How to tell the difference between being burnt out and just being lazy?
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Exactly. Lazy makes up excuses like “there’s no such thing as lazy.”
I don't think that's intended as an excuse--it's reasonable when approached from the same mindset that defines racism as a systemic problem. Accusations of "laziness" are used to further oppression and exploitation of the working class; discarding wholesale the concept of "laziness" as a rhetorical device is a convenient generalization that can refocus the conversation on extant material conditions and the societal pressures around work and productivity.
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I don't think that's intended as an excuse--it's reasonable when approached from the same mindset that defines racism as a systemic problem. Accusations of "laziness" are used to further oppression and exploitation of the working class; discarding wholesale the concept of "laziness" as a rhetorical device is a convenient generalization that can refocus the conversation on extant material conditions and the societal pressures around work and productivity.
I understand but I get annoyed with attempts to skirt all personal responsibility. But claims of laziness are absolutely used to exploit working class populations.
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I understand but I get annoyed with attempts to skirt all personal responsibility. But claims of laziness are absolutely used to exploit working class populations.
I feel--among the working class folks I have known--that actual attempts to skirt all personal responsibility have been far less frequent than accusations of laziness toward folks who are just burned out by life and work. I do believe that laziness is a prevailing occurrence among the wealthy, but I do not see accusations of it thrown their way often. When viewed in this light, fighting the concept/usage of "laziness" inherently protects the working class.
I think anyone from hexbear who says "laziness doesn't exist" still subscribes to "from each according to their ability, to each according to their need", and statements made should be viewed with that in mind.
Anyway, I bear no ill will, I just wanted to share where the "laziness isn't a thing" folks were speaking from. Carry on, comrade.
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I feel--among the working class folks I have known--that actual attempts to skirt all personal responsibility have been far less frequent than accusations of laziness toward folks who are just burned out by life and work. I do believe that laziness is a prevailing occurrence among the wealthy, but I do not see accusations of it thrown their way often. When viewed in this light, fighting the concept/usage of "laziness" inherently protects the working class.
I think anyone from hexbear who says "laziness doesn't exist" still subscribes to "from each according to their ability, to each according to their need", and statements made should be viewed with that in mind.
Anyway, I bear no ill will, I just wanted to share where the "laziness isn't a thing" folks were speaking from. Carry on, comrade.
Yeah I understand. I feel like stating “laziness doesnt exist” though doesn’t help any kind of Marxist movement at all.
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Yeah I understand. I feel like stating “laziness doesnt exist” though doesn’t help any kind of Marxist movement at all.
Idk that I can agree, but I can respect your viewpoint without agreeing with it. Personally, I'm a little too far to the "an" side of ancom to vibe with prevailing thoughts about the lumpenproletariat. Like, folks who want to just exist should be supported in that endeavour to any extent that it's feasible--and where not feasible, while not actively supported, they shouldn't be actively opposed or punished. "Lazy", with its strictly negative connotations, feels kinda punishing.
Though, again, I would support applying it to someone who seeks status and standing without applying effort; I just rarely if ever see it applied in that manner and would lean toward abolishing the term rather than engage in the effort to define it as such--which I suppose is lazy behavior by both definitions.
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Idk that I can agree, but I can respect your viewpoint without agreeing with it. Personally, I'm a little too far to the "an" side of ancom to vibe with prevailing thoughts about the lumpenproletariat. Like, folks who want to just exist should be supported in that endeavour to any extent that it's feasible--and where not feasible, while not actively supported, they shouldn't be actively opposed or punished. "Lazy", with its strictly negative connotations, feels kinda punishing.
Though, again, I would support applying it to someone who seeks status and standing without applying effort; I just rarely if ever see it applied in that manner and would lean toward abolishing the term rather than engage in the effort to define it as such--which I suppose is lazy behavior by both definitions.
Yeah our opinions don’t really differ much save for some subtle nuances.
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I had panic attacks just before start working, and my productivity was quite low. I hope you don't reach that kind of reaction before looking for help.
Yes. If you take it that far there can me permanent trauma.
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But what’s the root cause of your laziness?
I’m not being snarky - it’s a serious question. For myself, I’ve found that digging down to figure out where some of my behavioral traits are rooted is an extremely valuable and informative exercise.
Isn't lazyness just evolutionary trait? The need to conserve energy?
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I think "selfish" is a better word for it in all instances, because some people are just selfish. Like, if you can't be bothered to return your shopping cart or pick up your dog's shit, then that's selfish. It's not anywhere near the same category as being too burnt out to do the dishes after a double shift, or wanting to sleep in on a day off.
Calling all of it "lazy" creates some imaginary obligation to the universe that simply does not exist. You don't owe the universe clean dishes or your time in the morning. If you have roommates and you left dishes in the sink, you are being selfish. If your kids have an early baseball game, and you are too hungover to show up, then you're being selfish. You are always obliged to return your cart and pick up after your dog.
or pick up your dog’s shit, then that’s selfish
If you didn't notice that you have only one waste bag, and your dog had a need in more than one place, and you'll be late for something, and in addition to that generally have a bad sense of time and place (ASD definitely, BAD or ADHD probably), then it's not.
