Canadian Idle

I got to listen to some podcasts today when I went to get groceries, and my highlight today comes from listening to a Very Bad Wizard episode on idleness (and whether pansexuality should be obligatory, but that's a different subject). They played on some themes that are both germane to our current situation and playing on my mind for a long time now. Ezra Klein has also done some podcasts on this topic. I remember listening to one in Korea that really resonated with me.

The topic is idleness, or a lack thereof in society these days. Or, should I say, these days until about a week ago. The podcast itself focused on a Bertrand Russell essay that is still available from Harper's magazine, but it's very similar to what was laid out in Ezra's podcast (he interviewed someone else on the same topic, too. I can't remember her name, but it's a recurring theme, to my enjoyment). The problem is that we work too much, and we don't necessarily remember why.

The history begins with a protestant work ethic being instilled in a working class while the upper classes flaunted their wealth and leisure. These days, however, no one escapes the workaholic idolatry. In academia, and throughout my life, I constantly hear myself complaining (read: bragging) about how busy I am, and everyone else does too. We aren't lying, we are busy, but once you become aware of it, you find it almost grating. Like, yes, Darryl, I get that you don't have much free time, that doesn't make you a better person. The same goes for me of course.

Anyway, they're interesting points and discussions, if the topic seems relevant to you. We're all going to have more time to reexamine our relationship with busy lives for a while, in any case.