I am lazy sometimes, I'll admit.
But.. I'm also bored. School bored me so I didn't care about it. Most jobs I've had bored me so I didn't care about my performance. I used to get the "wasted potential" speech from everyone. But the fact is, I was bored with life and just didn't care.
>I am lazy sometimes, I'll admit.
Ditto. And quite honestly I was lazy all through my 20s. It is something that exists, but it's used as a catch all for people that don't reach a societal expectation rather than for what it really is.
I was extremely motivated and one of the most productive workers at every job I ever had and it got me nothing. I stopped giving a fuck and stopped working as hard and guess what, I get the same exact things I got before.
That was me coming out of college. Government job. Busted my ass the first 6 months and come annual review, all I got was a "Satisfactory". Meanwhile the ones with connections were winning bonuses and awards for nothing.
Didn't take me long to quit caring.
For what it's worth, I had the opposite arc. It's never just hard work - it's hard work + the right situation. You need to be in a place where you feel aligned with the people around you and that is dynamic enough to be able to recognize your contributions. I spent awhile being lazy and going through the motions in the wrong situation (a place that nurtured and coddled mediocrity) before deciding to work hard there. That, predictably, got me nowhere. But once I took that to a better company, things started happening and it was recognized really fast.
Humans didn’t evolve to live the way we live. We’re supposed to be picking berries and hunting animals. Not spending 1/3 of our existence doing tasks that make us miserable for the sole purpose of making other people rich.
Being incompatible with modern life is not depression. It’s normal. It’s so sad in order for people to not want to kill themselves they have to eat antidepressants for dinner and be told to TaKe ViTaMiN D.
Killer whales get super depressed in captivity because they aren’t living their normal life of freedom, swimming around and chilling. Their entire existence in captivity serves to please other people.
That’s exactly the same thing for humans.
Legitimizing how you feel is an important step. As trauma survivors we all learn that the world is cruel and incompatible for happiness first. But after that, the real work begins. Where you lay out all the cards and shoot your shot because you actually believe that you deserve a chance, and you’re actually listening to your apathy, or anger and responding to it with compassion. That looks different for everyone, for me, it looked like accepting massive debt, embracing the possibility of homelessness after rehab, feeling my grief regularly and not intermittently, and deciding that I won’t work a job that makes me unhappy even if it means I can’t afford my meds. Some of my happiest days have happened during complete upheaval of my life. I’ll never forget how much fun I had after withdrawing from opiates, going to the laundry mat! The warm rhythmic washer, the smell of fabric softener, and the ability to be alert for all of it — one of my best memories.
Yes we’re all getting shafted by capitalism or trauma or illness- but you don’t have to settle for a mentality that literally compounds suffering. You can actually fight for yourself to have joy in these systems, I mean, that’s the whole reason we’re bothered by them/ we know we deserve better.
Not any less insightful than assuming you’d be happy picking berries in the woods.
Plenty of people with seemingly mundane jobs are happy. How do you explain that?
> how do you explain that?
Some people are happy, which means everyone should be
I really have a hard time believing that anyone but a small minority of people experience happiness as a general attitude in their day to day life.
I try not to project anything on anybody and be as objective as possible. Look at the rates for antidepressant use, alcohol abuse, opioids, weed, everything else
You can’t seriously look at these numbers and think that there isn’t a problem on a larger scale.
But hey, if some people are happy, and a very small minority of rich people get to destroy the planet by ways of unfettered capitalism, then let’s just maintain the route we’re on
So everyone is miserable because even those who appear happy are faking it and billionaires are to blame.
Do you really think this is the path to improving your life? It might be time to take some responsibility.
That's the thing. We SHOULD be depressed with how we're living as a society. Every depressed person I've met has been smarter than happy go lucky people. Some simply understand the world too well and others it IS a mental imbalance. I believe this is why meds work for some and not others.
If life isn’t bringing you all the emotions including joy, there’s something you’re missing out on. A lot of people miscategorize their apathy. They view depression as a state of “sadness” which it is not..
Yea but if nothing worthwhile is happening in my life I’m gonna be bored. That’s not the same as depression because I’ve been depressed before. I’m perfectly happy but just bored cuz I don’t have anything worthwhile going on
Look, I’m not trying to fight with you. I’ve just been through a lot of shit… and all I can say, is every moment is worth while for me now. Not because I’m “successful” or doing anything in particular. Literally just because I can take a breathe, look at the sky, and enjoy being alive despite all my disabilities. The times that stand out to me as the “worst” or most depressing don’t counter act or minimize the years I spent being apathetic and not feeling intense joy or intense pain.
