Would You Work for No Pay If It Was Something You Enjoyed?

  • Thread starter pattylou
  • Start date
In summary, on the "what is wrong with capitalism" thread in PWA, contributors suggest that in a communist/anarchist/socialist/whateverist society, no one would work and everyone would rely on the state for their needs. The conversation then delves into whether individuals would work for no pay if it was something they enjoyed, and a poll is taken with options including farming, healthcare, education, and artistic pursuits. Some contributors argue that a society based on basic needs would be boring, while others suggest that individuals could participate in a variety of activities part-time. The conversation also touches on the idea that in a communist society, demand for certain jobs may not be met and not everyone may be able to do what they want.

What community-oriented work would you do for no pay?


  • Total voters
    37
  • #1
pattylou
306
0
On the "what is wrong with capitalism" thread in PWA, some contributors suggest that in a communist/anarchist/socialist/whateverist society, no one would work because they wouldn't need to. The argument says something like: everyone would lie around all day and let the state take care of them.

I'm curious if you would work (ie contribute to the common good) for no pay, if that work was something you enjoyed doing. Would you enjoy building houses if it was just for the sake of providing shelter? Cooking? Cleaning?

Take the poll. Apologies in advance for the options I forgot. mention them in your responses.

Public poll, multiple responses allowed. Yo mamma, some people are *so* impatient.
 
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  • #2
what poll...?
 
  • #3
Well since I'm fascinated head-over-heels with Biology, I'd probably do farming and maybe if I'm an MD then I'd be a physician too. I think as technology becomes more and more advanced, we'd be able to move to such society and eliminate the need to work 40 hours a week. Perhaps we'd be able to slow down and just enjoy life's simple pleasures in the future, but that outlook is too optimistic considering our society :frown:
 
  • #4
cronxeh said:
Well since I'm fascinated head-over-heels with Biology, I'd probably do farming and maybe if I'm an MD then I'd be a physician too. I think as technology becomes more and more advanced, we'd be able to move to such society and eliminate the need to work 40 hours a week. Perhaps we'd be able to slow down and just enjoy life's simple pleasures in the future, but that outlook is too optimistic considering our society :frown:
It's people working 40 (or more) hours a week that makes technology "more and more advanced".
 
  • #5
I voted "other". I have a number of hobbies I'd pursue, such as golf, astrophotography, skydiving, skiing, sailing, and flying.
 
  • #6
I don't really know if I'd enjoy many of those because I've never been exposed to them. Nothing there except hunting strikes me as terribly unpleasant, however, and I'd hunt if it were absolutely necessary (ie, to control populations until a different measure can be put in place).
 
  • #7
In case it wasn't clear, I tried to identify the basic *needs* that a society would need to meet --- Shelter, clothing, food, etc.
 
  • #8
I checked Education/Child Care, Healthcare, and Other.
Under other I would pursue artistic endevours and writing.
 
  • #9
Other = Software programming :smile:
 
  • #10
pattylou said:
In case it wasn't clear, I tried to identify the basic *needs* that a society would need to meet --- Shelter, clothing, food, etc.


I agree completely. But as Gokul pointed it out, we are not yet ready for that. I don't think we will be in my lifetime anyway
 
  • #11
Well, some amount of farming, carpentry/construction, education, health care, and cleaning I've already done for no pay, along with artistic/writing pursuits (although it seems to go without saying to me that most people who do these do them for no pay). I would not be willing to do any of these things full-time for no pay, however. I would gladly build and maintain my own home, and probably write full time given a communist paradise (assuming they allow writers who don't contribute to any state interest).

Actually, I'd be willing to run workshops for people learning to write as well, but again, not full-time.
 
  • #12
Hmm... living in a world with only basic needs? BORING.
 
  • #13
russ_watters said:
I voted "other". I have a number of hobbies I'd pursue, such as golf, astrophotography, skydiving, skiing, sailing, and flying.
:rofl: :rofl: Finally proof that Russ understanding of english doesn't include "contribute to the common good".
 
  • #14
Smurf said:
:rofl: :rofl: Finally proof that Russ understanding of english doesn't include "contribute to the common good".

What does that have to do with the english language.
 
  • #15
Pengwuino said:
Hmm... living in a world with only basic needs? BORING.
Patty's understanding of anarcho-socialist thought it rough at best. Most would suggest that any need for which there is a demand in the community could and probably will be met.
 
  • #16
loseyourname said:
Well, some amount of farming, carpentry/construction, education, health care, and cleaning I've already done for no pay, along with artistic/writing pursuits (although it seems to go without saying to me that most people who do these do them for no pay). I would not be willing to do any of these things full-time for no pay, however. I would gladly build and maintain my own home, and probably write full time given a communist paradise (assuming they allow writers who don't contribute to any state interest).

