The implications of a post scarcity world

[cidbahamut]

Re: The implications of a post scarcity world

I'd not worry about "There isn't enough work for everyone to be working, but we insist on continuing to work even if it doesn't serve a purpose." Not any time in the near future. Or in the next 50 years. Or in the next 100 years, really.

Did you listen to the podcast? We're doing that right now.

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: The implications of a post scarcity world

There seem to be plenty of problems still need solving in this world.

I'd not worry about "There isn't enough work for everyone to be working, but we insist on continuing to work even if it doesn't serve a purpose." Not any time in the near future. Or in the next 50 years. Or in the next 100 years, really.

For now (and a very long time to come), if your work isn't serving any (good) purpose, it just means you are working at the wrong job, or working the job wrong.

[Malacite]

Re: The implications of a post scarcity world

Yeah, my inner self is like "WOO HOO! Free to pursue all my creative dreams!"

And at the same time it's tempered by fear of all the SHIT that will innevitibly come to light from some people - particularly Japan >_>

[cidbahamut]

Re: The implications of a post scarcity world

Imagine a world where everything on Kickstarter is automatically funded.

I find this prospect simultaneously beautiful and terrifying.

[Armando]

Re: The implications of a post scarcity world

Assuming we eventually reach the technological end-game where everyone has access to machines that dispense our every need at the push of a button, what do we do with ourselves?

You'd probably end up with two kinds of people: those that produce entertainment content and those that consume it, except those that produce it can now produce whatever the hell they want instead of whatever garbage is currently profitable. You'd have a new Rennaissance for the creative types and an infinite amount of shit to watch for the sit-all-day-watching-TV types.

Imagine a world where everything on Kickstarter is automatically funded.

[Malacite]

Re: The implications of a post scarcity world

My father and I frequently discuss this any time there's talk about jobs and such in the news.

Personally I'm all for progress and advancing technology, and my view is that the problem lies more not so much in the tech itself, but what's being done with it. For example, a company brings in a new machine that dramatically increases productivity while also lowering costs by a similar value, thus sky rocketing profits. It's how said profits are handled that often irks me, as the trend thus far has been simply to downsize people (which does make sense) while simultaneously passing the savings straight to the top - CEO's and Boardmembers.


Fuck paying everyone else a little more now that the company can afford to do so, nah - that would be social progress. Can't have people actually making a decent living off their work, nope, that's only for folks born into money, or the lucky few who through various means find their way to the top of the corporate world.

Obama gave a fancy speech on inequality today, but methinks it won't amount to shit.

[cidbahamut]

What America Can't Admit About the 'Millennial' Generation | Cracked.com

I found this to be a fascinating bit of radio. It examines how as technology advances we become more and more productive with fewer and fewer man-hours of labor, but society seems to be balking the closer we get to the inevitable end-game of that pursuit. Simply put: There isn't enough work for everyone to be working, but we insist on continuing to work even if it doesn't serve a purpose.

Assuming we eventually reach the technological end-game where everyone has access to machines that dispense our every need at the push of a button, what do we do with ourselves? Does it make sense to continue insisting that everyone continue to show up at their day job or can we as a culture shift our attitude to the point where it's ok for some people to take care of what little work is left while the rest of the population pursues other endeavors?