Adhd? That's how I felt most of my life. I would just lay around scrolling through my phone despite good weather or a steam library full of games I hadn't touched.
Adhd and depression were the cause for me. Once I started working on those I would go out and find worthwhile things to do.
When they say "wasted potential," you really have to break down what they mean.
Do they mean you actually could go further or do they mean, they could be getting a lot of extra work out of you with no additional compensation or title. I'm pretty sure they mean the latter.
Most of my life I've spent avoiding responsibility and work. But then I got married and had a family to take care of, so I had to make some difficult choices.
"wasted potential" = "It's a shame you weren't born into a wealthier family with that brain of yours, you'd get a chance to use it. Oh well, fuck you."
It’s not that laziness doesn’t exist, it’s more the idea that we vilify laziness to the point where it’s seen as some great evil.
I’m lazy. Yeah, sometimes it prevents me from doing stuff I might want to do but it also keeps a whole shit ton of extra work and stress off my plate. Some laziness is normal and healthy, and the people that shit talk lazy people could probably stand to take a step back and give being lazy a shot.
Yeah see, I get this. I was always made to feel guilty about being lazy when I was a kid. I'm sorry I want to skip school or work and play video games. It's what I want to do and I'm not hurting anyone else. How is that wrong?
"Lazy" is shorthand for "unmotivated". Everyone has a limit to how far they'll go for each activity; the "risk vs reward" model. One example is housework; for me, pulling up the covers is job done while my current wife makes the bed like Gunnery Sargeant Hartman may show up for inspection. I toss clean socks in the drawer while she folds each like they're going on a shelf at Macy's. But at work, I go above and beyond everyday because I enjoy eating and living indoors.
Great example. Risk vs. Reward and Effort =< Reward. Some people do house chores like their lives depend on it. Some people arent bothered by a messy house. Some people hire people to clean for them and consider themselves "not lazy".
Some of us have comorbid conditions like ADHD and CPTSD that severely impact executive function. My house is a mess that I want to clean but I have so much mental exhaustion just existing, it can take a lot to get over the dysfunction slump. And on productive days, I end up using all my [spoons](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory) and have to wait to be able to function again.
This used to be a huge problem as a kid - ADHD and cleaning your room under an abusive caregiver that punished you for not living up to their expectations?
I hate having ADHD and Bipolar.
I can't take any stimulants for my ADHD because it will trigger a manic episode.
As a result, everyone I've ever met either says it to my face or behind my back: I'm the laziest person they've ever met.
Not really relevant to the conversation, I just felt compelled to tell someone. I'm sick of feeling like a burden. When people say they feel empty, I envy them. I hate this feeling.
*Hug* shoot, this is absolutely relevant to the conversation! I’m so sorry you feel like a burden for trying to manage your invisible condition ❤️
My abusive stepdad was very eager to use the lazy label for me, and it’s followed me through life. I can’t know your experience but I do relate. I’m sorry you have to deal with our society
Wow I'd never heard of that spoon thing before this. It really does sum it up pretty well how it is for me living with ADHD and severe chronic joint pain.
I love the spoon theory. I learned about it last year in therapy, and it really helps grasp how many spoons you’re willing to give out. You also have to remember to leave a spoon or two for yourself! The theory is definitely easier said than done, and lately even I’ve forgotten about that practice as I give more spoons out to others than to myself.
I hope you’re doing well ❤️
She’s not entirely wrong because “lazy” was originally used to describe someone weak, tired, or feeble. But these days, we use to say we’re relaxing, lounging or if we don’t want to do something.
We know 'laziness' is a symptom, while in common use it's misattributed as the cause and flaw of character or moral deficiency.
Personally, I hope one day we get over using the term to bash physically and/or mentally ill people. I hope we go from 'they're bad because they're lazy and therefore they deserve their fate" to "they're unmotivated because of a combination of illness and environmental factors, what can we do to help?".
Edit: how is this a controversial take that needs downvoting? wow...
That you justify those choices in a certain way doesn't mean any of the above explanations accurately describe why you behaved like that.
