I Am European

After the unfortunate burning of Notre Dame Cathedral, these two thoughts have come to my mind.

1- The structure has survived really high temperatures. Medieval architects were really, really good. They took time to do their work. They were aimed with a purpose. Notre Dame did not collapse. Twin Towers did. Progress? 🤔

2- Even if we accept the accidental hypothesis, who were probably the workers doing the restoration? Cheap labour with zero concern or affection for the art and the symbolic meaning of the stones they were working with, people with no connection to Christianity at all, people for whom working at Notre Dame or at an office block would mean the same, just means of earning their chunk of bread.

Unrestrained capitalism, caring only about profit, lack of religiouness or a purpose in life beyond the material stuff have destroyed Notre Dame. Modernity has destroyed Notre Dame.

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novembermoon · 51-55

Agree with this so much. Modernity. What has it taken away from us that we are too busy to notice? Everything is but a chasing after the wind.

These days, there is a lot of talk about automation and building smart cities. We have driverless vehicles and cashierless checkouts at supermarkets. Are these necessary? If we have really progressed, why are there still people breaking their backs doing hard labour repairing roads and clearing sewage under the hot equatorial sun? Don't know if this is relevant but I cannot understand it really.

Purpose and conscience in our work. You have hit the nail on the head. When people are alienated from what they do and the product of their labour, there is little affection towards it. I see it here a lot especially so because of the hierarchical way work is structured in our Asian society. When you have crap leaders, even if you love your job, it can be hellish.

Sorry. After a long hard week, this has become a bit of a rant.

And yes, sometimes I say 'to hell with it'.

Cierzo · M

@novembermoon Many interesting questions here.

There are jobs that are physically hard, dangerous. I think of miners, for instance. Many have died, and still die. If robots did the work, less children would be orphan and less women widow

On the other hand, there are jobs when human interaction is a must, like ours. Sadly, what is happening is that we are becoming human robots, just following orders or doing bureocratic work, our work becomes more soulless every day, a mere transaction of time and energy for money.

novembermoon · 51-55

@Cierzo agree👍 . I am not against automation or technology. But there must be conscience in how we do things. And it starts with us looking at people as human beings, not as work machines.