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Occupation: Bum

GiantRoboGiantRobo Registered User regular
edited July 2008 in Debate and/or Discourse
So, as of late I've been hanging around my town and walking around because I have jack shit to do. A few weeks ago, I met this guy, has a well groomed facial hair, and looks like your average book-smart hippie dude and is very friendly to anyone. He has a car, a place to stay for now, but no job and never really seemed concerned about getting another one, nor does he ever get concerned about what people think about him.

Today he sees me with a group of my friends and comes over, starts chattin' it up with us all, and when he explained this to them one of them asked if he decided to pretty much become a bum. His response was that he hadn't become a bum, but that what he wants to do is to try to open up people's eyes about everyday stuff that most people don't realize or understand. When I asked him what about the winter, he said he'd go to California.

Now, this made me wonder what if everything just worked, no government, no wealth classes, no shit to worry about at all, but still had all of the technology we had today or could possibly have had. What would you do? That leaves you with your entire life to do as you desire. Obviously a lot of people would say 'travel the world', but what about when you finish that?

If life were like that I don't know what I'd do, I think I'd want to try everything, or as much of it as I could.


tldr - If you didn't have to worry about everyday bullshit and everything just worked, what would you do(and after travelling)?

GiantRobo on
«13

Posts

  • deadonthestreetdeadonthestreet Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    GiantRobo wrote: »
    no government, no wealth classes
    No government leads to greater class division.

    Also, this dude probably has rich parents that give him money for car taxes/gas/food.

    deadonthestreet on
  • KageraKagera Imitating the worst people. Since 2004Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    I would masturbate furiously all day while eating nachos from a feedbag and watching lesbian oil wrestling.

    Kagera on
    My neck, my back, my FUPA and my crack.
  • Fleck0Fleck0 Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    what he wants to do is to try to open up people's eyes about everyday stuff that most people don't realize or understand.

    shorthand for bum.

    I was in a similar situation about a year-and-a-half-ago, and found that my interests consisted of drinking with friends sometimes, but mostly doing drugs, playing games and browsing these forums. Given the opportunity to do nothing, many people will do just that.

    Fleck0 on
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  • monikermoniker Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Pretty much what I'm doing now, only up the ladder several steps where I'm actually the designer not the guy doing the bitch work and having read more. But, more likely, watch as society collapses under the weight of everybody with a shitty job no longer performing their service.

    moniker on
  • GiantRoboGiantRobo Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    I'm talking about a completely hypothetical situation here. I don't mean if everybody just dropped jobs, classes, government and never existed in the first place. What if everything just worked, and you could whatever you wanted to, what would you do?

    GiantRobo on
  • deadonthestreetdeadonthestreet Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    In that case I'd walk across the country.

    deadonthestreet on
  • KageraKagera Imitating the worst people. Since 2004Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    GiantRobo wrote: »
    I'm talking about a completely hypothetical situation here. I don't mean if everybody just dropped jobs, classes, government and never existed in the first place. What if everything just worked, and you could whatever you wanted to, what would you do.

    You mean like what if everything was run by machines?

    People would probably get bored, because not everyone hates what they do.

    Kagera on
    My neck, my back, my FUPA and my crack.
  • monikermoniker Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    GiantRobo wrote: »
    I'm talking about a completely hypothetical situation here. I don't mean if everybody just dropped jobs, classes, government and never existed in the first place. What if everything just worked, and you could whatever you wanted to, what would you do?

    Well, I'd want to design shit. Which really doesn't work in a society where things 'just work' since everything's apparently already been taken care of to a large extent and the void which design is intended to fill would not exist. So I'd probably go semi-nuts and just say fuck it, then hit the library. Also, be all :winky:. If you know what I mean.
    I mean sex.

    moniker on
  • GiantRoboGiantRobo Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Kagera wrote: »
    GiantRobo wrote: »
    I'm talking about a completely hypothetical situation here. I don't mean if everybody just dropped jobs, classes, government and never existed in the first place. What if everything just worked, and you could whatever you wanted to, what would you do.

