Something to think about...

United States
July 27, 2010 1:56pm CST
In light of recent events that have happened in my life, I got myself to thinking, "Why do people take some of the dead-end jobs that they do? What's so fulfilling about getting a McJob and getting money to order luxury items? Do we really need any of that? Wouldn't we be happier if we just stopped taking these jobs and actually pursued what we see as our ultimate goals in life?" I am currently unemployed, much like many people here in the U.S., and to be honest, I'm really not that enthusiastic to get another job, unless I know that it's something that wouldn't bother my conscious. I've had jobs before. More often than not there was always something that irked me about what I was doing. Even when I was working at Goodwill, despite their goals, I've seen them do things behind closed doors that I find unethical, namely throwing out merchandise that they can't sell (and even some that they COULD sell!) Because of that, I'm wary of finding a job now. Telemarketing was the last straw, and I figure maybe people are better off just not working for the man. So, my question is; If you had the opportunity to live life without money being involved, to quit your job and consciously choose not to work, would you?
2 responses
• United States
27 Jul 10
Don't you think if there was that option people would take it? I mean, there are some people who try to live off the grid in caves and in the wild but then the law finds them and tells them they have to leave because they are squatting. I mean, its a freaking cave, how are you squatting in nature? Not paying the bears rent money?! I think your choice to not work is fine, but then you cannot complain that you do not have certain things or cannot have certain things. You cannot get unemployment or welfare if you are not at least going to make an attempt to find a job as it is unfair for those working who need help with bills or those who are trying to find jobs and need the monetary assistance. I think your attitude is more that you are being too picky. If you want to get a job that you want then spend this time going to school full time so that you can get the job you want. If you had a problem with your past jobs then you should have reported them or worked harder so that you could become a supervisor and stop them from doing those things. I mean in our society you have to have money to get things. If you want to live completely off grid without money then you need to have extensive survival skills and be prepared to live directly off of mother nature. You won't be living in comfort. If you are talking about someone else taking care of you then you are just being lazy. Or you could marry someone rich if you are good looking enough and they can pamper you. If that is the case then sure I would marry someone who is rich for their money so I could be pampered and do whatever I want.
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Jul 10
True, I can't complain that I don't have certain things, but there isn't anything I want, anyway, except to get out of the lifestyle that I'm living, where I have to rely on money for food, shelter, and clothing. But as long as someone is there to control this territory, they will expect us to pay them. There isn't anywhere in the world you can go to get away from this, and I do realize this. One of the reasons I posted this discussion was I wanted to know how many people would actually be willing to quit their jobs and just forget about money and all the trouble it brings into peoples' lives. It is said that the love of money is the root of all evil, and this is a belief I hold close to me. All the problems that I've had in my life resulted from money, more specifically a lack of it. If this is how money causes people to act, then I hate it, and I want to live in a world where it doesn't exist. Until then, I have to begrudgingly find ways to make money. It honestly doesn't seem to be worth my time, though, to toil and work for people who want to destroy the planet so that I can have wealth.
@lanfear55 (157)
• United States
27 Jul 10
You bring up some very valid points here. On one hand I can see the need at times for a "deadend" type job, as sometimes a household just needs a little bit more money to get by until things get better. However, I full heartily agree with you that your dream or ultimate career should be pursued. The choice is easier to make if you do not have other people depending on your income for their well being. What ever position that you take, you have to make sure that you can at least stand it to some point. My S.O. was recently laid off from his well paying job and immediately panicked to try and find another job. He was offered a job in telemarketing. After we discussed it for a couple of days, he turned it down. The fact of the matter is that if you are doing a job that you hate, you in the long run are killing yourself. We are only here for such a short amount of time anyways, why be miserable during that time. Right?
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Jul 10
Yeah, that's true. But that's not the only reason that I feel the way that I do. Some of these corporations carry with them unethical business practices. Some companies will ship jobs overseas, making it harder for us to find work. Some will do environmental damage, such as what happened with BP on the Gulf Coast. The case I'm trying to make here is who in their right mind would work for a corporation like that? But people do because they worry about money, and if it's not for entertainment or decoration, it's so that you can pay your landlord and pay for groceries, all necessities of living. So it's almost like you have to feed into the system in order to even survive. Even so, I bet if people hunted, or if they can't do that at least plant a garden or some fruit trees, that's one expense that's averted. But then you still have the land tax, and there really isn't any way to get around that, as far as I know. Even if you live off the grid, you still have to pay the government for occupying space.