It’s not anywhere near the same category as being too burnt out to do the dishes after a double shift
Imagine that sometimes people wake up this tired. Someone left an electric light on outside and you can't force yourself to cover the window - bad sleep. Forgot to drink some water before falling asleep - bad sleep. Ate something salty in addition to that - horrible sleep.
If you have roommates and you left dishes in the sink, you are being selfish.
Suppose so.
If your kids have an early baseball game, and you are too hungover to show up, then you’re being selfish.
Hangover is a bad feeling.
Not returning a cart should be punished with crucifixion though.
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or pick up your dog’s shit, then that’s selfish
If you didn't notice that you have only one waste bag, and your dog had a need in more than one place, and you'll be late for something, and in addition to that generally have a bad sense of time and place (ASD definitely, BAD or ADHD probably), then it's not.
It’s not anywhere near the same category as being too burnt out to do the dishes after a double shift
Imagine that sometimes people wake up this tired. Someone left an electric light on outside and you can't force yourself to cover the window - bad sleep. Forgot to drink some water before falling asleep - bad sleep. Ate something salty in addition to that - horrible sleep.
If you have roommates and you left dishes in the sink, you are being selfish.
Suppose so.
If your kids have an early baseball game, and you are too hungover to show up, then you’re being selfish.
Hangover is a bad feeling.
Not returning a cart should be punished with crucifixion though.
You're approaching this from a point where it's already too late.
If you're not capable of taking proper care of your pet, don't get a pet in the first place. Picking up the shit your dog left in a public place is part of owning a dog.
If your kid has a baseball game the next day, don't go drinking today. That's the selfish part. Although I would argue if you do get drunk, you kind of just have to deal with it and go to your kids game regardless.
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I guess I'll piggyback on the other comment and say laziness doesn't exist at work. People definitely have off days or hate their job, but I'd say pretty much all the "laziness" I have experienced in my life at different jobs usually boils down to awful work conditions, managers or bosses that don't care about you, not getting paid enough for the actual work, or general distain for your corporate overlords if you work for a big company. Some may call me lazy, but I'm working exactly as hard as I feel like they deserve when I'm 30 years old and still living in a studio apartment one paycheck away from being homeless. And I'm not gonna work at 100% when 100% of my needs are not being met. And I make more than anyone else in my family so I'm technically the "successful child."
There is also people who just hang on their phone all day or gossip in the kitchen. I have seen that in the best and in the worst working conditions.
There is good reason, why the principle "same pay for same work" usually does not include surveillance of productivity. But it does feel infuriating to not make 3x as much despite having 3x the productivity of some people that have a similar or even higher salary thanks to seniority, when i am basically financing their lack of productivity.
I agree that the term "laziness" is often used by management to shift blame onto the workers and i don't know how a solution could look like that would address real laziness without infringing on workers rights.
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You're approaching this from a point where it's already too late.
If you're not capable of taking proper care of your pet, don't get a pet in the first place. Picking up the shit your dog left in a public place is part of owning a dog.
If your kid has a baseball game the next day, don't go drinking today. That's the selfish part. Although I would argue if you do get drunk, you kind of just have to deal with it and go to your kids game regardless.
If you’re not capable of taking proper care of your pet, don’t get a pet in the first place. Picking up the shit your dog left in a public place is part of owning a dog.
So you never ever think you took 3 waste bags when you took 1? Nothing ever falls out of your pocket? Forgetting something is "not being capable of taking proper care"?
Or maybe you are simply not capable of reading before answering. That's typical for people without ASD.
If your kid has a baseball game the next day, don’t go drinking today. That’s the selfish part. Although I would argue if you do get drunk, you kind of just have to deal with it and go to your kids game regardless.
I don't drink.
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There's no such thing as "lazy". It's always, always, always a word used to make someone feel guilty for hitting a personal limit or threshold.
Even if you want to work on those thresholds and improve them, you can achieve that without framing yourself as fundamentally selfish and uncaring.
One of the best replies I've seen on social media! Allow me to be a zoomer and say, absolute W!
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Is either diagnosis really helpful in figuring out a solution?
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Tricky one to weigh up there. It might not be that you're lazy, you may well just be burned out, not working effectively (i.e. overworking yourself), or it could even be imposter syndrome. On the other hand, yes you could just be lazy, or you might just really hate your job. Hell, there have been times where I've felt unmotivated because our leadership team were just arseholes - sometimes a lack of motivation goes beyond just your own choices.
There just isn't enough data in a short post.
Take some leave, go get checked out by a doctor, talk to a friend/partner, take a look at job ads to see if anything sounds better than where you are.
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Isn't lazyness just evolutionary trait? The need to conserve energy?
If lazyness is an evolutionary trait to conserve energy, why do we get bored (pushing us to spend energy) once we do so?
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If lazyness is an evolutionary trait to conserve energy, why do we get bored (pushing us to spend energy) once we do so?
I'm not an expert, just read it somewhere. But I'd guess it might be because our current lives are miles away from the ones we evolved for and may not get the stimuli we require.
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I'm not an expert, just read it somewhere. But I'd guess it might be because our current lives are miles away from the ones we evolved for and may not get the stimuli we require.
So then, which stimuli do you get and don't get that make you lazy and, for example, stop you from doing the dishes?
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Might be depression, at least it was for me
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Is either diagnosis really helpful in figuring out a solution?
One could be rehabilitation, the other discipline?
