You Are Not Worthless - Unemployment.

[Misanthrope]

As of now, I am currently unemployed and unsure when or whether I will be employed again (let alone gainfully). Though I have a rather apathetic feeling since I know that I will be CTB'ing later this year (unless all the major reasons and problems for wanting to CTB are miraculously solved - which honesty, isn't going to happen).


I'd be interested in reading your thread when you do. You have some really interesting perspectives and ideas.

Well I will do my best to refute the usual nonsense used to denigrate social security recipients. Used to get it all the time at the charity I worked at. So I have heard every tired attempt at justification of why we are all scroungers and should go die in a ditch for being useless cost burdens. The spite these days is at the point someone intentionally came in and damaged all our washing machines that the homeless use. The repairmen said tools were used. What the fuck is wrong with people? Glad I had to quit really, was close to shattering people's spines in multiple places just so they could suffer chronic pain and gain some fucking humility and stop denigrating our clients.

Most of their reasoning does not stand up to logic. It would be laughable if it wasn't so serious. Serious because people can internalise the constant drip feed of poison and believe they truly are a waste of life and utterly worthless. Made worse when people in their own lives mirror this sentiment like it is truth. Add in the media machine and soulless bureaucracy on top and its a pressure that I have seen break people.

Sadly, scapegoating broader problems inherent in broken systems onto individuals is pretty standard behaviour so as not to deal with those problems. There is little point arguing with the judgemental to begin with. They apparently know better than I do how food banks work even though I worked alongside them for years. Much like they know a good kick up the backside will sort you and everyone else on this site out. A job in McDonalds is all you need to cure drowning to death in your own lung fluid, or savage depression that has you laying in your own piss. Sigh. If you can't win against the judgemental maybe you can win over yourself instead by refuting yet more of society's lies. That is what I hope to aim to get across eventually, just my own thinking is mired in fog. Might tap you for some greater understanding on American social security when I can be bothered.

Peace.

 

[oopswronglife]

Sadly, scapegoating broader problems inherent in broken systems onto individuals is pretty standard behaviour so as not to deal with those problems.

Story of my life and one of the three major reasons I am going along with pain and money. I get screwed constantly, blamed constantly, and the more it happens the more that's used against you. People just mostly all suck and are selfish, greedy, ego driven shits. Not all...I've met good souls...but it's not the norm.

 

[TAW122]

Well I will do my best to refute the usual nonsense used to denigrate social security recipients. Used to get it all the time at the charity I worked at. So I have heard every tired attempt at justification of why we are all scroungers and should go die in a ditch for being useless cost burdens. The spite these days is at the point someone intentionally came in and damaged all our washing machines that the homeless use. The repairmen said tools were used. What the fuck is wrong with people? Glad I had to quit really, was close to shattering people's spines in multiple places just so they could suffer chronic pain and gain some fucking humility and stop denigrating our clients.

Most of their reasoning does not stand up to logic. It would be laughable if it wasn't so serious. Serious because people can internalise the constant drip feed of poison and believe they truly are a waste of life and utterly worthless. Made worse when people in their own lives mirror this sentiment like it is truth. Add in the media machine and soulless bureaucracy on top and its a pressure that I have seen break people.

Sadly, scapegoating broader problems inherent in broken systems onto individuals is pretty standard behaviour so as not to deal with those problems. There is little point arguing with the judgemental to begin with. They apparently know better than I do how food banks work even though I worked alongside them for years. Much like they know a good kick up the backside will sort you and everyone else on this site out. A job in McDonalds is all you need to cure drowning to death in your own lung fluid, or savage depression that has you laying in your own piss. Sigh. If you can't win against the judgemental maybe you can win over yourself instead by refuting yet more of society's lies. That is what I hope to aim to get across eventually, just my own thinking is mired in fog. Might tap you for some greater understanding on American social security when I can be bothered.

Peace.

Thanks for the reply. I can't believe that there are some really awful people out there already kicking those who are down even further. I can understand your rage and wishing to "shatter their spines in multiple places" just for them to feel some pain and see humility and stop denigrating the clients. As far as winning for oneself, I consider myself winning by opting out of society by CTB'ing (I have many personal reasons too instead of just systemic and existential/environmental reasons). In regards to knowing all the ins and outs of social security, I don't know everything there is to it (all the rules and small rules and such), only the SSI part and that's partially because I applied for them almost 2 years ago before dropping my case since I found a job and no longer qualify for it.