Actually, I'd be willing to run workshops for people learning to write as well, but again, not full-time.
Also the term "no-pay" is not entirely accurate. To generally gloss over it's a matter of the community taking care of you (provide you with shelter, food, sex, drugs and rock and roll) and you contribute to the community (various things mentioned above)
 
  • #17
Pengwuino said:
What does that have to do with the english language.
I don't know. I was going to say vocabulary then I realized that didn't make sense as it was more than one word so I just roughed it.
 
  • #18
Perhaps one could participate in a variety of activities part-time.
 
  • #19
Patty I guess it takes special people with a unique mindset and vision to make a utopian society :tongue:
 
  • #20
cefarix said:
Other = Software programming :smile:
Always needed :smile:
 
  • #21
Smasherman said:
Perhaps one could participate in a variety of activities part-time.
Entirely possible.
 
  • #22
For the record I put down everything except "Elder Care", for various reasons.
 
  • #23
Smurf said:
Patty's understanding of anarcho-socialist thought it rough at best. Most would suggest that any need for which there is a demand in the community could and probably will be met.

I want a ferrari.

Thought not.

Thats what I don't like about communist fanatics and their crap about "Oh everyone will get to do what they want and its all for the community" (haha yah, this is an off-topic rant). Well dream on. No one wants to be a garbage man, no one wants to work the sewers, etc etc etc. Plus some people are just not good at certain things. If some dense housewife wants to be a astronomer, well too damn bad because you're too stupid and you can do better as a cook.
 
  • #24
Other: Software programing also.

It used to happen to me, when i didn't had a job, and i didn't do anything you feel the needs to do something, Paid or not, i think it's somenthing natural in humans, the need to do work...
 
  • #25
Smurf said:
For the record I put down everything except "Elder Care", for various reasons.

I'd do that. Unless they are ridiculously offensive, then I'd put them on Prozac :biggrin:

I actually think there should be aerial spraying of Prozac on daily basis in this country.. but what do I know :tongue2:
 
  • #26
Smurf said:
Entirely possible.

Not for a decent society. Society only runs well because people who are good and experienced at something stay at it and only at it.
 
  • #27
Ideally "Elder Care" would be an integral part of daily life instead of streamlined.
 
  • #28
Pengwuino said:
Not for a decent society. Society only runs well because people who are good and experienced at something stay at it and only at it.

Would you truly wish to devote your entire life to only one type of job? That sounds rather repetitive to me.
 
  • #29
Pengwuino said:
I want a ferrari.
Thought not.
Do you have one now?

The problem with criticizing anarcho-socialist theories by saying they can't easily get certain products is that most individuals usually can't get them under this economy either.

I don't see why you can't have one. Depending on the system it'd be entirely likely you could get one just as easily.
 
  • #30
Smasherman said:
Would you truly wish to devote your entire life to only one type of job? That sounds rather repetitive to me.

Of course not but how effective would you be if you're juggling 3 different types of jobs? What kinda cook do you think you'd have if on monday he cooks, tuesday he programs software, and wednesday he builds houses?
 
  • #31
I would play music for free.

And I'd be more than glad to receive health-care for free.
 
  • #32
Smurf said:
Do you have one now?
The problem with criticizing anarcho-socialist theories by saying they can't easily get certain products is that most individuals usually can't get them under this economy either.

Well for one, what kinda society would you be having if you took the actual manhours out of hte system to build luxury cars for every citizen that wanted one? You're trying to compare systems when the original selling point is that by itself, its a great system.
 
  • #33
Pengwuino said:
Of course not but how effective would you be if you're juggling 3 different types of jobs? What kinda cook do you think you'd have if on monday he cooks, tuesday he programs software, and wednesday he builds houses?
A cook that also built your house and programmed your OS?

You don't need a lifetime of dedication to learn to cook food pengwuino.
 
  • #34
Smasherman said:
Would you truly wish to devote your entire life to only one type of job? That sounds rather repetitive to me.


I think I got it! No way man

I think the best plan would be:

Mandatory FREE education until 21, including bachelors level degree. After that you have a set of options in blocks of 6 months of each! So you get to experience different jobs your whole life, and a total security!

Another option is to continue specializing and getting Masters or PHD - and then you'd have more advanced options like teaching and research and further specialization that you can choose yourself! Its like choosing an outline for your life that you can edit later depending on the most needed positions which would be presented to you as your part of your options list :biggrin:

Oh and I think we should limit our population growth! No more than 2 kids per family!

Call this a fascist state but it will work wonders I think
 
  • #35
Smurf said:
A cook that also built your house and programmed your OS?

See how rediculous it would be. You can't do 3 jobs and be any good at any of them.
 

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