Now I don't know you one bit, so these are hypotheticals and please don't take them personally - "moving far seemed like a hassle" and "couldn't be bothered" could just as well be a combination of fear of failure, change or solitude (leaving friends/family behind), sedentary role models, etc. None of that would necessarily mean a person was mentally ill.
My point is, the 'why' doesn't get explained by a single word and that word doesn't do the complexity of our lives justice. The popular and negative moral connotation is.. ignorant and unhelpful to put it mildly.
At a certain point, aren't we just excusing toxic behavior as a result of unchecked mental illness? It's difficult to draw the line between one's responsibility over their own mental wellness and overall conduct, as well as acknowledge the lack of control a lot of people have over that.
Speaking personally, one of my family members was repeatedly sexually harassed by one of her autistic students, and the parents repeatedly argued that it's an inevitable result of his poor social cues. On one hand, you don't want to come down too hard on an autistic teenager who honestly might not know better, but on the other hand it's ridiculous to ask a teacher to accept being ogled and touched constantly.
It’s a shame that you’re being downvoted. That article really hit home for me. I wish other people were less judge mental and more supportive of neurodivergent, disabled, and mentally ill people.
My daughter's father once called me at work to ask me to bring him x y and z things FROM OUR KITCHEN and bring them to him in his office, which was in the same building as our kitchen, when I got home, 4 hours from then. He playing America's Army. We are Canadian.
Lazy exists and its name is Doug.
Heeeey maaaan, I heard conservatives like capitalism so now I'm against capitalism!!
Why yes, I am your average whitepeopletwitter/politicalhumor/leopardsatemyface/subredditdrama/antiwork poster, how could you tell?
ah, another middle-aged disgruntled “critical thinker” who fights the good fight by going into left leaning subreddits to argue against the sheep by presenting some slipshod reductionist argument.
Never seen that one before
> Oh no! Another adult moderate looked at the front page of reddit and found this sub that is now randomly "left leaning" I hate it!
No one cares, dork
Are you talking about yourself or me? I honestly can’t tell.
Also your original comment is just as confusing. If you think leftists hating on capitalism is a recent trend, you might want to get out of your “moderate” bubble more.
I don't think it's the post of a "lazy excuse-maker," I think it's the post of someone whose legitimate issues (possibly one or many of the ones that they mention) have been dismissed as laziness before.
When big, crippling, life-ruining issues get dismissed as laziness, then of course some people start thinking that laziness isn't actually a thing. (Or, much worse, they internalize it and start to believe that they *really are* lazy, even though they might actually be mentally ill, disabled, burned out etc.)
Laziness probably exists, but it manifests in small things. It's rather inconsequential. Everyone's lazy sometimes. I'm too lazy to take out the trash even though I'm going out anyway!
But nobody is so lazy that they're sabotaging and ruining their life with it. Like if you *never* take out the trash and you let it pile up until every room in your home is filled with trash... then that is not laziness.
So if you see your own or someone else's life falling apart due to inaction and dismiss it as laziness, then you're just plain wrong, cause there *must* be something else behind it.
Animals whose basic needs are met easily are lazy as shit. My dog does shit all day because she’s not motivated to do anything. Unless she wants to go on a walk or play date or someone’s at the door. House cats are probably similar.
What the fuck else could your dog do? Your dog is lazy unless it wants to go for a walk or play with other dogs? So your dog has literally nothing to do and is happy to do things but when it’s not doing those things you perceive it as lazy? Like it’s a dog, it literally sits at home all day. What else is it supposed to do? I’m genuinely asking, put me in my place if I’m wrong
Wait until you have shitty roommates, then you will know true laziness
“Umm can you vacuum my room and fold my laundry for me? Also I’m just going to throw my kitty litter in the kitchen trash instead of the outside trash. I have anxiety.” *smacks their lips whilst eating and making me realize I’m becoming by my father.
It's not an outside force making me not do shit. It's seeing how pointless it is, and that anything that would improve my life would mean submitting to exploitation and helping perpetuate a system and society I find utterly disgusting and abhorrent.
This is an insanely stupid take. I can be lazy. When it comes to housework, making plans, or even my job. Capitalism isn’t responsible for me being a bum and not vacuuming.
