Totally expect to be downvoted to oblivion, but oh well, this needs to be said.
I think there’s an argument to be made about a lack of work life balance. And there’s definitely many arguments to be made about the various social issues that prevent more people from being successful. However, the solution isn’t to then use those issues as an excuse to justify or rationalize being lazy.
I’m a Mexican migrant to the US. I was 4 when I first moved to the US with my parents. I don’t come from wealth or privilege. My parents were poor growing up. We now live a decent middle class life. My parents are divorced now but each have their own home and cars. It took work to get to where they are today. As for me, I currently earn $60k a year, I don’t have kids, owe $1,000 left on my car, and $8,000 of student loan debt. I am currently in school to earn a Bachelors in IT and my employer is paying my tuition. I’d say I’ve done alright so far. By most accounts, my family and I are the poster children for who is often affected by the social and inequality issues I often see discussed here, specially because of our status is immigrants, my parents lack of education (both only made it to first year of high school), and because none of us spoke any English when we first migrated to the US. We had the odds against us and somehow here we are, and for the most part we’re happy.
Then I come on Reddit and find this “anti-work” nonsense and it’s truly disappointing to see that instead of trying to change the system to make it better for all, so many people instead choose to use social issues to justify and rationalize being lazy. I’m not sorry for saying that. 🤷️
There’s no need for that. Just admit, accept and own that you’re lazy and entitled. And no, I’m NOT talking about minimum wage or other issues that may be a de-motivating factor. This should definitely be adjusted to match inflation and other economic indicators. However, there are people out there who really have or came from nothing. And yet, here we have mostly able bodied folks living in the west complaining that life isn’t easy and that you have to put it some effort to obtain what you want in life (work).
Is it an ideal system? Nope, and it’s likely never going to be. But what are you going to do in the mean time? Just lay around and complain that life isn’t easy and that you have to actually put in some effort in life?
I totally expect to be shitted on because of what I’m saying. I’ve heard folks say, “you’ve never worked for my boss”, or “you’ve never worked for a company that treats you like shit”. I’ve been in BOTH of those situations. What did I do? I left and figured out what I need to do to earn more. I’m not here to dispute if that happened to you, or if that happens at all. It happens because individual people sometimes are corrupt and don’t care. What’s important is to remember that you can always go find work elsewhere. There are things you can do to improve your situation. Throwing your hands up and refusing to work is not one of them.
The problem I see is that everyone points to mundane, repetitive, “boring” or emotionally unfulfilling jobs and extrapolate that to be the case with all work. Everyone points at poor managers or companies that don’t treat them well or don’t pay them what they think they’re entitled to. It’s easy to say the problem is “work” itself but it’s not. The problem is the circumstances around YOUR particular situation. So change it. If a migrant family that came from nothing can do it in the same social and economic environment the rest of you are in, there no excuse for not wanting to work other than being lazy and entitled. If the social and economic issues (such as minimum wage and inflation) we’re to get fixed TOMORROW, how would that change things? Would you all of a sudden be willing to work? Therein lies the problem: it seems that the social and economic issues (which I think are legit issues that need to be resolved) are being conflated with just being lazy and entitled.
Sorry to tell you but no, life is not easy and you’re not entitled to it being easy. Most if not all things in life require some effort on your part. That doesn’t mean you have to be ok with being exploited, but the long term solution is to work (oh the horror!) to change the system, it’s not to adopt a life of laziness and entitlement. Opportunities are out there, but there not going to just fall on your lap. Unfortunately even “working on yourself” is seen as oppressive by many of you here. If you’re not willing to improve yourself, learn a new skill, on what grounds do you demand more money?
At the end of the day, it’s one thing to want to improve working conditions, social and economic inequalities, etc., it’s a whole other thing to think you’re entitled to an easy life just because you exists. The hard truth is that most of you don’t want to succeed at life, because if you did you wouldn’t be on this sub complaining, you’d be looking for work that is intellectually fulfilling, meaningful and meets your income needs instead of pretending that doesn’t exist. It does but since finding it requires “work” (effort) that was enough to dissuade you.