In the past there has been some discussion between the Western view of work and the Eastern view of work. I was reading [quote]The Pale King[/quote] by David Wallace and there was some interesting thoughts about the working world.
Wallace writes, "The Truth is that the heroism of your childhood entertainments was not true valor. It was theater. The grand gesture, the moment of choice, the mortal danger, the external foe, the climatic battle whose outcome resolves all-all designed to appear heroic, to excite and gratify an audience. An audience’. "Gentlemen, welcome to the world of reality-there is no audience. No one to applaud, to admire. No one to see you. Do you understand? Here is the truth-actual heroism receives no ovation, entertains no one. No one queues up to see it. No one is interested.
"True heroism is you, alone in a designed work space. True heroism is minutes, hours, weeks, year upon year of the quiet, precise, judicious exercise of probity and care-with no one there to see or cheer.
I wonder if the romanticism of living abroad makes it difficult for some to adjust to the mundane task of working life for the long haul?
Right now I can completely relate to this. I just completed translation of a 136 page Corporate Social Responsibility Report for my company. It’s the biggest project I’ve ever done with no assistance. Quite possibly no one will ever read it. (Actually there’s a certain Zen perfection in that accomplishment. )
Is bollocks. If that truly is what “heroism” means in Western culture now, then Western culture is doomed. It would also imply that everyone in Taiwan is a Hero.
Yes, people talk about ‘heroic efforts’ when cranking out 136 page reports, but only because that’s easier on the soul than saying “why the fuck did I just waste a huge chunk of my life writing some meaningless words on paper that will add nothing to the sum of human happiness”? If you had to face reality, the air would be full of falling bodies jumping out of office windows.
Yes, it is from a novel. It is about his life, but he takes some liberties. It is classified as fiction rather than an autobiography. The book is about him growing up and getting a job with the IRS. The main focus is about the changes from childhood to adulthood and taking responsibility.
Is bollocks. If that truly is what “heroism” means in Western culture now, then Western culture is doomed. It would also imply that everyone in Taiwan is a Hero.
Yes, people talk about ‘heroic efforts’ when cranking out 136 page reports, but only because that’s easier on the soul than saying “why the fuck did I just waste a huge chunk of my life writing some meaningless words on paper that will add nothing to the sum of human happiness”? If you had to face reality, the air would be full of falling bodies jumping out of office windows.[/quote]
right, this is me jumping out the window, right about now…
He’s dressing ‘duty’ up in heroic garb. Dutiful ain’t sexy, but it’s admirable all the same.
Hyperbole, though, is absolutely the worst form of artistic expression, ever.
What does everyone think of this? A lot of backlash from people who thought this guy should have did something more useful with his life.
Personal, I think that this guy should be commended for doing what he loves rather than wasting his time doing something meaningless that doesn’t really matter in life.
To me, getting endless degrees (as a lot of people do in Taiwan) is a complete waste of time. But as you say, at least the guy was doing something he enjoyed, and you can’t criticise him for that. “Get a job” is definitely not the right response.
Do you think that it is a waste of time if they are just doing it for personal enrichment?
I have no problem with someone such as a teacher continuously studying at night for 20-30 years. Most people do a lot things that are more useless after work. I think studying is better than watching TV or drinking.
I’ve never met anybody who is. The men are usually doing it to avoid military service, or maybe waiting for their balls to drop first. The women are doing it because their parents tell them to. I certainly wouldn’t criticize anyone who actually enjoyed academic work and got a big kick out of cerebral calisthenics, but “studying” - turning up at university and cranking out essays - seems about as unfulfilling as sitting in a blue cubicle every day.
I’ve never met anybody who is. The men are usually doing it to avoid military service, or maybe waiting for their balls to drop first. The women are doing it because their parents tell them to. I certainly wouldn’t criticize anyone who actually enjoyed academic work and got a big kick out of cerebral calisthenics, but “studying” - turning up at university and cranking out essays - seems about as unfulfilling as sitting in a blue cubicle every day.[/quote]
How about westerners doing it? The article was about an American. I doubt too many Europeans or Americans would study like that just to please their parents.
If he’s paying for it himself, good on him. I’d probably do something equally as useless if I was independently wealthy. If other people are picking up the tab, then yesh, Get a fucking job, you waster.
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