>So here’s the big question. What does she, or you, or any of us do with all this time we’re buying? Binge on Netflix shows? Go for a run? Van Ekert’s answer: “It’s more to dedicate more time to working.” Meh. It's specialization. It's been happening since everyone figured out Og makes better clubs than everyone else and he'll make you one if you give him food. Most of the people reading this site have a skill that b…
There is a big fallacy here that the people who are going to be working more hours will actually make more money. These people are salaried, and may get better performance pay, etc. for more hours; but it is not guaranteed. Unless you're paid hourly, then the (admitted strawman) "I make $100K, which is like $50 an hour, so its like making money to pay someone $25 an hour." really doesn't work out. The example of Mall…
The Shut-In Economy
321–330 of 348 posts
Re: The Shut-In Economy
#322Earlier quoted context omitted.
I read an article (or maybe comment somewhere?) once - and sadly, my search-engine-fu is not strong enough today, so I can't link it - that talked about two kinds of depression, two kinds of "beasts". Once was called black I think. It's the one people think of, when you say depression, and how movies portray it too: sadness, despair and the feeling that everything is bad, and everything ever will be bad. The other on…
Yeah so I think I'm depressed but it's nothing like in the movies. No alcohol, no smoking, no crying, no suicidal thoughts (other than intellectual), no real sadness or despair (there's some disappointment but it's again more intellectual than emotional) and I don't really consider anything 'bad' in my life. In fact objectively most things are great. I get 3 nice meals every day, live in a nice apartment next to the…
Re: The Shut-In Economy
#323Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think that's backwards from the usual definition of "extrovert". I don't like making small-talk with relative strangers, whether that's the store clerk, someone waiting for the same train, or what have you. So I love living in a big city.
Yes and no. I absolutely get where you're coming from; I'm an extreme introvert living in London, and the anonymity is about the only thing that makes it bearable. The flip side here, and in many (but not all) metropoles, is the near-impossibility of finding quiet, either at work (expensive commercial property pushing employers toward open-plan bedlam hell) or at home (expensive residential property pushing people in…
Re: The Shut-In Economy
#324Earlier quoted context omitted.
If depression caused by terrible things happening, or loneliness, that is not also outside of your control? I've had depressed periods, but it was completely understandable given the situation I was in. I think the whole "chemical imbalance" is an easy fix, rather than trying to fix society, or the situation they are in. It's quick and easy to give pills rather than fix a life. Now i'm sure they're are actual medical…
Obviously there is depression caused by events, that type is "easy" to fix because (usually) you can fix the external events, or at least talk about them and come to terms with them. But there is also depression caused by nothing whatsoever. Nothing detectable anyway. People tend not to believe it can be possible, until they experience it (personally or by talking to someone who is experiencing it). Talking about it…
When in reality I was lonely, didn't have much opportunity to socialise etc.
It was only fixed when I got out that situation, basically by chance by getting a introduction into an accepting social circle. I am now very happy.
The highest sucide rates are basically in young men, basically because how society treats them. I don't think its because young men are more prone to chemical imbalances, compared to women or older people. Its because its that stage in life, when men are literally lonely because of the transition from college to work and you can end up isolated and alone.
Re: The Shut-In Economy
#325Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, but working every waking hour is a good way to burn out. Cleaning your own toilet might be inefficient but it will remind you that you are human.
> Cleaning your own toilet might be inefficient but it will remind you that you are human. Woah what? I know you're not being literal here, but I'm not sure what point you are trying to make. Are you saying that having a high-paying job automatically makes you feel like you're better than everyone else and doing mundane chores reminds you you're all people?[1] The problem with that is "thinking you're better than eve…
Re: The Shut-In Economy
#326Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have found over the last few years that making things -- preferably making beautiful & functional things -- is what makes me happy, more than just "specific (and ultimately inconsequential) things to do".
What sorts of things do you make? My "curse" is that as a programmer, all the beautiful and functional things I know how to make require me to sit in front of a glowing screen all day! Maybe I should take up woodworking or something.
Re: The Shut-In Economy
#327Re: The Shut-In Economy
#328Re: The Shut-In Economy
#329What happens when shut-ins have families - and consequently don't know other parents or kids? Things start to go downhill from a life experience perspective.
All those 'menial chores' are actually become interesting because you're 'not just doing the grocery shopping anymore'. You're taking you kids shopping so they can explore the supermarket with them. They'll ask questions about what you buy and why you buy it. Of course they'll nag you to buy something for them as well.
Kids will nag you to go out to the park, to the museum or whatever other local attraction there is and along the way you'll get social interaction which helps balance things out.
Re: The Shut-In Economy
#330Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Cleaning your own toilet might be inefficient but it will remind you that you are human. Woah what? I know you're not being literal here, but I'm not sure what point you are trying to make. Are you saying that having a high-paying job automatically makes you feel like you're better than everyone else and doing mundane chores reminds you you're all people?[1] The problem with that is "thinking you're better than eve…
Why are you so certain that I didn't mean what I wrote?
Because only a lunatic would think that high-status people think they're literally no longer classified as Homo Sapiens?
In case you're talking about "Apologies if I'm misinterpreting you here":
The word "if" is generally used to indicate conditioning on an event: i.e. "considering only the situation in which this is true". Nothing about the word indicates "certainty" about anything.