Actually, it is the most natural desire for the human as it is for animals from which we have evolved - to not want to do anything when you do not have the urge.
Animals can look very busy, but if you change their evolution-formed instincts that force them to do so, they would stop immediately and would just lie down and do nothing.
It is interesting to note that having a requirement to work may be just a drawback of the current society. When the AI eventually arrives, there may be no such requirement anymore.
Most people today consider that everyone should work, that work is good for the soul, and necessary for the well being of the economy. When you think about it, civilization is built on employment.
Me, I think I might want to work if I set my own goals and if society can be okay with it. The problem is making that work get out in the world. I might just work for the same reason a neanderthal just toys with sticks, fire and stones.
Aside from that, you are unemployed and living on welfare, why then are you not making your own game in your basement? There is still time, and while your conditions aren't perfect (whose are?) it seems it maybe one way out of your current situation, if not financially, at least for a sense of completion/self-esteem.
Best of luck!
I live with my girlfriend in a pretty small apartment. I need to be in a quiet place in order to work on something, and we've been fighting. I have a hard time being next to somebody who doesn't like what I am. We have been arguing a lot and she just can't accept the fact that unemployment is a reality of today's society. So I feel like I'm at fault, and it's been very hard to focus on stuff that matters to me.
> Have you tried looking for professional help?
I see a psychiatrist, but there have been less and less sessions, and I did not see my psychiatrist for maybe 3 months now. That reminds me right now that I should try to get an appointment.
Also, if you hate programming, you will always be mediocre and unenthusiastic. Nobody likes working with unexcited people. So break away from what you hate. I studied finance and had trouble finding a job. I didn't realize how much I hated it until I stopped forcing myself to keep trying. I found that I really liked programming and now I have a job in the technology field (though it is not cutting edge. I'm still only just beginning though!)
Your girlfriend is still with you. If you sense that your girlfriend hates you, you still have a chance to turn things around. Why don't you compensate in other ways? Finding a job takes time. In the mean time, do things to make her happy or clean up around the house, cook, etc.
Best of luck!
I like programming, I just hate php and java.
I am currently an intern, thanks to some schooling program for the unemployed, and god do I want to go back being unemployed. I can't even bail out because I would need to reimburse the schooling program, which is 5500 euros. I was so excited of having the opportunity of trying again to be part of society, to have some reason to get up in the morning, to see people, but I was very naive about myself and about the schooling program I was offered. I would have better contributed by picking up trash, but in this country, even those jobs are difficult to get for some reason (I guess the government would not like having all the education which was given to me, go to waste because of the economic context).
I still have this desire to make my own video game in my basement though, but I barely have the mental resources to do it. My girlfriend hates me for being unemployed, so it makes things even worse for my self esteem. I feel pushed and sometimes I'd want to kill people who still argues that civilization need some form of class system. To me, civilization only meant getting welfare, getting porn and online video games. Not a system I have utter confidence in.
The schooling program I'm in aims to teach people web programming in 1 year. I already had programming skills before that (from a public school program where I failed my exam), so I learned nothing, and I hate php/java/mysql with passion.