    You mean like what if everything was run by machines?

    People would probably get bored, because not everyone hates what they do.
    This isn't about everyone else, this is what you would do to fulfill your life to where you can say you'd die happy and have had a good life.
    moniker wrote: »
    Well, I'd want to design shit. Which really doesn't work in a society where things 'just work' since everything's apparently already been taken care of to a large extent and the void which design is intended to fill would not exist. So I'd probably go semi-nuts and just say fuck it, then hit the library. Also, be all :winky:. If you know what I mean.
    I mean sex.

    You could always design better machines I guess, but wouldn't you want to do anything else?

    GiantRobo on
  • SpeakerSpeaker Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    I'd be a history professor.

    Speaker on
  • Mai-KeroMai-Kero Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Build a motherfucking space-ship.

    And a bunch of nano-bots that I can control with my mind to form different objects and move stuff in a way similar to telekinesis.

    Alternatively, travel a lot and write. And maybe do science.

    Mai-Kero on
  • real_pochaccoreal_pochacco Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    I'd be doing what I'm doing right now -- going to college, getting an education so that eventually I can become a psychotherapist

    real_pochacco on
  • dlinfinitidlinfiniti Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    i'd get in my hover chair, watch tv all day and drink my meals

    dlinfiniti on
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  • monikermoniker Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    GiantRobo wrote: »
    moniker wrote: »
    Well, I'd want to design shit. Which really doesn't work in a society where things 'just work' since everything's apparently already been taken care of to a large extent and the void which design is intended to fill would not exist. So I'd probably go semi-nuts and just say fuck it, then hit the library. Also, be all :winky:. If you know what I mean.
    I mean sex.

    You could always design better machines I guess, but wouldn't you want to do anything else?

    Politics doesn't really work well without governments nor would political commentary, and while I love history I wouldn't really feel compelled to do anything with it beyond just read up. So...pretty much this would be a dystopia for me, except that I like to read and watch movies.

    moniker on
  • KageraKagera Imitating the worst people. Since 2004Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    GiantRobo wrote: »
    Kagera wrote: »
    GiantRobo wrote: »
    I'm talking about a completely hypothetical situation here. I don't mean if everybody just dropped jobs, classes, government and never existed in the first place. What if everything just worked, and you could whatever you wanted to, what would you do.

    You mean like what if everything was run by machines?

    People would probably get bored, because not everyone hates what they do.
    This isn't about everyone else, this is what you would do to fulfill your life to where you can say you'd die happy and have had a good life.

    I answered that already.

    Jacking off, feedbag, lesbian oil wrestling.

    Kagera on
    My neck, my back, my FUPA and my crack.
  • The Green Eyed MonsterThe Green Eyed Monster i blame hip hop Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    I thought this thread was going to be about how obnoxious and abhorrent privileged, self-made homeless people are. I'm disappointed.

    The Green Eyed Monster on
  • VariableVariable Mouth Congress Stroke Me Lady FameRegistered User regular
    edited July 2008
    I'd make art and teach, which really is what I plan to do anyway on some level.

    Variable on
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  • KageraKagera Imitating the worst people. Since 2004Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    celery77 wrote: »
    I thought this thread was going to be about how obnoxious and abhorrent privileged, self-made homeless people are. I'm disappointed.

    Every person that doesn't try to do anything with their lives is another person you don't have to compete with in the global economy.

    Kagera on
    My neck, my back, my FUPA and my crack.
  • The Green Eyed MonsterThe Green Eyed Monster i blame hip hop Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Kagera wrote: »
    celery77 wrote: »
    I thought this thread was going to be about how obnoxious and abhorrent privileged, self-made homeless people are. I'm disappointed.

    Every person that doesn't try to do anything with their lives is another person you don't have to compete with in the global economy.
    It's also an individual drain on our overall resources without providing anything in return.

    The Green Eyed Monster on
  • KageraKagera Imitating the worst people. Since 2004Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    celery77 wrote: »
    Kagera wrote: »
    celery77 wrote: »
    I thought this thread was going to be about how obnoxious and abhorrent privileged, self-made homeless people are. I'm disappointed.

