tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post2012741131274075289..comments2023-12-08T03:29:25.202-05:00Comments on Adult Literacy @ VCU: New Capitalism Meets RealitySusan Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203951366654414340noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post-15558708427328124782014-03-05T19:52:44.126-05:002014-03-05T19:52:44.126-05:00Jen, these are profound questions about the happin...Jen, these are profound questions about the happiness of workers past and present. Its probably fair to say that we cannot compare two era's to see which was happier. But we can certainly find continuities (like--its still work!) and shifts (like technology's hyper-effects on monitoring). For me what's interesting is trying to "read" the times we are in, and yes, the historical perspective helps. Wonderful, thought provoking post. Thank you... Bill Muthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12295192908023335854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post-2120768181282023142014-03-05T07:21:17.595-05:002014-03-05T07:21:17.595-05:00Thank you, Bob and Caitlin! I have read/watched a ...Thank you, Bob and Caitlin! I have read/watched a ton of data on what motivates us to work in today's society. I think the line is actually much different than the 80/20 line. I think once you make "enough", money it stops being a motivator for many people. Caitlin, once upon a time, I did love my job. So I am always chasing that dream. I do believe it's possible.But it may not be realistic. I think work can be work. But I'd like to find more meaning, more purpose, in my work. For now, I can find those things in other places in my life - in my volunteering and in these classes. In today's world we are always trying to find, create, and develop an "engaged" workforce. Daniel Pink has written several books on the topic of motivation - I think you will both enjoy this short talk he gave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJcJen Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13612113395745319284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post-83835820092414655812014-03-04T10:49:40.908-05:002014-03-04T10:49:40.908-05:00Jen, your point about all of us coming from differ...Jen, your point about all of us coming from different perspectives and having different ideas about what our ideal life looks like is truly valid. I knew I was reading too much "with" the text on this, and never considered the idea that the Discourse of fast capitalism probably makes a great number of people very happy. And to ask the valid question: Do we have to be happy at work? Can work just be work? Do we have to love it? What is the value if we do, or if we don't?<br /><br />Bob also makes a really great point about the lowest paid workers are affected by the Discourse without having any kind of input on it. I know from my experience that when you're just trying to survive and pay the bills, happiness at the workplace seems to not even truly factor into the equation: you're doing what you have to do to survive. So does job satisfaction matter to those folks? Would more money matter more?Caitlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10233961644330546764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post-5222302298797382952014-03-04T10:42:57.768-05:002014-03-04T10:42:57.768-05:00Jen,
One of the aspects about Blogging that I re...Jen,<br /> One of the aspects about Blogging that I really enjoy is the variety of perspectives that emerge from the same reading due to the variety of backgrounds of the readers. It makes me realize that Gee is correct when he stated that we read in a social text based our backgrounds, experiences, and education. <br /><br />My major "take away" from the reading focused on the statement below: <br /><br />"In the end we are arguing that the lean and mean hypercompetitive, perfection-driven nature of the new capitalism requires a core of relatively well paid knowledge leaders and workers supplemented by a bevy of people 'servicing' them for the least possible price so that their ideas can be translated into the highest quality, most competitive products possible."<br /><br />My concern is the polarization of earnings, with the top 20% earning super wages while the bottom 80% earning much less---perhaps not even earning a livable wage for the lowest 20%. If Gee's projection about the New Capitalism is realized, I wonder how much productivity or job satisfaction the bottom 80% will experience. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com