 

[nightflight]

Well I will do my best to refute the usual nonsense used to denigrate social security recipients. Used to get it all the time at the charity I worked at. So I have heard every tired attempt at justification of why we are all scroungers and should go die in a ditch for being useless cost burdens. The spite these days is at the point someone intentionally came in and damaged all our washing machines that the homeless use. The repairmen said tools were used. What the fuck is wrong with people? Glad I had to quit really, was close to shattering people's spines in multiple places just so they could suffer chronic pain and gain some fucking humility and stop denigrating our clients.

Most of their reasoning does not stand up to logic. It would be laughable if it wasn't so serious. Serious because people can internalise the constant drip feed of poison and believe they truly are a waste of life and utterly worthless. Made worse when people in their own lives mirror this sentiment like it is truth. Add in the media machine and soulless bureaucracy on top and its a pressure that I have seen break people.

Sadly, scapegoating broader problems inherent in broken systems onto individuals is pretty standard behaviour so as not to deal with those problems. There is little point arguing with the judgemental to begin with. They apparently know better than I do how food banks work even though I worked alongside them for years. Much like they know a good kick up the backside will sort you and everyone else on this site out. A job in McDonalds is all you need to cure drowning to death in your own lung fluid, or savage depression that has you laying in your own piss. Sigh. If you can't win against the judgemental maybe you can win over yourself instead by refuting yet more of society's lies. That is what I hope to aim to get across eventually, just my own thinking is mired in fog. Might tap you for some greater understanding on American social security when I can be bothered.

Peace.

Oh boy I love this, and especially the bit about "savage depression that has you laying in your own piss". God, how sadly true.

 

[noaccount]

Thank you for this great reminder.
What is it to work, anyway, to sell your time laboring away, just to get back a small amount of the value you create?
IF SOME AMOUNT OF THIS LABOR IS NEEDED TO KEEP SOCIETY GOING, AND IT'S UNFAIR TO LIVE OFF OTHERS WITHOUT SHARING THE BURDEN, THEN ANY BUSINESS OWNER IS FAR WORSE IN THEIR USELESSNESS THAN ANY UNEMPLOYED PERSON!!
Even in a fairly small business, with less than a hundred workers, the boss will be stealing the profits of other people's labor that he did not create, and benefiting more from it than the rest of us

And if we are not going to use our common creative-power and wealth to provide subsistence to the elderly, sick, and disabled - then there is no point to even having a society at all!

And anyway - busywork is no virtue! Our labor is only good if it's creating things that are good for people! 'Unemployment' as a problem? 'Unemployment' should just mean this: "Oh, the work we needed to get done is done, now we get to sit back and enjoy the fruits of that work!"

But because we aren't using our labor-power under our own control, and instead our bosses are stealing the fruits of it and turning it all into commodities that we have to buy back at a stupid markup, we have to look for and make-up more work, pointless work, work that would be better not being done at all! There's no reason there should be people in Statue Of Liberty costumes waving signs advertising tax services, there's no reason women should have to be waitresses in awful restaurants, we'd be better off without weapons manufacturing and without countless factories churning out disposable plastic trinkets -- please friends remember not to have a work ethic, because there is nothing ethical about work, and no matter how much you offer up to it it will never be loyal back to you.

 

[Misanthrope]

Another month. So another bump.

 

[Misanthrope]

During this time of mass layoffs the above message is worth repeating. Be safe.

 

[TAW122]

Hey @Misanthrope, glad to see you active again. As far as your knowledge of employment is concerned, do you believe there will be a depression (economic) in the coming months or so? I live in the US and while I am not working currently, I'd just like to keep up with the current news.

 

[whywere]

This is one of the best threads ever! My wife and I are unemployed becasue of covid 19 AND EVERYONE around us now avoids us. Had a interview and was grilled why unemployed?? NEVER got passed that was was shown the door. I LOVE the person who wrote this, so timely! Thank you!

 

[WinterFaust]

Thank you for making this thread. I truly needed to see it since I've been unemployed for a while now and I have felt that I am literally without worth and that it's too expensive for me to be alive.

 

[Deleted member 18655]

When you meet someone new, the question we ask is "what do you do? Not that I meet people (being couped up at home with nothing to do but look for jobs.

