[Bill,
June 19, 2012]
What happens when we all have enough stuff?
Having moved my share of other people's stuff in the past two years, and during my (brief) period of unemployment, I began to think about stuff.
Namely, I already had too much stuff. Not all the stuff I needed. I definitely needed:
1. More electrical tape.
2. More home repair tools.
3. String, rope, etc.
Stuff you need to fix your house.
I could also use a roof.
But stuff -- infrastructure-style stuff? I had all that I needed. Even if my computer upgrades, I don't need it because frankly I'm happy with my computer and have been for years.
http://freenortherner.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/perils-of-wealth/ is an article on the post-scarcity economy. I don't know if I agree or disagree ... at this point it's just interesting.
A couple of years ago, I suggested that perhaps our demand-side problems were partially connected to the plethora of stuff we all have.
OK, let me start again:
You know what the Internet feels like to me? It feels like a combination of the world's biggest attic, and it feels like a highway that goes everywhere, but everywhere is a dead end.
Or -- I don't know what I'm talking about.
I've felt that something paradigm-breaking is happening here. It's why I've eased up on the politics, 'cuz I'm not sure where things are going.
I mean, I could go on and on about things I hate. Strangely enough, a lot of the things I hate most of my liberal friends hate, too. Like the militarization of the police force. Our surveillance state.
The rules have changed and frankly, I don't understand them anymore. This has been true for some time. And I feel (this will sound paranoid) that something seems to be blinding me to the truth.
When everyone is connected to everyone, what ...? That's what I can't answer.
Actually, I don't even know the question. That's my problem.
What is the future of work? What must be done?
Still everything, right? Then nothing's changed.
What the heck am I talking about?
Namely, I already had too much stuff. Not all the stuff I needed. I definitely needed:
1. More electrical tape.
2. More home repair tools.
3. String, rope, etc.
Stuff you need to fix your house.
I could also use a roof.
But stuff -- infrastructure-style stuff? I had all that I needed. Even if my computer upgrades, I don't need it because frankly I'm happy with my computer and have been for years.
http://freenortherner.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/perils-of-wealth/ is an article on the post-scarcity economy. I don't know if I agree or disagree ... at this point it's just interesting.
A couple of years ago, I suggested that perhaps our demand-side problems were partially connected to the plethora of stuff we all have.
OK, let me start again:
You know what the Internet feels like to me? It feels like a combination of the world's biggest attic, and it feels like a highway that goes everywhere, but everywhere is a dead end.
Or -- I don't know what I'm talking about.
I've felt that something paradigm-breaking is happening here. It's why I've eased up on the politics, 'cuz I'm not sure where things are going.
I mean, I could go on and on about things I hate. Strangely enough, a lot of the things I hate most of my liberal friends hate, too. Like the militarization of the police force. Our surveillance state.
The rules have changed and frankly, I don't understand them anymore. This has been true for some time. And I feel (this will sound paranoid) that something seems to be blinding me to the truth.
When everyone is connected to everyone, what ...? That's what I can't answer.
Actually, I don't even know the question. That's my problem.
What is the future of work? What must be done?
Still everything, right? Then nothing's changed.
What the heck am I talking about?