    Every person that doesn't try to do anything with their lives is another person you don't have to compete with in the global economy.
    It's also an individual drain on our overall resources without providing anything in return.

    Not if they happen to eat trash or get killed in a crazy adventure to live in Alaska.

    Kagera on
    My neck, my back, my FUPA and my crack.
  • real_pochaccoreal_pochacco Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Yeah man you could live an almost carbon neutral life as a bum if you did not drive, only ate leftover food from dumpsters etc., and that sort of thing.

    Course it wouldn't be exactly considered a sustainable life, because you would be dependent on the urban landscape, but still.

    real_pochacco on
  • KageraKagera Imitating the worst people. Since 2004Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Yeah man you could live an almost carbon neutral life as a bum if you did not drive, only ate leftover food from dumpsters etc., and that sort of thing.

    Course it wouldn't be exactly considered a sustainable life, because you would be dependent on the urban landscape, but still.

    What if you lived as a mountain man?

    Like those guys in Deliverance.

    Kagera on
    My neck, my back, my FUPA and my crack.
  • Mai-KeroMai-Kero Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    celery77 wrote: »
    Kagera wrote: »
    celery77 wrote: »
    I thought this thread was going to be about how obnoxious and abhorrent privileged, self-made homeless people are. I'm disappointed.

    Every person that doesn't try to do anything with their lives is another person you don't have to compete with in the global economy.
    It's also an individual drain on our overall resources without providing anything in return.

    What if they wander across the country planting trees?

    Mai-Kero on
  • NumeroNumero Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    I'd start a pleasure cult, reminiscent of the Eldar before The Fall.

    Numero on
  • KageraKagera Imitating the worst people. Since 2004Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Mai-Kero wrote: »
    celery77 wrote: »
    Kagera wrote: »
    celery77 wrote: »
    I thought this thread was going to be about how obnoxious and abhorrent privileged, self-made homeless people are. I'm disappointed.

    Every person that doesn't try to do anything with their lives is another person you don't have to compete with in the global economy.
    It's also an individual drain on our overall resources without providing anything in return.

    What if they wander across the country planting trees?

    I wonder how many trees it would take to cover the cost of an unpaid trip to the ER.

    Kagera on
    My neck, my back, my FUPA and my crack.
  • WerdnaWerdna Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Kagera wrote: »
    Mai-Kero wrote: »
    celery77 wrote: »
    Kagera wrote: »
    celery77 wrote: »
    I thought this thread was going to be about how obnoxious and abhorrent privileged, self-made homeless people are. I'm disappointed.

    Every person that doesn't try to do anything with their lives is another person you don't have to compete with in the global economy.
    It's also an individual drain on our overall resources without providing anything in return.

    What if they wander across the country planting trees?

    I wonder how many trees it would take to cover the cost of an unpaid trip to the ER.

    Condolences. The bums lost. My advice is to do what your parents did; get a job, sir. The bums will always lose. Do you hear me, Lebowski?

    Werdna on
  • TarranonTarranon Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    I imagine if we ever achieved a post scarcity society, many, many people would take to the arts.

    Tarranon on
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  • Crimson KingCrimson King Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Tarranon wrote: »
    I imagine if we ever achieved a post scarcity society, many, many people would take to the arts.

    I imagine that like everyone else here I'd be traveling the world with friends and writing a novel.. The real question is 'what about all the people who don't have anything to devote their life to?" I imagine that if no-one had to work there'd be an epidemic of ennui among people who didn't take to the arts, or science, or sport, or whatever. This also raises the question; if no-one has to work, how many lesbians are going to be filmed oil-wrestling for free? Can you say 'worldwide pornography drought?'

    Crimson King on
  • monikermoniker Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Tarranon wrote: »
    I imagine if we ever achieved a post scarcity society, many, many people would take to the arts.

