Steve Jurvetson- end of working because "you have to".

take everything · 04-01-2016 03:12AM #1

Anyone familiar with this guy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq4EOJkH3Gc

Talking about how fcuked up capitalism as we know it is. How in the (near?-) future people will work only if they find the work meaningful and enriching. No more wage slaves or working just to survive.

Obviously this is universally appealing (well maybe not to the super-rich because it's disruptive) but I love this guy's ideas. He works with Elon Musk (another disruptive visionary) from what I gather.

The idea that you can just constantly create and pursue genuine aptitudes/interests without worrying about basics (lower Maslow needs- food, shelter, clothing, healthcare and education).

Not familiar with the details (need to read more) but it would strike me as a more natural and sustainable state for the world to be in.
Not least because the gross inequality that exists today is absurd.

Any thoughts on this guy or this whole concept.
I find it fascinating.
Cheers.

The Backwards Man · 04-01-2016 03:16AM

There's a reason you don't see sharks riding inflatable bananas or earthworms lounging around on deckchairs reading chick-lit

Flint Fredstone · 04-01-2016 03:19AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

There's a reason you don't see sharks riding inflatable bananas or earthworms lounging around on deckchairs reading chick-lit

Sharks lack the ability to grip onto an inflatable banana and earthworms can't read?

The Backwards Man · 04-01-2016 03:22AM

Flint Fredstone wrote: »

Sharks lack the ability to grip onto an inflatable banana and earthworms can't read?

They lose their raison d'être.

cerastes · 04-01-2016 03:37AM

take everything wrote: »

Anyone familiar with this guy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq4EOJkH3Gc

Talking about how fcuked up capitalism as we know it is. How in the (near?-) future people will work only if they find the work meaningful and enriching. No more wage slaves or working just to survive.

Obviously this is universally appealing (well maybe not to the super-rich because it's disruptive) but I love this guy's ideas. He works with Elon Musk (another disruptive visionary) from what I gather.

The idea that you can just constantly create and pursue genuine aptitudes/interests without worrying about basics (lower Maslow needs- food, shelter, clothing, healthcare and education).

Not familiar with the details (need to read more) but it would strike me as a more natural and sustainable state for the world to be in.
Not least because the gross inequality that exists today is absurd.

Any thoughts on this guy or this whole concept.
I find it fascinating.
Cheers.

As great and all as it sounds, what happens the maslow needs when the capitalists hold all the cards? access to shelter and other resources?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 04-01-2016 03:39AM

cerastes wrote: »

As great and all as it sounds, what happens the maslow needs when the capitalists hold all the cards? access to shelter and other resources?

Revolution, probably.

The problem is convincing people that there is actually a better way possible and to stop them from just thinking this is the best most secure thing we have and voting for conservative political parties because they're told to be scared of the alternative.

colossus-x · 04-01-2016 04:42AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

There's a reason you don't see sharks riding inflatable bananas or earthworms lounging around on deckchairs reading chick-lit

I do. Then again I 'smoke'.

kneemos · 04-01-2016 06:58AM

You can do all that now,if you can survive on €180.

Iwasfrozen · 04-01-2016 08:39AM

take everything wrote: »

Anyone familiar with this guy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq4EOJkH3Gc

Talking about how fcuked up capitalism as we know it is. How in the (near?-) future people will work only if they find the work meaningful and enriching. No more wage slaves or working just to survive.

Obviously this is universally appealing (well maybe not to the super-rich because it's disruptive) but I love this guy's ideas. He works with Elon Musk (another disruptive visionary) from what I gather.

The idea that you can just constantly create and pursue genuine aptitudes/interests without worrying about basics (lower Maslow needs- food, shelter, clothing, healthcare and education).

Not familiar with the details (need to read more) but it would strike me as a more natural and sustainable state for the world to be in.
Not least because the gross inequality that exists today is absurd.

Any thoughts on this guy or this whole concept.
I find it fascinating.
Cheers.

I doubt the world has the resources for that. Over population, especially in Africa, is a problem.

Subcomandante Marcos · 04-01-2016 08:51AM

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

I doubt the world has the resources for that. Over population, especially in Africa, is a problem.

Overpopulation in Africa is a myth. South and South East Asia is far more densely populated.

Balmed Out · 04-01-2016 09:03AM

There's going to be a lot of dirty toilets.

Junkyard Tom · 04-01-2016 09:05AM

Subcomandante Marcos wrote: »

Overpopulation in Africa is a myth. South and South East Asia is far more densely populated.

It's not just a myth its also dangerous propaganda. Saying 'them Africans is breedin' too much and there ain't enough to go around' is a profoundly ignorant/indoctrinated view to hold.

Of course if you believe this propaganda you're completely ignoring that a much smaller political landmass that we call China has a multiple of the population of any African country and has a greater population than that of the entire African continent with nowhere near Africa's rich abundance of resources.

Subcomandante Marcos · 04-01-2016 09:08AM

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

It's not just a myth its also dangerous propaganda. Saying 'them Africans is breedin' too much and there ain't enough to go around' is a profoundly ignorant/indoctrinated view to hold.

Of course if you believe this propaganda you're completely ignoring that a much smaller political landmass that we call China has a multiple of the population of the African continent with nowhere near Africa's rich abundance of resources.

