this post was submitted on 01 May 2024
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Antiwork

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For the abolition of work. Yes really, abolish work! Not "reform work" but the destruction of work as a separate field of human activity.

To save the world, we're going to have to stop working! — David Graeber

A strange delusion possesses the working classes of the nations where capitalist civilization holds its sway. ...the love of work... Instead of opposing this mental aberration, the priests, the economists, and the moralists have cast a sacred halo over work. — Paul Lafargue

In communist society, where nobody has one exclusive sphere of activity but each can become accomplished in any branch he wishes, society regulates the general production and thus makes it possible for me to do one thing today and another tomorrow, to hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon, rear cattle in the evening, criticise after dinner, just as I have a mind, without ever becoming hunter, fisherman, herdsman or critic. — Karl Marx

In the glorification of 'work', in the unwearied talk of the 'blessing of work', I see the same covert idea as in the praise of useful impersonal actions: that of fear of everything individual. — Friedrich Nietzsche

If hard work were such a wonderful thing, surely the rich would have kept it all to themselves. — Lane Kirkland

The bottom line is simple: all of us deserve to make the most of our potential as we see fit, to be the masters of our own destinies. Being forced to sell these things away to survive is tragic and humiliating. We don’t have to live like this. ― CrimethInc

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[–] onoira@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

everyone would have more time to support each other, pursue their interests, and do other things that really matter.

don't conflate 'work' with 'labour' or 'doing literally anything'.

[–] _sideffect@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago (5 children)

Um... You wouldn't be able to enjoy anything, you know that right?

Your electricity? Wouldn't work. Your water? Would stop functioning or be poisoned within a week. Uber eats? Lmao, forget about it.

EVERYTHING would grind to a halt.

[–] Lesrid@lemm.ee 5 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Ive only ever used Uber Eats while working. Without work I'd have more time for gardening

[–] _sideffect@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Your water wouldn't work so your garden would die

[–] jaybone@lemmy.world 0 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Can you garden a cow?

Can you garden a doctor?

[–] schmorpel 4 points 6 months ago

You'd be surprised ... but cows actually do grow on fields. Just like a lot of medicinal herbs.

[–] HappycamperNZ@lemmy.world 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I don't know why you are being downvoted - the world doesn't magically turn over from volunteering.

[–] _sideffect@lemmy.world 0 points 6 months ago

Seems people don't understand how the world works and instead believe in a fantasy bubble world where everything works as it currently does with no one needing to bust their ass.

[–] onoira@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Uber eats

oh no! my treats! /s

so, if people don't have the conditions of life held hostage by labour-buyers, the world would end? …why would the water be poisoned? what did i say about conflating 'work' with 'labour' or 'doing literally anything [at all]'?

there would still be people who want to operate public utilities[0]. there would still be electricians. and plumbers. and what about microgrids?

this also wouldn't happen overnight, which you make it sound like it would. or is this like when someone suggests phasing out fossil fuels? and some lemmy.world username says 'if we suddenly abruptly instantly instantaneously directly rapidly CTRL+A-CTRL+X'd all oil in the world right now it'd be just like in the Mad Max!'

less than 27% of paid labour is serving real needs[1]. there is a lot of shit that we don't need, that provides no social value, and that we could do without[2]. the individualist ratrace separates us from our communities, which are perfectly capable of taking care of us, even and *especially* in a crisis[3],[4],[5]. a managerial class is not necessary to operate public utilities[6].

if people want electricity, or running water, they will arrange for it. if absolutely nobody in the community knows how, they find someone who does and they make a deal.

most 'work' would probably be automated. automation is really more viable in a postcapitalist setting because there is no profit incentive getting in the way of the time for innovation to make reliable, longevous systems that aren't intentionally cheap and intended to break within 2 – 5 years.

so, i don't really see how 'EVERYTHING would grind to a halt' unless 'EVERYTHING' is 'precisely the way things are now in whatever the present moment is'.

[–] jkrtn@lemmy.ml 1 points 6 months ago

How is Uber Eats up in there next to electricity and water?