    I imagine that like everyone else here I'd be traveling the world with friends and writing a novel.. The real question is 'what about all the people who don't have anything to devote their life to?" I imagine that if no-one had to work there'd be an epidemic of ennui among people who didn't take to the arts, or science, or sport, or whatever. This also raises the question; if no-one has to work, how many lesbians are going to be filmed oil-wrestling for free? Can you say 'worldwide pornography drought?'

    Like I said, dystopia.

    moniker on
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  • real_pochaccoreal_pochacco Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    jesus christ are you kidding me? there would not be a porn drought, no way. ever been to an amateur video site, the ones that are like youtubes for porn? those things would explode! even more than they already have!

    real_pochacco on
  • SlainbylichSlainbylich Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    GiantRobo wrote: »
    tldr - If you didn't have to worry about everyday bullshit and everything just worked, what would you do(and after travelling)?

    It would be a glorious week of boredom. Then I'd kill myself. I'd imagine it would go something like this;

    "You don't need to strain yourself to survive anymore."

    So, eh, I have nothing to distract myself from myself?

    "No."


    Cue Logout


    Without struggle there is no reason for us to advance ourselves.

    Slainbylich on
  • Zilla360Zilla360 21st Century. |She/Her| Trans* Woman In Aviators Firing A Bazooka. ⚛️Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Even with total freedom struggle and pain, there is still meaning in life, for me anyway. For those who aren't aware of this path of reasoning... I would pity them.

    Also what do you imply by 'distract myself from myself?'. Are you bored by your own thoughts?

    Zilla360 on
  • SlainbylichSlainbylich Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Years of schooling have conditioned me to not do things I don't get graded on or rewarded for.

    And my own thoughts, well, they try to kill me.

    I'm not good at making things up for myself to do, so I'd spend my life doing nothing, miserable the entire time.
    there is still meaning in life, for me anyway.

    Good.

    Slainbylich on
  • Gnome-InterruptusGnome-Interruptus Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Iain M. Banks addresses this with respect to The Culture who are by all accounts a post-scarcity society, and one thing he thinks would be very important is providing people with the opportunity to engage in meaningful labor, while also ensuring that it's not so important that if they decide to stop doing it the effects can be managed.

    I'm essentially in agreement that a lot of people would probably devote themselves to the arts, but I think the practical result of post-scarcity would be our civilization going into a kind of rampant expansionism simply because people need something to do.

    Some people would probably just be content to do occupying nothings, I imagine other people (like myself) would be engaged in efforts to make all those elaborate over the top megascience and construction ideas we have in threads from time to time reality. For example, moonbases and undersea cities.

    Which ironically, would essentially be people using post-scarcity to go find situations where it existed, the difference of course being the ability to choose whether you are subject to it or not.

    To bring some Geek to this... Gene Rodenbury's STARTREK universe...

    People dont join Starfleet for money or salary... they join it to expand their mental horizons as well as scientific horizons.

    Others join Vulcan think tanks / focus groups and persue philosophy etc.

    Myself? If money wasnt a concern, I would go back to University, maybe persue a doctorate in some scientific or engineering field.

    Gnome-Interruptus on
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  • QliphothQliphoth Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Pursue a doctorate in history. Learn to play every musical instrument in the world. Read every good book on every subject, then write my own. Learn to meditate.

    Qliphoth on
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  • GammarahGammarah Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Números wrote: »
    I'd start a pleasure cult, reminiscent of the Eldar before The Fall.

    So you would willing recreate what led to the birth of a dark sadistic god?

    Gammarah on
  • trevelliantrevellian Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Probably become a "Gentleman scholar" i.e. amateur scientist/engineer.

    Like we used to have in the good old days (read industrial revolution era) before it became required that the Government gave you permission to experiment on stuff (else you get carted off as potential terrorist whacko).

    trevellian on
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  • SkutSkutSkutSkut Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    I knew a homeless guy that lived in some woods close to a walmart, he wasn't a druggie or anything his family just didn't want anything to do with him. Never asked for money just something to eat or drink from time to time. Then the winter came and they let him freeze to death. >.>

    SkutSkut on
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