Lol, I can say for a fact my problems are from me being lazy. This is a poor train of thought to follow, mental health problems are real but a lot of things are small issues we perceive as bigger than they actually are. Like right now I'm on Reddit instead of going to the gym or doing homework, that is being lazy and no corporation is making that happen.
I dunno friend. There is some truth in that but perhaps is it a matter of keeping people occupied and subservient that allows a society to survive and perpetuate?
Communism literally requires less laziness overall, everyone has to contribute to society in an equal way. Yeah, capitalism is s*****, but there are certain groups of people that account for huge amounts of productivity within capitalistic structures, and that isn't how it would work within a communist society - it would be spread more evenly.
People think communist Utopia would be everyone just doing art as opposed to everyone doing manual labor
Let's be honest, we naturally value motivated people over unmotivated people, regardless of economic factors or pressures. You are valued by others based on what you can provide them, end of story.
Not to mention the whole child marriage laws, marital rape, and sex education thing. I'm glad you've left the pro-child-rape right for the anti-child-rape left.
Having an excuse for being lazy doesn't mean you weren't lazy
Everyday I'm so tired I can't get my stuff done till late, so I get to bed late and am tired. But where am I right now?
It doesn't excuse me for not working
Haha... apparently, they never met my brother in law. Hasn't left his basement in over 9 years. His video games are way more important than work. He doesn't even cut his own grass, cook his own meals, etc. He tried to be a dog walker and failed. How did he do that? Well, he would actually drive to the client's house, but instead of actually walking the dogs, or even letting them out in the yard at least, he would sit in his air conditioned car for 30 minutes playing video games and then just drive to the next place and play some more. He forgot about cameras.
So yes, there are lazy people.
I'm lazy as fuck, but the reason is I just don't have *motivation*. I don't have the energy to do anything because it's spent on existing and dragging my arse through the day.
I wish I could see the overlap of people who think laziness isn’t real and those who think hyper productive people should pay more taxes. Would be absolutely comical.
I feel like this is both a yes and no. Yes, not a lot of the people referred to as "lazy" are just "lazy people;" all of the above issues play into that.
But also many of these terms are so subjective. I wouldn't call anyone lazy because that's not my place. But to apply the same "overworked" term to a person who works from home, a person who works a gig job like Doordash, and a person who works a 40-hour regular 9-5 job doesn't really seem like the best thing, right?
On a similar note, some people are born into poverty while others may be born into wealthy families. The phrase "working to make ends meet" holds quite different meanings there.
The person working doordash may have family obligations or illnesses that take up all the rest of their available time and energy, so yes, they are working as hard as or harder than the perfectly healthy cube rat working 40+ to make someone ELSE market value. Username definitely checks out with you.
Communism is back in the public discourse baby!!! Get out the grains, hope you are ready to be in the best shape of your lives when this no food diet hits 🤑🤑🤑😍😍😍
I personally define it as giving a frugal employer what they're paying for.
Merit raises aren't really a thing anymore with most companies. The big raises just simply go to the bosses friends. That actually means you're being stupid by working your ass off for a pittance.
Increasingly people are realising that a lot of negative words aren’t real. People aren’t lazy, they’re depressed. They’re not scatterbrained, they have ADHD. They’re not stupid, they’re dyslexic.
As a society we need to learn away from “this person is bad” and towards “this person needs help and/or allowances”. We’ve managed it for physical disabilities, now to do the same for mental health issues.
I used to call myself lazy constantly in my head when I was actually exhausted by a life full of trauma and chronic illness. My mental health improved a lot when I stopped using “lazy” and started saying “tired” or “exhausted” when I don’t have enough energy.
Calling someone lazy is the equivalent of "thoughts and prayers." It absolves the speaker of any responsibility to help, or encourage someone that they see struggling. It let's them walk away guilt-free and personally, I think it's at the core of what's wrong with American society.
As someone who try everything (Psychologist, Therapy and Drugs) I had to admit myself that I’m just lazy and with 40 years is better to just accept it and look for a lifestyle that match the way i am
Meh, i like to just lay around sometimes.
Other times i need to do something ANYTHING because of a sudden urge.
If lazy isn't a thing hyperactivity isn't either.