You're also ignoring the fact that the Chinese government and semi-state quangos are buying up vast tracts of fertile agri land in Southern and Eastern Africa and importing their own labourers to work on said land, forcing the locals into smaller and smaller pockets of workable land.

kneemos · 04-01-2016 09:41AM

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

It's not just a myth its also dangerous propaganda. Saying 'them Africans is breedin' too much and there ain't enough to go around' is a profoundly ignorant/indoctrinated view to hold.

Of course if you believe this propaganda you're completely ignoring that a much smaller political landmass that we call China has a multiple of the population of the African continent with nowhere near Africa's rich abundance of resources.

And pretty severe population control.

PowerToWait · 04-01-2016 10:23AM

Getting OT but jayzis Africa. Been pillaged, raped, battered, manipulated and shat on for ever.

Calibos · 04-01-2016 10:47AM

The Mercator map projection is also to blame which makes the northern hemisphere look bigger compared to Africa. The West Wing even did a bit on it. You can fit the USA, Europe, China, India and more into Africa. That's about 350+400+1300+1500=3.5 Billion people. The population of Africa is about 700 million. Africa is not the problem. Also Google Hans Roslings TED talks. Population is set to stabilise at 10 billion by 2050.

nokia69 · 04-01-2016 10:56AM

Calibos wrote: »

The Mercator map projection is also to blame which makes the northern hemisphere look bigger compared to Africa. The West Wing even did a bit on it. You can fit the USA, Europe, China, India and more into Africa. That's about 350+400+1300+1500=3.5 Billion people. The population of Africa is about 700 million. Africa is not the problem. Also Google Hans Roslings TED talks. Population is set to stabilise at 10 billion by 2050.

And yet plenty of fools in Europe want take in any African who can reach the Med

Also the population of Africa will continue to rise well after 2050

kneemos · 04-01-2016 11:07AM

nokia69 wrote: »

And yet plenty of fools in Europe want take in any African who can reach the Med

Also the population of Africa will continue to rise well after 2050

Africa suffers from corrupt governments,constant droughts and famine and can't support its population in many areas despite its resources.

nokia69 · 04-01-2016 11:16AM

kneemos wrote: »

Africa suffers from corrupt governments,constant droughts and famine and can't support its population in many areas despite its resources.

It does

but none of that is my problem

When European powers handed Africa to the Africans it was in a pretty good state, and most people were optimistic about many of the newly free countries, the decline in most African countries is their own fault

South Africa is the best developed country in Africa and we all know why that is

K-9 · 04-01-2016 11:19AM

Yep, China isn't that great a shining light when you look behind the data.

Sounds very good, but I'd need to look at how people would finance it. Like where do you get the money in the first place to be more picky?

AnonoBoy · 04-01-2016 11:22AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

They lose their raison d'être.

Sharks can't speak French dude.

Kev W · 04-01-2016 11:23AM

nokia69 wrote: »

South Africa is the best developed country in Africa and we all know why that is

I don't.

Why is it?

iguana · 04-01-2016 11:24AM

take everything wrote: »

The idea that you can just constantly create and pursue genuine aptitudes/interests without worrying about basics (lower Maslow needs- food, shelter, clothing, healthcare and education).

And who will provide those needs? There will always be work, not always pleasant or fulfilling, that needs to be done. Food needs to be produced, sewers need maintenance, children need to be cared for and educated, bed pans need to be emptied, etc. And while some people will find teaching, parenting, nursing, farming etc mostly very fullfilling. I'm not sure too many people get up in the morning and look forward to another fun day of repairing sewers or risking their lives to repair electrical line problems in horrendous weather conditions.

AnonoBoy · 04-01-2016 11:24AM

Kev W wrote: »

I don't.

Why is it?

Something to do with all the positive press Oscar Pistorius has brought to the place?

The Backwards Man · 04-01-2016 11:31AM

Botswana is the most developed country in sub Saharan (because that's what our prejudiced friend is getting at, let's not beat around the bush) Africa.

Junkyard Tom · 04-01-2016 11:32AM

nokia69 wrote: »

When European powers handed Africa to the Africans it was in a pretty good state, and most people were optimistic about many of the newly free countries, the decline in most African countries is their own fault

There you go lads, the problems of an entire continent of over 1 billion people and its history summed up in one little sentence.

It's their own fault.

Close the internet, turn off the Sun, and lets all go back to bed.

nokia69 · 04-01-2016 11:35AM

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

It's their own fault.

Yeah, at the end of the day its hard to argue with the plain and simple truth

Junkyard Tom · 04-01-2016 11:40AM

nokia69 wrote: »

Yeah, at the end of the day its hard to argue with the plain and simple truth

Remove the word 'truth' from that sentence and it makes a lot more sense.

Kev W · 04-01-2016 11:41AM

nokia69 wrote: »

Yeah, at the end of the day its hard to argue with the plain and simple truth

Why is South Africa the best developed country in Africa?

A Primal Nut · 04-01-2016 11:42AM

It's good to see someone being optimistic about the future when robots are doing all the work. All these scare videos on youtube about how robots are going to take everyone's job and thus the economy will collapse completely misses the point of why we work in the first place.

smash · 04-01-2016 11:43AM

Lets start by following the Swedish model of a 6-hour work day with an attitude that promotes working from home. Think of how much more productive you'd be without the hassle of a commute, and the benefit of a lye in.

Steve Jurvetson- end of working because "you have to".

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