I had a great interview last week. I'd be perfect for the job. They told me thay wanted a second interview this past Thursday. They were 10 minutes late and only my professional equivalent came on and said the HR Manager is backed up and they would reschedule. I haven't heard a thing.

Job hunting is one of the worst things a person (let alone someone with issues) - the rejction, sadness, frustration, pride, insecurity..

@Misanthrope, you're right: being unemployed does not affect our worth but society and the mdiea have programmed us to believe this.

 

[jrums]

 

[Emily123]

i was unsuccessful in many job interviews because that company were worthless to accept me as an employee . Unlike what our society demands , i am completely honest in job interviews and i show them they will be in trouble and waste my time and talents . This is why i am in the black list of many companies / recruiters . This world goes to stupidity direction . it's not necessarily bad if stupids reject you

 

[Jeff_The_Cursed]

The stigma that is attached to unemployed people, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, is just one of the reasons why I'm so glad to be getting the hell out of this world between now and the end of the year!

 

[Misanthrope]

Hey @Misanthrope, glad to see you active again. As far as your knowledge of employment is concerned, do you believe there will be a depression (economic) in the coming months or so? I live in the US and while I am not working currently, I'd just like to keep up with the current news.

More passing through can barely read microwave instructions these days.

Well, I am not a psychic so take what I say with a grain of salt. No, I don't think there will be a depression. But definitely, a pretty savage recession, economies have contracted globally. However social distancing has created an artificial pressure on spending and the moment it is lifted the rebound will be quite quick. As is already evidenced by other countries who starved the virus down and are aggressively tracking it where it starts resurging. A second wave does not have to be inevitable. Also got three vaccines in phase 3 trials. Medical responses are also innovating to reduce mortality rate. Mainstream media has done a piss poor job at representing the science and the positives coming off the back of it. Either creating the notion this is the end of the world or it is just a bit of flu and not that serious.

Smart opportunists will move in amidst the rubble of businesses that have folded and fill the vacuum. They will need employees. Unfortunately, some of us live in countries where a science and medical issue has been turned into the university of 'I know better' and armchair google degrees. Such places are in for more economic damage because they will be dragging out how long it will take before for semi normality can return. Pretty much witnessing that already. It is mad out there.

I would worry long term about automation aggressively moving into job areas that have thus far been spared from that. That's set to change, meaning more holes on the board will vanish entirely. You cannot shame people into jobs that don't exist.

 

[Linda]

More passing through can barely read microwave instructions these days.

Well, I am not a psychic so take what I say with a grain of salt. No, I don't think there will be a depression. But definitely, a pretty savage recession, economies have contracted globally. However social distancing has created an artificial pressure on spending and the moment it is lifted the rebound will be quite quick. As is already evidenced by other countries who starved the virus down and are aggressively tracking it where it starts resurging. A second wave does not have to be inevitable. Also got three vaccines in phase 3 trials. Medical responses are also innovating to reduce mortality rate. Mainstream media has done a piss poor job at representing the science and the positives coming off the back of it. Either creating the notion this is the end of the world or it is just a bit of flu and not that serious.

Smart opportunists will move in amidst the rubble of businesses that have folded and fill the vacuum. They will need employees. Unfortunately, some of us live in countries where a science and medical issue has been turned into the university of 'I know better' and armchair google degrees. Such places are in for more economic damage because they will be dragging out how long it will take before for semi normality can return. Pretty much witnessing that already. It is mad out there.

I would worry long term about automation aggressively moving into job areas that have thus far been spared from that. That's set to change, meaning more holes on the board will vanish entirely. You cannot shame people into jobs that don't exist.

I have a background in both science and economics, and I agree entirely with your post. Obviously nobody can predict the future with certainty, but the scenario you outline seems very plausible.

 

[Wisdom3_1-9]

I would worry long term about automation aggressively moving into job areas that have thus far been spared from that. That's set to change, meaning more holes on the board will vanish entirely. You cannot shame people into jobs that don't exist.

You talk about automation moving into new areas. I'm also wondering about how the workforce looks after COVID-19. Businesses have learned how to save money having personnel work from home. This can affect commercial real estate and jobs with face-to-face interactions that can be eliminated, which would have a ripple effect on other sectors. There's so much to consider here. I don't think we're prepared for what is likely to be "the new normal."

