Posts by giovanni tiso

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  • Hard News: Is that it?, in reply to John Armstrong,

    There is no such thing as mindless work, and to claim otherwise in an insult to the people who do it.

    Fine: would you kindly point me to the mindful part of cleaning toilets?

    I think the idea that we should all take pride in what we do regardless of what it is that we do, and that there is dignity in all kinds of work, is both false and designed to keep subaltern classes in their place. There are jobs that are mindless, jobs that are soul crushing, jobs that are backbreaking, jobs that are unaccountably dangerous or bad for your health, and jobs that are all of these things at the same time. I would go as far as to say that probably the majority of jobs are at least one of these things. The main benefits of higher education and/or being born white is that it increases your chances to escape the worst combinations, but that's about it.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Hard News: Is that it?, in reply to Sacha,

    knowing what is most relevant makes someone better at any job

    (Although a more general point would be - why the hell would you want to be better at data entering, or serving burgers?)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Hard News: Is that it?, in reply to Che Tibby,

    what? i’m saying nothing of the sort. i’m saying that old age pension was brought in to cater for the incapacitated. but many draw that pension whether incapacitated or not.

    You also said that "if people can still work, they damn well should."

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Hard News: Is that it?, in reply to Sacha,

    knowing what is most relevant makes someone better at any job - like translating, for example

    Still waiting for a concrete example of how it makes you better at jobs that are mindless - therefore render wisdom useless by definition. Translating ain't one of them.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Hard News: Is that it?, in reply to Sacha,

    wisdom is basically knowledge combined with experience. you've seen the difference it makes in many areas.

    You have quite avoided my question. What difference would it make in the area of data entering, or burger serving?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Hard News: Is that it?, in reply to Che Tibby,

    many people these days retire out of choice, not incapacity.

    So you are saying - again - that people should work until they are incapacitated. That actually is Dickensian, and I applaud you for it.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Hard News: Is that it?, in reply to Sacha,

    not incompatible with wisdom

    I now want to see you apply wisdom to the task of sorting through checks from a supermarket's daily takings.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Hard News: Is that it?, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    When I go to buy my lunch, I want to be presented with a selection of lunch items I can choose from and maybe make minor adjustments to. If I wanted to specify the recipe, I'd go and buy ingredients and make my own lunch. Really.

    I genuinely believe that nobody's stopping you.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Hard News: Is that it?, in reply to Danielle,

    Goddammit dude, what did I tell you?

    Telling me won't do any good.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Hard News: Is that it?,

    (Also, in a political and economic system predicated on short term thinking, ignoring the signs of the apocalypse and milking the next cow, arguably we are giving wisdom exactly the value that it has - none.)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

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