To Work is Divine, To Slack Human

The article, "To Work is Human, To Slack Divine," by Hal Niedzviecki is in strong support of stupid jobs. That is, jobs that require little skill, time, or thought. The stupid job is the key to "avoid the brain-numbing idiocy of full-time employment." Younger generations should hope for stupid jobs for their future and believe that this will help them to find more satisfaction and enjoyment in life.

Satisfaction and enjoyment in life, what is this all about? I have worked many of these so called stupid jobs in my life from being a hostess at a restaurant, selling concessions at the zoo, being a ranger at a golf course, and being a camp counselor for youth. As the article says many of these stupid jobs were temporary, but I did not learn from them what the writer believes I should have. Hal move in the direction that not only in stupid jobs, but in all jobs, that it is not necessary to use your mind and that "while your body runs through the maze and finds the cheese, let your mind go where it will." Many of my so called, temporary, stupid jobs brought me much satisfaction and enjoyment while I used my mind. Those stupid jobs that didn9t allow me to use my mind were boring and non-challenging.

Is there such a thing as a stupid job or a real job? Because I have a college education and am teaching is my life not satisfying and enjoyable? The article asserts that by having a real job, I am "trading my freedom and creativity for material wealth and luxury." My real job allows me to be creative and free while at the same time using my knowledge. Having 30 different students show up each hour and teaching them to enjoy using their minds takes creativity and desire, and it brings satisfaction and enjoyment to my life.

I can9t bring myself to agree with the writer that the person with the real job will feel cheated at the end because he did not choose to have the stupid job. Again, I ask the question is there such a thing as a stupid job or a real job? Anyone can choose or not choose to use their mind, while at the same time being creative. It is the person who makes the best of his/her job and situation who finds satisfaction in life. There are many people who reach a point in life where they wake up and feel they have had a good life and can9t ask more. Hal, do you think this is because of the job they had?

Niedzviecki, Hal. "To Work is Human, To Slack Divine." UTNE READER June. 1988: 37-38.

-- Anonymous, December 02, 1998

Answers

The article, "The Promise of Nostalgia" by Jay Walljasper supports the idea that looking at the past can be as useful as looking at the future. He asserts that "the devotees of a past Golden Age deserve as much credibility as those whose Golden Age lies in the future".

The word "nostalgia" implies a visit to a rosy past that never really existed. It was first introduced to our language as a medical term to explain a condition that soldiers suffered from by being away from home too long. The treatment, for what some say now was a silly sentimental mood, was to go back home. A trip back home now seems almost impossible. In most cases the place where one grew up or went to school is no longer there or doesn9t look the same anymore. For myself a nostalgic trip is only a sentimental mood I find looking at old photographs. My elementary and junior high schools where I learned to read, write, and do arithmetic, where I made many life long friends, and where I met numerous warm smiles from teachers no longer exist. The church where I and many of my siblings had our baptism, first communion, confirmation, and weddings has been torn down and rebuilt. Is this trip I take back in time denying me my future? Is it preventing me from making progress in my future?

Many top leaders in communities dismiss the need for nostalgia. They feel it holds back the idea of "progress--the belief that the future represents an improvement over the past". They believe that people who get caught up in nostalgia refuse the challenges of todays society and instead often wonder what might have been. Am I refusing the challenges of today's society? I often use this trip of nostalgia to help deal with progress for the future. Every time I give advice I take a trip back. What happened and what I learned from the past will help in the future. Otherwise what good is a history teacher?

A classmate of mine said, "we need to meet the future, or the future will run us over" and I agree with him. I also know that this classmate would agree with me that no only is the future important, but so is the past. The past is who we are, and the future is who we are yet to be. Both are legitimate forms of sentimentality and belong together.

Walljasper, Jay. "The Promise of Nostalgia." UTNE READER Aug. 1998: 11.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 1999

In response to the "stupid jobs" article: I believe that we have an obligation to contribute to society in some positive way during our time on earth. As long as a job is beneficial and not illegal or detrimental, how can it be referred to as a "stupid job"? There is something to be learned from every job and what's wrong with concentrating on what you're doing and using your mind to focus on your work? We spend a minimum of eight hours a day at our jobs so why not have one that brings satisfaction and fulfillment? What does Mr. Niedzviecki's mind accomplish as it "wanders" for eight hours during his work day?

-- Anonymous, January 24, 1999

Hi Jen! I enjoyed reading your comments regarding the article "The Promise of Nostaglia" by Jay Walljasper. It sounds like a good article. I also agree that looking back into the past can teach us many valuable lessons. We sometimes get so caught up in where we are going, what we want to accomplish and what we have to do tomorrow that we forget where it is that we came from. Life is an incredible journey! We should take what we learned from the past and use it to make us better prepared for the future. All of our past life experiences have made us who we are today and who we will be in the days to come!

-- Anonymous, January 31, 1999

Jen - I liked what you did withe the nostalgia article -- it was excellent. As much as I like modern technology, I believe it is crucial to look back in order to move forward. Having a fondness for the past in no way diminishes my love of the future.

One mistake people do make when they reflect back, is that they gloss over the difficult times. This is what makes the past seem like a warmer, safe place -- even if that was not the case. I know I do that with my own life. Sometimes the cozy and dimmed partial memories are much more comfortable than the blatant, stark reality.

-- Anonymous, February 23, 1999

My response to your Dec. 2, 1998 response to the Utne article "To Work is Human, To Slack Divine."

Where do the authors of articles in this magazine come up with these topics? "Stupid Jobs" ?! I'm sure that label makes the holders of these jobs feel REAL good!? I think the majority of contributors to this magazine are high on something when they write these articles. I don't think Hal has children, especially for example, one who wants to be in hockey - it is an expensive activity to participate in - activity fees, summer camps, travel to different towns, equipment, etc. A person having a series of temportary, stupid jobs wouldn't be able to afford being a hockey parent. And how about the expenses of your child's senior year in H.S.? I can think of hundreds of such examples. I don't have to be a millionaire, but "comfortable" is nice( security, less financial stress, & the means to enjoy life)! I've held stupid jobs & have felt stagnated, unappreciated, frustrated, & "stuck." Hal, in my opinion, has his brain impaled in the hippie 60s & needs a huge dose of reality!

-- Anonymous, March 15, 1999