 

[noaccount]

I want to put my energy towards:

- De-commodifying housing - movements of families who are re-occupying vacant housing - pointing out the utter need-less-ness of having landlords - large-scale direct action to shut down evictions like is happening in New Orleans now - Google New Orleans Court House Blockade

- Pointing out the utter need-less-ness of working all the time - I like the speech AOC did about how unemployment should be a good thing, it should mean we as a society should have more time to enjoy the fruits of our labor, not have them stolen away by a small owning-class - OVERPRODUCTION is also what's destroying the climate.

- Non-Productivity-Based values, see the Inhabit Manifesto:
https://inhabit.global/

 

[Misanthrope]

Sigh it has already started, jobless former workers are just being lazy now apparently, enjoyed furlough too much and working from home in their pajamas. It's like saying in the 1930 every one spontaneously lost their work ethic. Well don't let yourself be vilified by these turn of events. Just going to reiterate no one is worthless for ending up unemployed.

 

[Jellyfish42]

I feel relieved after reading this, thank you.

I have some friends stuck working at the same grocery store they worked before during their summer breaks. They are desperately looking for jobs in their fields and you can see that some of them have lost hope and others are confused into thinking the answer is to go back and upgrade their studies. I don't have any education besides high school so It's really disheartening to think that even though they put in the effort to get an education they still stand no chance.

 

[Misanthrope]

Seems the unemployed are just lazy again and being entitled because they want a job that pays a living wage or close to the wage they had before. Fascinating, it is almost like there is no virus occurring causing businesses to fold and employees to be let go at an increasing rate.

 

[lymbo]

Another month. So another bump.

can you share your reasons for wantyng to ctb? great threat btw cheers mate

 

[Misanthrope]

can you share your reasons for wantyng to ctb? great threat btw cheers mate

My health is going into further decline to the point I feel like a ghost haunting my own life. Sickness has whittled away my ability to concentrate, or enjoy anything. Medically it is all heading in one grim non terminal direction that means more pain and hospital time ahead. More loss of dignity and autonomy. If it wasn't for dependents I would be gone already as I value quality of life not quantity of life. One comfort is knowing I have my way out, this site gave me that. So it has given my loved ones more time with me I guess, as it takes the pressure off. Not as desperate as I was. Grateful for that.

 

[XYZ]

Like a ghost... Yes, I am also a ghost.
My illness claimed my life a long time ago. Now I roam this world - lost, alone and tortured - untill all the long years of my life will be utterly spent, and oblivion will take me into her embrace.

I feel like a ghost haunting my own life

 

[Misanthrope]

Another month, another bump.

 

[Misanthrope]

Your employment status is no reflection of worth. Plenty of things people do of value cannot be measured by economic outcome alone.

 

[Jean Améry]

Excellent post. Should be mandatory reading as I imagine a lot of the suffering that leads to suicide is due to economic hardship with the number one reason for that being unemployment.

Even if you're working it's not that much better: sure you have enough money (hopefully) but in my experience so called 'gainful employment' eats away at your soul one lousy day at a time (the fact that so many people are longing for retirement says enough) and most jobs are a pointless waste of time and energy.

 

[Bauhaus]

I remember a docu where it's mentioned that in both the UK & US the main cause of death between males of 30-40 years old is suicide... And when they located the deaths, a pattern emerged: most deaths happened in little, remote towns where there's little chance of future perspectives.
Apparently the majority killed themselves either becos' they can't find a job or becos' their relationship broke up.
So basically they felt they failed society and had to 'punish' themselves. Pretty sad :(

 

[MindFog]

How those people who dont want to take a job? Or rather dont want to go through the rat race? Is there merit in calling them lazy? You won't exactly be called unlucky if you dont participate at all.

 

[kitch]

I'm halfway through processing my benefit application ... got the "documents" to copy ... then the skin crawling face to face ... it's been nine years since I last had dealings with the 'Department'.

I went out on an out rigger journey to find some reasons and I saw a few somethings , but nothing firm . That's what I was telling myself as I stepped outside for a moments fresh air . That's why I haven't 'worked' for years ... but it's fear and the old black dog.

The truth is that I couldn't handle "reality" , and now I have to.
Yuck.

Things'll be fine ... who knows ? I might get an OK case worker !