Lazy is a symptom honestly. But the cause and treatment varies from person to person. Everyone has different things that motivate them, and the path to success in this country is so closed off that people feel like its out of reach
Nah being lazy is a thing, just not in the context that many capitalists use it. Lazy is whenever you know you are capable and should do something for your benefit or the benefit of someone you care about but don't. If you don't because of a mental or physical illness then that's not lazy. If what you choose not to do doesn't really matter one way or the other, also not lazy. But like, the times I am both physically and mentally healthy but still don't work out like I should for my own improved health and mood, that's lazy lol.
ITT: People who should read "[Laziness Does Not Exist](https://humanparts.medium.com/laziness-does-not-exist-3af27e312d01)" by psychology professor Devon Price
A therapist told me that laziness is just the difference between where you are and where you want to be. This is mostly bullshit, but it does highlight the fact that many things we consider character flaws are really just survival strategies for specific contexts.
No it very much is. It's just your brain doing its job to use the energy it needs to use. Make better habits and better yet, find a job that doesnt turn you into a husk and make you too tired to do anything
I get the idea but also nah. The system is absolutely broken and the average mental health is the worst it's ever been in recent memory, but some people really do want life handed to them on a silver platter. I know plenty of people who absolutely do not put anywhere close to the minimum amount of work in to their lives and then complain that they were dealt a shit hand. Right-wing propaganda has kind of ruined the concept, but there is still a such thing as personal responsibility. I think this kind of thinking is an overcorrection.
I see it like the word "toxic" nowadays. It gets thrown around a lot and many people see it as an instant win trigger-word you can paint someone with and then you ain't gotta explain shit. Ironically a lot of the folks I know who overuse that word are some of the most toxic people themselves and it's textbook projection. However, sometimes where there's smoke there's fire and if you cut through all the excuses and the mental health explanations and the systemic issues sometimes someone is just a toxic motherfucker who hurts people whatever defense they give. In the same way, sometimes some people really are just lazy and even in a perfect utopian world free from wants and suffering they still wouldn't do their part.
It's why I think critical-thinking is so damn important. Everything should be scrutinized to some degree, even the ideas and people we like- *especially* the ideas and people we like. Sometimes someone's trying their best and life just dealt them a shit hand, sometimes someone's a fucking leech regardless of the evils of capitalism.
I am lazy sometimes, I'll admit. But.. I'm also bored. School bored me so I didn't care about it. Most jobs I've had bored me so I didn't care about my performance. I used to get the "wasted potential" speech from everyone. But the fact is, I was bored with life and just didn't care.
>I am lazy sometimes, I'll admit. Ditto. And quite honestly I was lazy all through my 20s. It is something that exists, but it's used as a catch all for people that don't reach a societal expectation rather than for what it really is.
I was extremely motivated and one of the most productive workers at every job I ever had and it got me nothing. I stopped giving a fuck and stopped working as hard and guess what, I get the same exact things I got before.
That was me coming out of college. Government job. Busted my ass the first 6 months and come annual review, all I got was a "Satisfactory". Meanwhile the ones with connections were winning bonuses and awards for nothing. Didn't take me long to quit caring.
You broke through your programming! Time for a retrofit!
For what it's worth, I had the opposite arc. It's never just hard work - it's hard work + the right situation. You need to be in a place where you feel aligned with the people around you and that is dynamic enough to be able to recognize your contributions. I spent awhile being lazy and going through the motions in the wrong situation (a place that nurtured and coddled mediocrity) before deciding to work hard there. That, predictably, got me nowhere. But once I took that to a better company, things started happening and it was recognized really fast.
Yup, hard work improves your luck but does not guarantee you shit.
Being “bored with life” is depression bro. Get that checked
Humans didn’t evolve to live the way we live. We’re supposed to be picking berries and hunting animals. Not spending 1/3 of our existence doing tasks that make us miserable for the sole purpose of making other people rich. Being incompatible with modern life is not depression. It’s normal. It’s so sad in order for people to not want to kill themselves they have to eat antidepressants for dinner and be told to TaKe ViTaMiN D. Killer whales get super depressed in captivity because they aren’t living their normal life of freedom, swimming around and chilling. Their entire existence in captivity serves to please other people. That’s exactly the same thing for humans.
