I know we have our Marxist definition and all that, but it seems to be a really pervasive brainworms, everywhere I go. Some people I've talked to think for instance, all scientists are silver spooned and never worked a day in their life because they don't do construction, or whatever.

How do you argue with people like this? Can you?

  • ChestRockwell [comrade/them, any]
    ·
    24 hours ago

    graeber remains great on this.

    He also notes that caring labor is often what really is brought to the table in any job, especially with so much automation. Thus, even if the barista's "manual" labor is inconsequential, the caring labor remains incredibly important.

    An example he brings up is ticket takers in the London underground. Their job is primarily done now by kiosk and such, so they are a glorified security guard in some ways. However, their real job is to help the disabled, those who are lost, perhaps in distress, etc. Even if the metro functions fine without someone in the station, the system becomes crueler and unable to account for the contingencies of real humans.

    However, caring work is devalued because of sexism.

    Basically, read the last two chapters of bullshit jobs to create solidarity between the caring work of bartenders, baristas, and other service workers and the last vestiges of manual labor.