Here’s a complication too. Much that I’m obligated to do at work (ie, the large bureaucracy and reporting piece) is meaningless and unfulfilling -- AND that large set of meaningless unfulfilling obligations takes time and energy away from the part of my job that IS meaningful and DOES help humans.
So while it’s not 100% a bullshit job, the large Bullshit Component of my job, which probably exists mainly to (1) support truly Bullshit Jobs and (2) overzealously avoid legal action, uses up my limited time and making my work life miserable. Many formerly meaningful jobs have a bigger and bigger Bullshit Component it seems to me, which sucks the life out of them.
And then throw in these Bullshit trainings. How many times do I want to spend a half day away from my actual job, being told not to be a total dick to people, or not to click on suspicious links, or not to sexually harass others? That’s a burden too.
I guess what I’m saying, in my trademarked long-winded way, is that Purely Bullshit Jobs infect even the Not Bullshit Jobs with such a burdensome Bullshit Component that many jobs that used to be fulfilling, or should be fulfilling, aren’t.
Also YOU’RE WALKING DOGS! Love love love. I want to get back to being more involved in animal rescue. The other day I was dropping off some dog food at a local shelter and had this great convo with the volunteer there. Just... to my thinking anyway, the very best sort of people get involved in animal rescue. They are a balm to my soul. 🐶 🐩 🐕
Yes, the bullshitization of real work. Paraphrasing from the book here (Kindle won't let me copy/paste):
Graeber: I might add that [bullshitization] is certainly true of my own work as a professor. Teachers in higher education spend an increasing amount of time filling out paperwork. This can actually be document, since one of the pointless tasks we are asked to do is to fill out quarterly time allocation surveys...
This is an important point! I’m generally satisfied with my job’s actual job duties — the work I was hired to do – but if I wanted to, I could dedicate probably 10 hours of every week to bullshitization initiatives and be praised for it. I think my actual job is fairly meaningful, but I strategically participate in a limited amount of bullshit so that I will be seen participating in the bullshit. Then on my performance reviews, my coworkers will indicate that I am doing meaningful things re: equity and so on, because they saw me participating in the bullshit. This happens even when the underlying job has some real-world impact.
Here’s a complication too. Much that I’m obligated to do at work (ie, the large bureaucracy and reporting piece) is meaningless and unfulfilling -- AND that large set of meaningless unfulfilling obligations takes time and energy away from the part of my job that IS meaningful and DOES help humans.
So while it’s not 100% a bullshit job, the large Bullshit Component of my job, which probably exists mainly to (1) support truly Bullshit Jobs and (2) overzealously avoid legal action, uses up my limited time and making my work life miserable. Many formerly meaningful jobs have a bigger and bigger Bullshit Component it seems to me, which sucks the life out of them.
And then throw in these Bullshit trainings. How many times do I want to spend a half day away from my actual job, being told not to be a total dick to people, or not to click on suspicious links, or not to sexually harass others? That’s a burden too.
I guess what I’m saying, in my trademarked long-winded way, is that Purely Bullshit Jobs infect even the Not Bullshit Jobs with such a burdensome Bullshit Component that many jobs that used to be fulfilling, or should be fulfilling, aren’t.
Also YOU’RE WALKING DOGS! Love love love. I want to get back to being more involved in animal rescue. The other day I was dropping off some dog food at a local shelter and had this great convo with the volunteer there. Just... to my thinking anyway, the very best sort of people get involved in animal rescue. They are a balm to my soul. 🐶 🐩 🐕
Yes, the bullshitization of real work. Paraphrasing from the book here (Kindle won't let me copy/paste):
Graeber: I might add that [bullshitization] is certainly true of my own work as a professor. Teachers in higher education spend an increasing amount of time filling out paperwork. This can actually be document, since one of the pointless tasks we are asked to do is to fill out quarterly time allocation surveys...
So much bullshit!! Can confirm
This is an important point! I’m generally satisfied with my job’s actual job duties — the work I was hired to do – but if I wanted to, I could dedicate probably 10 hours of every week to bullshitization initiatives and be praised for it. I think my actual job is fairly meaningful, but I strategically participate in a limited amount of bullshit so that I will be seen participating in the bullshit. Then on my performance reviews, my coworkers will indicate that I am doing meaningful things re: equity and so on, because they saw me participating in the bullshit. This happens even when the underlying job has some real-world impact.
It’s hard to waste time on the bullshit when there is actual work
For a little while I was put in charge of Strategic Planning at a university, and it nearly sunk me.
What did that entail?
meeting with deans and department chairs to try to get a unified vision. MANY meetings!
Sorry to get technical. lol
I try to add some humor. I also liked "insufficient Zen"
I certainly appreciated it