this post was submitted on 19 Jul 2023
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Your value is not determined by your productivity. (lemmy.ml)
submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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In a capitalist world, it can be hard to remember this. But despite what you are pressured to think, your value as a person does not come through what material value you create for others.

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[–] [email protected] 36 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I find the current tone of the comments in this thread rather upsetting. It feels like a lot of people are arguing to refute OPs position that a person's value is not determined from their material productivity. If this is you, I think you might be in the wrong community. I don't think this is a point of debate in the simple living community.

To say that a person's value is derived from their productivity is to say that you do not value the person, but what they produce. This can be interpreted as viewing a person as a Means to any End, rather than an End in themselves. For me, viewing people as Ends in themselves is a foundational pathos of Simple Living. The idea of valuing people, relationships, love, time, above wealth, material, prestige, speed is what simple living is all about!

Well wishes to you all 😊

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago

"Evil begins when you begin to treat people as things.” Terry Pratchett

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

Agreed, and it's a problem we need to nip in the bud before it becomes entrenched.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I would say the pushback is not about how it should be, but about how it works in reality. Paragons still struggle with bills or working/living conditions while grifters live comfortably. The disconnect makes the "you matter" stuff look like nothing more than a platitude. Maybe that take is cynical, but it's not without roots.

Particularly worse with all the systems in USA, I'd say it's much less likely to make individuals feel valued and thus less conducive to simple living. I say that as someone all-but-stranded (semi-rural) in a "this is fine" simple life (I've thought about living in an intentional community, but I don't ever see that working out for me).

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Thank you for your well put reply, and I agree, your position is not without roots. Though, I'd like to humbly suggest that your points may actually support the notion that runaway modern capitalism does not effectively determine a person's value. I would argue that the fact that a paragon can struggle economically and a grifter can swindle their way to high fortune shows that capitalism does not equitably reward good and punish evil. Therefore, a person should not allow their financial status (the value capitalism has assigned them) to be the measure of their personal value.

On the point of the system's undervaluing of people and their work (which is absolutely true) making it harder to lead a simple life, I'm not sure the two are connected. Being compensated well makes things much much easier, but that doesn't make things simpler. A person can live a very modest life that is simple, tranquil, and full of joy. Someone can also be extremely wealthy and ambitious with a fast paced life full of complexity, stress, and anguish.

I'm very sorry that youre feelings stuck. It's frustrating and it absolutely can feel patronizingly when you're struggling for better and someone tries to placate you with platitudes. But, the gift of simple living is that by appreciating the little things, removing stressful complexly, and slowing down, anyone in any situation can have more peace and happiness in their situation, even if it doesn't get better.

Warmest wishes my friend and be well.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I’d like to humbly suggest that your points may actually support the notion that runaway modern capitalism does not effectively determine a person’s value

Therefore, a person should not allow their financial status (the value capitalism has assigned them) to be the measure of their personal value

My point is that how your society treats someone is a reflection of how it values them, that is more important than self-esteem. You can say how people should be treated, but it doesn't mean much to say that if they aren't.

Pushing the cynical bit aside, for clarity I would say it'd be better to say potential value here, as yeah pretty much everybody would have more value if they weren't suffering most of their life.

Yet (maybe not so) oddly that doesn't matter to the same society with an economy and political system based on speculation.

undervaluing work (which is absolutely true) making it harder to lead a simple life
I’m not sure the two are connected

The systems in USA was an important bit of my comment. The healthcare system and car-centric design (zoning+spread out) complicates life (and work) on top of being a monetary drain. Add in low pay and expensive housing/food and it's even worse. And most people don't have great diet/health etc.

You can ignore those, but that gives you more of a simple existence than a simple life, particularly as you are giving things up/living within limits. Staying home due to poor travel and high cost limits socialization and enjoyment options.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I hear you, and I've really enjoyed our discourse. I think we're about 95% on the same page here, but you know how difficult trying to clearly communicate through text can be. I'm not sure I agree that how a society treats someone is more important than their internal sense of self worth, and that may be our sticking point that we can't reconcile, but I'm not saying your wrong. That point is completely defensible, but not how I see things.

