[ExI] The End of Meaningful Work

BillK pharos at gmail.com
Tue May 19 19:01:26 UTC 2015


On 19 May 2015 at 16:13, Tara Maya  wrote:
> I always laugh when I hear about anyone worrying that we will"run out" of
> new jobs. If you think that, study traditional Balinese culture. Even without
> robots, they lived on a tropical island with an ideal climate and food that
> literally falls into your lap.
>
> Nonetheless, the people are ALWAYS busy. Dancing. Performing Plays.
> Making costumes for dance and plays. Building giant flower pyramids.
> Parading giant flower pyramids around. Etc.
> Really, never underestimate the human creativity to come up with new occupations.

The Western idea of Bali as a primitive island paradise is to ignore
the nasty side of Bali.

Most of the dancing, parades, etc. are now done for payment as
entertainment for Western tourists.
Bali is a paedophile and adult sex tourism centre and the sex industry
is big business.
HIV/AIDS is at epidemic levels and STDs are common.
Illegal drugs are readily available despite the death penalty for trafficking.
Historically Bali was involved in wars and the slave trade.

But I agree that in general humans will always find something to do.
However, 'the devil makes work for idle hands' is a Western proverb.
Bali has a small population and has had centuries to develop their
society. The question is how the billions now living in cities will
react to the changes suddenly happening to them.

BillK



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