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If we do not stop to help each other, what do we become?

212 points · 100 comments · signa11

  1. altcognito · · focus · HN ↗
    We had better have even more time to help each other as a result of LLMs, or what are we even doing here?

    I realize that everything seems to be about increasing the pace of life, but this is another "chance" for humanity to figure things out.

    1. vasco · · focus · HN ↗
      No increases in productivity ever led to less working hours, only organized action. We work more hours than miedeval serfs.
      1. Retric · · focus · HN ↗
        Serfs had fewer incentives to work more hours.

        Capitalism is optimized to produce products and services people want to buy which drives people wanting to work more hours. Which then drives up the costs of things that aren’t replicated endlessly like land and goods that are intentionally left scarce such as admission to elite institutions.

        You can work dramatically less and still live well, but the sirens call is very seductive. Food, clothes, transportation, housing, etc all offer real value at minimal cost and little pushing you in that direction.

        1. em-bee · · focus · HN ↗
          you could work less if business would allow it, but it doesn't. it is surprisingly hard to find jobs that let you work less than full time. so it's not a siren call, to work more, unless you are selfemployed in which case you do have a choice.
          1. Retric · · focus · HN ↗
            That’s wildly inaccurate.

            Millions of Americans working part time are struggling to find full time employment for insurance, but most such jobs are low pay. For livable hourly wages, substitute teachers positions are available in most school districts in the US for example.

            High hourly wage semi retired thus part time positions are offered at nearly 40% of all US companies. Even among extremely overworked professions like doctors you’re find many people working ~20 hour weeks.

            What isn’t available is part time work with the same potential for career advancement. But that’s the siren’s call of the hedonistic treadmill not some inherent requirement for employment.

            Further, even at full time employment a strict 40 hour week while taking your annual vacation would be a massive step up for a large fraction of Americans.

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