For what it's worth, conversing with you has added value to my life and expanded my perspective. Though we've never met, and I'll most certainly never shake your hand or look you in the eye, I value you.

I wish you and anyone reading this to be well and have peace 😊

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I wish I could believe that, but everyone in my life blatantly shows that they only appreciate me when I can do things for them and just tolerate me between useful events.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sounds like you need some friends, friend. Those aren't them.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

You're right. I can count on one hand the people who I called friend for the sake of just being friends. Sadly, life eventually pulls us apart.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The people who decide whether I eat or starve disagree wholeheartedly with you.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Capitalism doesn't set your value as a human being.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I'm not sure the phrase "value as a human being" even has meaning.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

A lot of sociopaths propagate the lie that everyone in the world is as selfish and corrupt as they are. These people are the ones who are controlling capital. It's their incapability to be normal like everyone else that's responsible for their sociopathy and also their projection of values.

Don't be fooled, you're sane if you reject the capitalistic ideals. It's insane to make somebody else disproportionately wealthy with your hardwork and ideas.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

... it is valued by how hard it is to replace you.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

All individuals are irreplaceable.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (4 children)

A nice sentiment, but not very helpful for navigating reality.

Long story short: You are valued by others based on how much value you create for others. Stated this way, it's a totally obvious conclusion that is possibly easy to forget.

And like another commenter already said, this is true regardless of your preferred economic world view and politics. It's a simple life lesson.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You can't replace a close friend with some random person. Individuals have value in them regardless of their ability to do labour, and they are not replaceable as individuals.

It's really sad how much buy-in there is to the dehumanization of people here.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Another interesting thought. "Dehumanization of people" sounds like the title of a dissertation, it has so much depth you could talk about.

My first thought is, "can you even dehumanize someone" because I've never recognized this feeling as having "the features of humanity denied to me" by someone and properly identified it.

Looking back I have for sure been dehumanized at work so many times I can't get close to counting them. And I don't think that anyone could go home to their parents house and have their mom be a totally different person without being confused at least.

It is only recently that I would consider my co-workers as not interchangeable. Lower paid high turn over positions you just don't get attached to people, or at least I don't. People come and go so fast, but there are some that I only worked with for a few weeks that I remember to this day. Never considered that value before.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

This perspective sounds like relationships are a transactional affair of reciprocy. I am very sorry if this has been your experience with people ☹️

[–] MossBear 5 points 1 year ago

I know how much I'm valued as someone with a chronic illness which is to say, virtually not at all. In different times, even somewhat recent times, there are those who would simply prefer that I and others in similar circumstance be killed for our lack of utility.

There are other life lessons one can learn which are by far more valuable here.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Speak for yourself. Normalization of the lie that everyone is selfish and self centered is what's ruining everything for everybody. A few sociopaths up the economic ladder have every incentive to make people believe this. Otherwise, the rat race is over.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It's not even really that. Paris Hilton? As replaceable as the next individual human. Almost totally without any production or material value, yet loaded with worth. There are dozens of people like her. Or on a smaller scale, many mid-upper level managers are completely interchangeable and produce little to nothing, but are valued far more than someone working in a packing plant.

Worth and value have no correlation in our society. People who have money have it because they have money, not because they work harder or do more important things. Some people do have money and also work hard or do important things, sure, but it isn't correlated.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It's probably best to flip this on its head. Rather than thinking "others must value me regardless of my productivity"--something you have no control over--instead think "I must show others that I value them not based on any benefit to me". I.e. be the change you seek.

[–] Squidquid 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Agreed. Id take a step further even though. What one does for WORK to provide for themselves doesn't give them value either. For example, a doctor, paramedic or nurse can save a life in the course of their work which adds value to others and may provide purpose to the healthcare worker - but ultimately it's a dangerous trap to begin believing that this is inherently their value as humans. We all have a value by just existing, experiencing and interacting together. Our society has made it so that one of the questions we ask first is "what do you do for work?" Because we so often wrap up our profession in our identity and value

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