This Week In Sunday Letters

Content For Weekending 5th May 2024

First, a question for readers

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The work I first undertook as a youngster was manual and practical. I made tea and did the shop run for dozens of electricians. I swept and cleaned the canteen, washed the lads’ cups, put the Burco on the boil—woe betide you if you forgot to put the Burco on in time—walked the site to find the lads and take their lunchtime order, and various other associated tasks. The decent ones allowed me to keep the change. The nasty ones would take great pleasure in giving me a hard time for not having change enough. It was a good experience regardless, and although not many would enjoy a lower-order role such as that, I wouldn’t regard it as a Bullshit Job. Low paying and harsh at times, yes, but not bullshit in Graeber’s sense of the word.

When I reflect on my past work, I believe most of it had a practical value—I was making and fixing things that people needed and used in their everyday lives. The work I do today is not at all manual but is no less valuable (I hope). If someone walks out of a session with me and is a little better for it, then that’s a job well done. Although, if you were to ask me what work I do, what goes on in a session, I’m not sure I could say completely. Some people call it therapy, others call it coaching, or some other name, but all these names don’t seem to capture it. (I won’t get into that topic now; there’s an essay alone in that.) Regardless, I believe there is an opportunity for both parties to gain from the experience in this work. Therefore, my work has great meaning and purpose for me and the potential for that in the other too.

This week, Dmitri and I were discussing Bullshit Jobs and David Graeber’s work on the topic. He essentially held the view that the vast majority of jobs people do add no value to the world and, in many cases, have a negative effect on people and this planet. We almost don’t know why these jobs exist at all. Maybe it’s designed this way to keep people busy, so they don’t have to think. Check out this week’s discussion and Dmitri’s thoughts below.

Dmitri Belikov on Working A Bullshit Job

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This Week’s Podcast

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Elsewhere

1st May was International Labour Day, although, the date varied depending where you are. For my US friends, it was the 5th of May. Here are some links and other relevant content.

The World Socialist Website featured the International May Day 2024 Online Rally. You can watch the playback here.

Last week, Karl Marx turned the ripe old age of 206. He lives on in the minds of people who seek to make the world better for everyone, not just the few.

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