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| The Working Class Does Not Have Time For Existential Crises |
| I have noticed that middle class friends of mine seem to spend a lot of time questioning their own existence, their place in the world, their function, etc etc, my working class friends do not seem to be concerned about any of that stuff, why do you think that is, or is it in fact even the case? |
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The so-called middle class people get much time to explore themselves in a negative manner. They get
lots of time and in this idle time they go through the numerous questions about their role in this
earth. But what I find most irritating that at the end of this session no body cares to submit any
productive thing. On the other hand the working class people hardly get any time to make this sort
of idle existential nonsense. Most of the time of a day, they get busy in earning the bread and
butter for their family. They exist in a very simple manner and thus working people do not feel any
such complexes in their minds while the middle class idle people keep themselves busy only in
pondering the dilemma of their inventive hopes and day dreams. What the others say to my points? |
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I agree. |
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I agree completely, anyone who doesn't agree.... Well it shows what kind of individual they are. |
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It is my belief that the new vast middle class, as David Mamet has termed it, have too much time on
their hands. They must have. They spend time trying to find themselves, they hum and haw about what
their role is in the world, they question their choice of job, they worry about ethics, they concern
themselves with whether actions that they performed were morally right, they are concerned with how
global issues relate to them and all manner of other existential issues.
As the child of working class parents, I do not see my folks examining any of these issues. They
never appear to navel-gaze, they don't spend time pondering the plight of their creative hopes and
dreams. Instead, their existence is just much more simple. That's not to say that they don't think
big thoughts, I'm sure they do, but they spend less time lost in a sort of existential malaise.
I'm thinking working class people, do not have the time for existential nonsense. They are too busy
earning a living and get through each day.
Part of the blame, I place on higher education. The goal of higher education appears to be to
question everything. And whilst we might say that it is good to question, perhaps it is also bad.
Perhaps, it picks away at the fabric of the things that we take for granted. Some would argue that
we shouldn't take these things for granted. However, some beliefs and perspectives, actually help
us to normalise the confusing and difficult world we find around us.
I've very rarely met a working class person who in their thirties or forties, suddenly gives up
their job to take up an artistic pursuit. Yet, I've met plenty of middle class people who have done
just that.
Does that mean that I presume that the working class have accepted their lot, no. I believe that
they just have a simpler way of looking at things. Perhaps due to their economic status, they are
always closer to the bottom end of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The more financial independent one
becomes, the further up the hierarchy one travels and therefore, other issues become important
because the survival aspect of the hierarchy has already been readily taken care of.
I don't think I know the answer, so I would be interested in hearing what other people have to say? |
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That is a fairly elitist view. At some level most people question their purpose their reason for
being where they are or why they are. It may not be when you would expect or as you would expect,
but such questions will be coming to most at some point in their lives. Not everyone, but there are
plenty of people in know who have lots of money that are insulated from such questions. They have
so much that they have never had to deal with things that would put those questions in their minds.
Nope, i think that it isn't a matter of which class you are in. |
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I'm not really for or against this statement really but i think
eventually everyone hits a brick wall. What exactly is "middle-age crisis"?i think people who don't
take time to soul search are the shallow ones. |
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It's funny.I agree with you "I'm For it!" guys on some points but honestly, I think it's up to the
individual. No one should force it any other way. It's very subjective to say that people tend to
view themselves in a negative manner. Plus it's natural to reflect.Life is interesting to ponder and
as you guys point out it's also worth living.
Productivity is important but people are equally if not more important too. I mean what's the point
of living just to work. What kind of conscious creature are you then? Why hinder the people from
development when the rewards appear to be far greater than a little confusion every now and then?
The world is difficult but we are all going through the challenge together and if we give each other
dreams, hope, assistance, knowledge and wisdom then we may change that one day.
If our technological society offers us more time then ideally we should take advantage of it and
spend it with family and friends or making the world a better place. I mean are you really serious?
Do you think it's such a bad thing for people to think about "about ethics" and "concern themselves
with whether actions that they performed were morally right, they are concerned with how global
issues relate to them".
Life can be simple and complex, if it's complex because they are spending time on their creative
hopes and dreams, then how fortunate for them. They are busy creating heaven for themselves and
hopefully in the process producing or providing heaven for others.
Yes, I don't agree and it shows not just who I am but also who we are. For the people who want to
take away the opinions and free time of others may God, karma and existence give to you much more of
what you ask and leave everyone else out of the equation, I'm confident it will be more of a
blessing to you. |
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 ammo  07 Mar 2008 05:39
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I think many people from the so called working class question many things.
It was from this class that trade unions grew and the recognition that they did have a a place in
the world. Many working class educational movements were founded as people fought for their rightful
place in society.
The working classes were foremost in calling for reforms in the past.
Perhaps the older ideas of the working class have changed and their children and grandchildren have
become part of the middle class and no longer have to fight for their rights.
The face and social make up of the working class has perhaps changed.
Many of the 'working' classes no longer work, due to traditional skills and trades going out of the
workplace. Unemployment is high in this social and economic group now.
I don't think we can blame higher education as such. The imbalance of the social groups going into
higher education needs to be addressed to ensure more , less privileged people have access to it.
It's true that being in a low socio-economic group does affect the way we perceive the world and our
place in it. Being at the lower end promotes a smaller world view.
They probably have their existential crises in different ways. |
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