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The diminishing returns of productivity culture (2021)

annehelen.substack.com

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Re: The diminishing returns of productivity culture (2021)

#181

Post by robertlagrant »

robertlagrant wrote: post #180

This article points out some interesting things, but doesn't seem to get the cause of them right. Employees don't deserve employment, just as companies don't deserve loyalty. If a machine comes along and makes your per-task work much easier, you will be expected to accomplish more tasks. If you don't, then your company's competitors will win. Companies don't exist for their owners, or their employees. They exist for…

> Employees don't deserve employment, just as companies don't deserve loyalty.

On a re-read, this sounds harsher than I meant. My central point is around how companies don't primarily exist to employ, but to provide something to customers, and not understanding that could lead people to make bad decisions about how much they should count on their employer.

Re: The diminishing returns of productivity culture (2021)

#182

Post by ncmncm »

Aeolun wrote: post #55
dymk wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I like the Culture series take on post scarcity societies. Sure, the super AI ship could build and maintain and plan everything, but what’s the point in that if all the humans are bored to tears?

I like that they have the ability to achieve immortality using a variety of means, but barely anyone avails themselves of that. After hundreds of years of life they’re just done.

After hundreds of years, every single thing you see or hear reminds you of something embarrassing or shameful you once did.

Re: The diminishing returns of productivity culture (2021)

#183

Post by wtetzner »

wccrawford wrote: post #105
noduerme wrote: post #46

Funny. I just had this conversation about ennui, probably not an original one, with a colleague who told me she wrote a thesis on ennui in college: Why did George Jetson go to work every day? Was it just to have a reason get away from his family? Wasn't the goal of that society that no one had to work, and everyone could be creative and leisureful all the time? Did George want to buy a newer robot? Was he cheating on…

I don't know many people like me, but I like putting things together. And I sometimes even like boring rote jobs where you do the same thing repeatedly. In that future where we have UBI, not everyone will want to be an artist. Some will still want to just make things while following instructions. And there will likely be a beneficial place for it, even alongside all the robots.

If people didn't like it, I don't think Legos would be so popular.
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