I agree that capitalism stinks but, how is the only way out through dehumanizing others?
I'm just mindful of how living in a capitalist system influences my life and try to not let it alienate me, destroy my humanity and be happy without purchasing the next thing... Seems to work alright
They are saying that the only way to escape the grind of capitalism is to succeed at capitalism, which is only possible by exploiting other workers.
I suppose you could also escape by going to live in the wilderness somewhere, but most people aren’t equipped for that, nor do they want to be a complete hermit.
Plus you're absolutely fucked if you have a medical situation that can only be solved using modern medicine, or having people you trust nearby, which would constitute a community that states would seek to destroy.
Well in order to succeed you need to get money. The only way to get money is to let someone exploit you or to exploit someone else. Your boss wouldn't hire you if he paid you the amount of money that you produce for him. This kind relationship is inherently dehumanizing.
Yes to succeed you need money, what I mean is that you don't need to "succeed" in capitalist terms to be happy. THAT is the way out: don't let them dehumanize you, don't let them alienate you from loved ones, and be happy with a simple life. That is the "way out" that does not involve dehumanizing or exploiting others.
If you're chasing "succes" you're still playing their game.
The point I'm making is that you have to play the game. You can't feed your family without a job. You can't pay your bills without a job. You can't even buy the land you need to grow food without money.
Playing the game is unavoidable even if you want to. There is nowhere to run.
Sure you can minimize the stuff you buy, but you still have to buy stuff to live.
Do you need to lose your humanity and alienate yourself from your family in order to feed your family?
I mean, I know how capitalism dehumanizes us and I totally agree with the overal sentiment. But the concluding "the only way out is to dehumanize others" is a bit strange as it is saying the only way out of the game is to win it. Which is a bit contradictory isn't it? When you win the game, you're enforcing it so it is not a way out.
Actual ways out would be revolution, gradual change, or personal ways to stop to play the game or be less affected by it. None of them involve anyone losing their humanity.
No I agree. We have to try to hold onto our humanity and not let the system dehumanize us. Skip work sometimes. Volunteer. Host a party. I'm in support of revolution or gradual change.
I'm a doctor and I work in underserved areas in the US. My patient's margins are so slim they don't have the time, ability or knowledge to not let the system dehumanize them. And I think there's a very large chunk of Americans who don't have that choice.
In tribal societies parents only watch their children for less than 11 minutes at a time, on average, because the rest of the village is actively involved and there. Not at a job earning money.
This is just one way that capitalism has already destroyed part of our humanity, and there are countless other ways that we most likely aren’t even aware of, but still affect our daily lives.
It’s great that you’ve found a way to be happy, but it’s untrue that the system we live in doesn’t affect your humanity.
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It's all in your head, just take your pills. Look, here's another Superhero movie!
What is the other part doing?
I agree that capitalism stinks but, how is the only way out through dehumanizing others?
I'm just mindful of how living in a capitalist system influences my life and try to not let it alienate me, destroy my humanity and be happy without purchasing the next thing... Seems to work alright
They are saying that the only way to escape the grind of capitalism is to succeed at capitalism, which is only possible by exploiting other workers.
I suppose you could also escape by going to live in the wilderness somewhere, but most people aren’t equipped for that, nor do they want to be a complete hermit.
Plus you're absolutely fucked if you have a medical situation that can only be solved using modern medicine, or having people you trust nearby, which would constitute a community that states would seek to destroy.
Well in order to succeed you need to get money. The only way to get money is to let someone exploit you or to exploit someone else. Your boss wouldn't hire you if he paid you the amount of money that you produce for him. This kind relationship is inherently dehumanizing.
Yes to succeed you need money, what I mean is that you don't need to "succeed" in capitalist terms to be happy. THAT is the way out: don't let them dehumanize you, don't let them alienate you from loved ones, and be happy with a simple life. That is the "way out" that does not involve dehumanizing or exploiting others.
If you're chasing "succes" you're still playing their game.
The point I'm making is that you have to play the game. You can't feed your family without a job. You can't pay your bills without a job. You can't even buy the land you need to grow food without money.
Playing the game is unavoidable even if you want to. There is nowhere to run.
Sure you can minimize the stuff you buy, but you still have to buy stuff to live.
Do you need to lose your humanity and alienate yourself from your family in order to feed your family?
I mean, I know how capitalism dehumanizes us and I totally agree with the overal sentiment. But the concluding "the only way out is to dehumanize others" is a bit strange as it is saying the only way out of the game is to win it. Which is a bit contradictory isn't it? When you win the game, you're enforcing it so it is not a way out.
Actual ways out would be revolution, gradual change, or personal ways to stop to play the game or be less affected by it. None of them involve anyone losing their humanity.
No I agree. We have to try to hold onto our humanity and not let the system dehumanize us. Skip work sometimes. Volunteer. Host a party. I'm in support of revolution or gradual change.
I'm a doctor and I work in underserved areas in the US. My patient's margins are so slim they don't have the time, ability or knowledge to not let the system dehumanize them. And I think there's a very large chunk of Americans who don't have that choice.
In tribal societies parents only watch their children for less than 11 minutes at a time, on average, because the rest of the village is actively involved and there. Not at a job earning money.
This is just one way that capitalism has already destroyed part of our humanity, and there are countless other ways that we most likely aren’t even aware of, but still affect our daily lives.
It’s great that you’ve found a way to be happy, but it’s untrue that the system we live in doesn’t affect your humanity.