate to admit it, hardly anyone here knows squat about hard work. Go ahead and haul those 300 barrels up to the loading dock. Or hot tar that roof when it's 100 degrees out. Or open the restaurant every morning at 6:00 am and feed 2,000 people every day (yes, 7 days per week). And never miss a day…

Hauling barrels? Luxury. How about licking the road clean with your tongue?
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