Buckminster Fuller in 1970, complaining about “this nonsense of earning a living,” seems to have been prescient. Or perhaps he was just rehashing Keynes from way back in ’28. Anyway, anthropologist David Graeber’s 2013 article on bullshit jobs, a piece I mentioned a few months back, is now a book that’s getting quite a lot of press.
The Economist has an interview with him discussing the yoke of managerial feudalism. The New York Times, which can’t bear to spell out s-h-i-t in the article copy, distinguishes itself by using the word “bullshit” only in the article URL of the online edition. And of course Bloomberg tries to out-hip its media rivals by using the word LOLOLOLOL as a complete sentence.
The New Yorker has a take which is somewhat different from the others, and worth noting:
It leads to a realization that Graeber circles but never articulates, which is that bullshit employment has come to serve in places like the U.S. and Britain as a disguised, half-baked version of the dole—one attuned specially to a large, credentialled middle class. Under a different social model, a young woman unable to find a spot in the workforce might have collected a government check. Now, instead, she can acquire a bullshit job at, say, a health-care company, spend half of every morning compiling useless reports, and use the rest of her desk time to play computer solitaire or shop for camping equipment online. It’s not, perhaps, a life well-lived. But it’s not the terror of penury, either.
Anyway. Six months into unemployment, I’m still looking for work. Even in a low-unemployment economy, employers are incredibly demanding and stingy. Just yesterday I spotted a junior marketing communications job that requires at least an MS, and ideally a PhD, in biochemistry.
I suppose it makes sense. If it’s a bullshit job, then it doesn’t actually need to be done, so there’s no need to hire people based on their ability to do the work. Instead, they hire based on shiny credentials that make their bosses look impressive. “Check out the PhD in the cube over there! We’ve got highly-credentialed research scientists doing direct mail!”
LOLOLOLOL.
Politics
Look up who makes money from ICE in your state. Give ’em a call. Let ’em know you think they should stop.
Sarah Kendzior has a podcast.
A journalist was arrested for his reporting about ICE abuses. Criminal charges were dropped but because he’s an immigrant he’s now in ICE custody.
A college professor was tasked with making a parade float in addition to his regular duties. Someone didn’t like the float and now he’s out of a job.
Cuteness
This very cute dog.
This very brightly colored bird and its very black-and-white partner and their subtly tinted offspring.
Adding robot legs to help your plant move around in search of sun and water seems fun, but also potentially a sign of the apocalypse.
Secretly Ironic 