As someone who is currently still in education for their degree looking at the current (and likely future) economic and societal outlook, it seems like employment in fields that cause/perpetuate negative issues in the world (Big Tech/Military-Industrial Complex, industries contributing to climate change, predatory sales/financial firms) continue to maintain strong employment availability and salaries as time goes on.

However, fields that have a neutral or beneficial impact on society and the world (Medical care, Food service, public infrastructure, humanitarian aid work, environmental research), either don’t have enough available positions that people are able to transition into, have worsening working conditions due to poor management or limited resources, or just don’t pay a living wage to most who work there.

I’ve read about the broken window fallacy, and I understand how focusing on personal gain without considering the impacts on the wider picture doesn’t make for a better world. But can someone feel justified contributing to the “broken windows” of the world knowing that they weren’t presented functional alternative pathways, and try to contribute towards the solution in other ways?

  • aburrito@sh.itjust.works
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    17 days ago

    Why do you feel that the bitterness stems from your success or happiness? For me, I’m generally happy when I hear of successes of others. It sounds like you’re on your feet and in a much better position than before, and honestly every success deserves some praise or we get nowhere don’t we. But why do you feel others aren’t sharing in some joy in your development? Is it just some unpleasant individuals or is this like, everyone you meet

    • AskewLord@piefed.social
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      17 days ago

      because people hate people who are different than them. because it hurts their feelings. hence why they overwhelmingly tend to want to only socialized and live with people who are very very similar to themselves, and see people who are different as threats. and similarly, many people’s lives are consumed by petty jealousies and social comparisons and judgements of what others deserve and don’t deserve, including themselves.

      I’m glad you are like that. Some people are, a but a lot of folks, are not. They see the world though a very bitter lens of what they feel they are owed by other people, in a very one-sided way. And personally, I do not identify or understand that viewpoint on the world myself. I have never felt anyone owed me anything and I generally feel grateful for the things I was able to achieve, so I really can’t emotionally relate to folks who think I, or anyone else, owes them things.

      increasingly we seem to live in a world where nobody admits fault or takes personal responsibility, sadly. And it’s having dire consequences for our society, at least in the western world. people rarely go ‘what can i offer to others’ anymore. they go ‘what can others give to me, and why aren’t they giving it to me, and why isn’t it more’.

      it’s not everyone I meet at all, but it’s very much a cultural shift that has been happening the past 10 years, to the point where these attitudes and beliefs were rare, and now they are increasingly common.

      • aburrito@sh.itjust.works
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        17 days ago

        Is it true that 30 years ago people took more responsibility than today? Or were the times you recall of humility just as unique then as they are now

        And also in what ways? Is taking responsibility a single act or does it require constant effort? Is it a destination? Can someone take responsibility and still fail after? And if that happens do you remember the times it worked or do you only regard the time it failed?

        • AskewLord@piefed.social
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          17 days ago

          30 years ago the culture was different, and yes responsibility was far more prevalent and those who lacked it were looked down upon instead of praised.

          all you have to do is go back 30 years. watch political debates, read news articles, watch TV shows. You’ll be SHOCKED at how culturally different it was compared to today. it’s mind-blowing how ‘adult’ the content was.

          it’s both. it’s systematic. it’s a habit. you learn from your failures, you do not let them be definitive of yourself.