Bertrand Russell's argument for idleness is more relevant than ever

Re:Bertrand Russell's argument for idleness is more relevant... by horns4lyfe on Wednesday August 12, 2020 @10:06PM (#24139262)

I could not agree more. I'm pretty early in my software career after a few years as a military officer, and if that job taught me one thing, it's that NOTHING at work is as important as you think it is. Looking back on those times, even in a job where lives are sometimes on the line, I can't believe how seriously I took some things and how much more fun I could have had. It's a disappointing lesson to have to learn in hindsight.

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Re:Bertrand Russell's argument for idleness is more relevant... by sudeepj on Thursday August 13, 2020 @12:14AM (#24139876)

Highly recommend to watch the clip from the movie Office Space (only 54 sec long) [1]

The guy with the moustache is a blue collar worker and the other one is white collar worker (actually in Tech/IT)

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lmW2tZP2kU

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Re:Bertrand Russell's argument for idleness is more relevant... by fzil on Thursday August 13, 2020 @01:09AM (#24140114)

That’s gotta be one of my favourite movies of all time. This and the printer killing scene are hilarious.

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Re:Bertrand Russell's argument for idleness is more relevant... by tayo42 on Thursday August 13, 2020 @01:23AM (#24140179)

Amusing that so much of that movie is still relatable 20 years later to a whole new generation of workers. Except maybe the scene where he kicks down the cubicle, if I need to be in an office give me a cubicle or something lol

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Re:Bertrand Russell's argument for idleness is more relevant... by eldavido on Thursday August 13, 2020 @02:14AM (#24140455)

Yes. I'm genuinely surprised how timeless this is.

You watch it today, in 2020, and it's shocking that it was made 20 years ago. This tells me that Judge and the other writers managed to latch on to some very timeless things.

Not sure what they are, but they nailed it.

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Re:Bertrand Russell's argument for idleness is more relevant... by alexbanks on Thursday August 13, 2020 @03:07AM (#24140721)

They latched onto the meaninglessness that is office work, combined with the obvious passive aggression and lack of respect that big companies have for their employees

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Re:Bertrand Russell's argument for idleness is more relevant... by mercer on Thursday August 13, 2020 @08:31AM (#24142669)

It's fascinating how good Mike Judge is at 'nailing' a variety of experiences.

Office Space is pitch-perfect, but then he went and created Silicon Valley and King of the Hill too. I can't personally confirm that King of the Hill is accurate, but I've heard it is. Silicon Valley just nails it though, and it is far more specific than the Office Space type stuff.

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Re:Bertrand Russell's argument for idleness is more relevant... by dack on Wednesday August 12, 2020 @11:05PM (#24139577)

i still remember the time (early in my career) i was summoned to jury duty and tried to register an "undue hardship" with the judge because i had a project deadline coming up.

i genuinely thought it was that important, but looking back it was really not a big deal at all (and the judge knew it) :)

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Re:Bertrand Russell's argument for idleness is more relevant... by kamaal on Wednesday August 12, 2020 @11:37PM (#24139732)

One level of enlightenment is when you understand things can be done later at your convenience.

Another level of enlightenment is when you understand somethings don't have to be done at all.

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Re:Bertrand Russell's argument for idleness is more relevant... by jorgekong on Thursday August 13, 2020 @12:25AM (#24139925)

thank you, that's a great and pithy comment

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Re:Bertrand Russell's argument for idleness is more relevant... by krick on Thursday August 13, 2020 @12:58AM (#24140078)

It's not like spending your time on jury duty is in any way better than spending it on work (or pretty much everything, for that matter).

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Re:Bertrand Russell's argument for idleness is more relevant... by Godel_unicode on Thursday August 13, 2020 @01:17AM (#24140150)

You don't think doing your part to guarantee your fellow citizens get their (in the US at least) constitutionally guaranteed right to a jury trial is "worth it"?

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Re:Bertrand Russell's argument for idleness is more relevant... by dunefox on Thursday August 13, 2020 @03:48AM (#24140939)

According to this thread: no, it's not nearly as important as your own time. They can always get someone else to fill in.

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Re:Bertrand Russell's argument for idleness is more relevant... by russh on Thursday August 13, 2020 @03:11PM (#24147095)

If only there was a way to do that without being treated with a general low-grade contempt.

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Re:Bertrand Russell's argument for idleness is more relevant... by gonzo41 on Thursday August 13, 2020 @12:28AM (#24139939)

Remember those late night ironing and polishing things. The few the brave. Ahh the best of times.

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