Flowing with a pointless economy
Flowing with a pointless economy
Who said feeding yourself has to mean something?
People keep recommending this book to me, Bullshit Jobs. I haven’t gotten to it, but I’m familiar with the concept: as our economy automates, many jobs (I’d say entire industries) aren’t necessary, and it weighs on the spirit of those doing them. My job as an advertiser certainly feels that way.
Though the book recommends universal basic income as a solution, those who cite it tend to instead advise that I find a job with actual meaning. Problem is, as I survey the landscape of work, it ALL (save a few, often low-paid activities that directly affect people’s survival) seems pointless. This is my mindset on my worst days.
The irony is that, in non-professional life, pointlessness brings immense joy.
I’m taking a beat-making class. Am I good at it? Am I gonna make beats for a living? Absolutely not. A friend asked me what’s the point of it. There is none. That’s why I’m enjoying it so much.
We can go further. What’s the point of petting your cat? Of watching the sun set? Of making other little humans and shepherding them to adulthood? What’s the point of existence? Alan Watts used to say: “Of what use is the universe? What’s the practical application of a million galaxies?”
Of course, these activities feel meaningful to those doing them as long as you don’t insist on explaining what their point is. Life’s very pointlessness–its lack of a clear purpose beyond itself--is what makes it so enjoyable1 (or at least it doesn’t get in the way). And if I find myself desperate for a point, “kindness toward others so that we can all enjoy ourselves” does the trick. This is my mindset on my best days.
But back to our pointless economy filled with pointless, bullshit jobs. Why does pointlessness here make us suffer? Why must we insist on attaching substantial, explainable meaning to how we make our money?
We don’t need to make our meaning the same place we make our money.
It bears repeating, because culture has conditioned us to feel this as untrue: we don’t need to make our meaning the same place we make our money.
This mantra isn’t nihilistic. Morally, it frees us to approach our job with the mindset of harm-reduction (a pointless job is fine as long as it’s also harmless) and encourages us to make our meaning in other, well, more meaningful areas.
So if your job, like mine, is totally pointless, embrace that fact the next time you walk in. Treat it as pointless and bullshit. Enjoy it as such, even. And because it's pointless, go home early and without guilt.
For one, those who know it’s pointless don’t need to worry about the end result
Hmmm thanks for this. I’ve been thinking about this especially in the context of how important people in my work world want to make their work (ie people will die if we don’t abc) when really we are filling in holes for a government that doesn’t give a shit. Meh. I’m going to make my coffee and enjoy it before my commute (which i most certainly will not enjoy)
"But back to our pointless economy filled with pointless, bullshit jobs. Why does pointlessness here make us suffer? Why must we insist on attaching substantial, explainable meaning to how we make our money?"
This article made me both laugh and feel like crying. I have tried having an important job, ICU nurse, to make my money, it didnt work very well, and now I dont know if writing makes any sense either. Feels like all I can do is laugh about it and remove myseld further from society =)