The Shut-In Economy • Hacker News Board

Re: The Shut-In Economy

#61

Post by danans » Thu, Mar 26, 2015, 2:43 AM UTC

oh_sigh wrote: post #45

rtpg wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

but at least they had a tad more job security and weren't being misclassified as contractors (so had less tax burden)

But these jobs just didn't exist(unless you count full time maids for example), so it doesn't make sense to talk about job security or whether they were contractors or not.

I'm not sure we have enough data yet to say whether the people doing these jobs previously did or didn't have better paying or more secure jobs. Anecdotally, there are many people whose income and job security have severely declined, and who been relegated to low payed variable-workforce service jobs. I don't know to what extent people like that are represented among the taskrabbit-type service workers.

Re: The Shut-In Economy

#62

Post by grinich » Thu, Mar 26, 2015, 2:44 AM UTC

hoboon wrote: post #24

This is how I feel. I don't watch TV for hours like I did as a child. What I do now is worse; stay in doors programming, browsing the web aimlessly, or staring at the ceiling. I don't blame my internet lifestyle for this really, but I literally don't know what else to do and the internet is so accommodating to me being a shut-in. I know I'm wasting my life but I don't know how to stop. San Francisco is a beautiful ci…

You should travel. Buy a plane ticket and just go. Don't even pack-- you can buy more clothes if you need them.

Re: The Shut-In Economy

#63

Post by GuiA » Thu, Mar 26, 2015, 2:46 AM UTC

moultano wrote: post #27

hoboon wrote: post #24

This is how I feel. I don't watch TV for hours like I did as a child. What I do now is worse; stay in doors programming, browsing the web aimlessly, or staring at the ceiling. I don't blame my internet lifestyle for this really, but I literally don't know what else to do and the internet is so accommodating to me being a shut-in. I know I'm wasting my life but I don't know how to stop. San Francisco is a beautiful ci…

PS aside, you might find that walking aimlessly satisfies the same itch as browsing aimlessly, but you feel better at the end of it.

Yes. Cannot overstate how important that is. I've started taking random 10-15 minute walks throughout the day at work (leaving my phone on my desk), and it's a great way to clear your mind and relax a bit.

Re: The Shut-In Economy

#64

Post by mblakele » Thu, Mar 26, 2015, 2:46 AM UTC

tsotha wrote: post #20

>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…

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.

Re: The Shut-In Economy

#65

Post by jamesknelson » Thu, Mar 26, 2015, 2:48 AM UTC

This article made me think of the short story Manna:

http://marshallbrain.com/manna1.htm

The only difference being that instead of being directed with headsets, people are now being directed with apps.

I wonder how long until the world reaches chapter 3?

Re: The Shut-In Economy

#66

Post by girvo » Thu, Mar 26, 2015, 2:48 AM UTC

wicker wrote: post #41

hoboon wrote: post #24

This is how I feel. I don't watch TV for hours like I did as a child. What I do now is worse; stay in doors programming, browsing the web aimlessly, or staring at the ceiling. I don't blame my internet lifestyle for this really, but I literally don't know what else to do and the internet is so accommodating to me being a shut-in. I know I'm wasting my life but I don't know how to stop. San Francisco is a beautiful ci…

I took a look at your previous submissions and I think you've already heard the advice I'd give. If you haven't already, I think it might be useful to contact your doctor and at least rule out the possibility of depression. Depression isn't just an attitude, it's an actual chemical imbalance. It's something that happens to all kinds of people and investigating it might lead you to a fix. I've had periods where I've f…

Yeah. I've experienced the exact same feeling, and had points in my life where I didn't leave my house for months on end. It was depression that was the cause; CBT, anti-depressants (and exercise soon after) helped fix that and now it's no longer a struggle.

Re: The Shut-In Economy

#67

Post by nether » Thu, Mar 26, 2015, 2:48 AM UTC

Wow, the meal delivery is like American dabbawala: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/indian-food-delive...

Re: The Shut-In Economy

#68

Post by hoboon » Thu, Mar 26, 2015, 2:51 AM UTC

IkmoIkmo wrote: post #36

hoboon wrote: post #24

This is how I feel. I don't watch TV for hours like I did as a child. What I do now is worse; stay in doors programming, browsing the web aimlessly, or staring at the ceiling. I don't blame my internet lifestyle for this really, but I literally don't know what else to do and the internet is so accommodating to me being a shut-in. I know I'm wasting my life but I don't know how to stop. San Francisco is a beautiful ci…

Same here. Live in a beautiful city, cool friends, lovely girlfriend. Plenty of things exist here of which I can objectively say they're awesome, and in many things I'm genuinely interested, and so I avidly read and follow the news, whether it's social topics, economics, politics, tech etc. Yet I hold very little interest in experiencing anything personally. If I had to describe it succinctly; I've become a dedicated…

>cool friends, lovely girlfriend.

I don't have any of those.

Re: The Shut-In Economy

#69

Post by sliverstorm » Thu, Mar 26, 2015, 2:51 AM UTC

campers wrote: post #60

The most 'jarring' part in the article was "But when the Homejoy app maid shows up at her apartment, she feels uncomfortable. The class implications of someone cleaning her toilet are jarring." Income inequality will always exist in capitalistic society and to a certain level that's ok. Whats not so cool it to feel as if they are inferior just because thats how they're making the best of their life circumstances. As…

I think it's more along the lines of Katy's own sudden perceived elevation of status is jarring to her. "The wealthy" as a group come with a lot of stereotypes, responsibilities, & judgments. Katy doesn't think of herself as wealthy, but having hired help is generally a sign of considerable wealth in the USA. So, Katy is unsettled by how her social status seems to have changed out of the blue, and how she now needs to behave.

Particularly, there is a pervasive stereotype of the wealthy mistreating or dehumanizing hired help, so any suddenly-wealthy middle class person is going to be panicking, "Oh shit, how do I not become that wealthy person, I've never done this before"

I don't think judgement of the worker was even on the radar.

Re: The Shut-In Economy

#70

Post by Afforess » Thu, Mar 26, 2015, 2:52 AM UTC

I guess call me crazy, but I really enjoy chores. They aren't always pleasent, but they are a diversion. I can listen to NPR podcasts while grocery shopping. I catch up on the "Stuff you should know" podcast while cleaning and vacuuming my apartment. And I enjoy a walk around the area in the evenings when the weather is nice out. The diversions are where I can really think. I often have too many distractions at the computer, and can't focus on the really hard problems I am working on. I've found when I am doing something menial like chores, that is when I can really think and solve hard problems, especially when I am not trying to at all.

I would never outsource my chores. I just enjoy them too much.