Categories
Antiwork

How do you respond when strangers share how the system is crippling them financially? I always feel so awkward

I’m a big proponent of this sub, universal basic income, nationalized healthcare… but I keep finding myself struggling with talking about it in real life. Several times lately, other people have shared their struggles with me and I just didn’t know wtf to do. For example, at a beauty store, some clerks were talking about how they only make $11/hr. They didn’t say this to me directly, but they were talking somewhat loudly with each other about how they will have to work until they die. One was working even with a severe health issue. I wanted to write down the address for r/antiwork and also give them my email address so we could talk more about it, but I kind of froze. It’s not like I can personally pay them a living wage, so what’s the point? What can I do that isn’t just talk? What do I even…


I’m a big proponent of this sub, universal basic income, nationalized healthcare… but I keep finding myself struggling with talking about it in real life.

Several times lately, other people have shared their struggles with me and I just didn’t know wtf to do. For example, at a beauty store, some clerks were talking about how they only make $11/hr. They didn’t say this to me directly, but they were talking somewhat loudly with each other about how they will have to work until they die. One was working even with a severe health issue. I wanted to write down the address for r/antiwork and also give them my email address so we could talk more about it, but I kind of froze. It’s not like I can personally pay them a living wage, so what’s the point?

What can I do that isn’t just talk? What do I even say? “I think you deserve more,” does literally nothing for anyone. Referring them to Reddit feels weird. What’s your approach?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.