Spurred from this post about The Office where I saw some back-and-forth about potential occupation-shaming(?), like why are people getting heated over being able to work?

I understand there's mental health, physical disability, learning disability, or just general lack of opportunity for some people or situations, but shouldn't everyone's drive be to contribute to society as a byproduct of participating in it?

Yeah, capitalism is fucked up, but at the end of the day, shouldn't everyone be motivated to contribute something back to earn their keep? Or can we just say "fuck it" and get mad at people who shame us for choosing not to submit to the 9 to 5?

  • Dirt_Owl [comrade/them, they/them]
    ·
    4 years ago

    People 'give back' in a lot of ways that aren't appreciated enough. I have yet to meet a single 'useless' person in my life and I personally don't think I have the right to determine someone's value and judge if they're 'contributing' enough.

    • ColonelKernel [comrade/them]
      hexagon
      ·
      4 years ago

      At some point though, especially with mounting environmental damage, isn't generally sitting around and taking up/consuming resources doing damage to "the greater good"?

      • Dirt_Owl [comrade/them, they/them]
        ·
        4 years ago

        The amount of 'damage' the unemployed do to society is minuscule in the grand scheme of things. They take up little resources and do far less damage than the ultra-wealthy.

        The amount of money and resources taken up by the unemployed pales in comparison to the sheer wastefulness and consumption done by the rich and large corporations. Things like money laundering, wage theft and tax breaks do far more harm to society than the unemployed.

        They aren't as big a drain as the capitalists like to convince people they are.