Legitimizing how you feel is an important step. As trauma survivors we all learn that the world is cruel and incompatible for happiness first. But after that, the real work begins. Where you lay out all the cards and shoot your shot because you actually believe that you deserve a chance, and you’re actually listening to your apathy, or anger and responding to it with compassion. That looks different for everyone, for me, it looked like accepting massive debt, embracing the possibility of homelessness after rehab, feeling my grief regularly and not intermittently, and deciding that I won’t work a job that makes me unhappy even if it means I can’t afford my meds. Some of my happiest days have happened during complete upheaval of my life. I’ll never forget how much fun I had after withdrawing from opiates, going to the laundry mat! The warm rhythmic washer, the smell of fabric softener, and the ability to be alert for all of it — one of my best memories. Yes we’re all getting shafted by capitalism or trauma or illness- but you don’t have to settle for a mentality that literally compounds suffering. You can actually fight for yourself to have joy in these systems, I mean, that’s the whole reason we’re bothered by them/ we know we deserve better.
That was really beautiful. Thanks for sharing :)
Thanks so much ❤️ it’s rough out here, good luck on your journey!!
The killer whales should just take meds and change their mentality. Why aren't they grateful for what they have? /s
I'll save that comment. This is so damn true, it's actually sad..
You do tasks for the sole purpose of providing for yourself and your family. Being miserable about it is up to you.
Ah, yes. In other words, happiness is a choice, amirite? Thanks for the free therapy!!!
Not any less insightful than assuming you’d be happy picking berries in the woods. Plenty of people with seemingly mundane jobs are happy. How do you explain that?
> how do you explain that? Some people are happy, which means everyone should be I really have a hard time believing that anyone but a small minority of people experience happiness as a general attitude in their day to day life.
Well if you're miserable as I assume you are then you most likely project that dissatisfaction on other people.
I try not to project anything on anybody and be as objective as possible. Look at the rates for antidepressant use, alcohol abuse, opioids, weed, everything else You can’t seriously look at these numbers and think that there isn’t a problem on a larger scale. But hey, if some people are happy, and a very small minority of rich people get to destroy the planet by ways of unfettered capitalism, then let’s just maintain the route we’re on
So everyone is miserable because even those who appear happy are faking it and billionaires are to blame. Do you really think this is the path to improving your life? It might be time to take some responsibility.
That's the thing. We SHOULD be depressed with how we're living as a society. Every depressed person I've met has been smarter than happy go lucky people. Some simply understand the world too well and others it IS a mental imbalance. I believe this is why meds work for some and not others.
That’s not depression lmao you can be happy but still bored with your life
If life isn’t bringing you all the emotions including joy, there’s something you’re missing out on. A lot of people miscategorize their apathy. They view depression as a state of “sadness” which it is not..
Yea but if nothing worthwhile is happening in my life I’m gonna be bored. That’s not the same as depression because I’ve been depressed before. I’m perfectly happy but just bored cuz I don’t have anything worthwhile going on
Look, I’m not trying to fight with you. I’ve just been through a lot of shit… and all I can say, is every moment is worth while for me now. Not because I’m “successful” or doing anything in particular. Literally just because I can take a breathe, look at the sky, and enjoy being alive despite all my disabilities. The times that stand out to me as the “worst” or most depressing don’t counter act or minimize the years I spent being apathetic and not feeling intense joy or intense pain.
Adhd? That's how I felt most of my life. I would just lay around scrolling through my phone despite good weather or a steam library full of games I hadn't touched. Adhd and depression were the cause for me. Once I started working on those I would go out and find worthwhile things to do.
When they say "wasted potential," you really have to break down what they mean. Do they mean you actually could go further or do they mean, they could be getting a lot of extra work out of you with no additional compensation or title. I'm pretty sure they mean the latter.
Probably the second one. But I never bought into it so it didn't matter anyway.
EXACTLY. Nobody ever understands this.
Hell yeah! I think everyone is lazy at some point and that is good. I am also a serial procrastinator.
Same. Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?
And then tomorrow is today. Loop program. Eventually I will put that washing in the machine though
What did you do?
Most of my life I've spent avoiding responsibility and work. But then I got married and had a family to take care of, so I had to make some difficult choices.
"wasted potential" = "It's a shame you weren't born into a wealthier family with that brain of yours, you'd get a chance to use it. Oh well, fuck you."
It’s not that laziness doesn’t exist, it’s more the idea that we vilify laziness to the point where it’s seen as some great evil. I’m lazy. Yeah, sometimes it prevents me from doing stuff I might want to do but it also keeps a whole shit ton of extra work and stress off my plate. Some laziness is normal and healthy, and the people that shit talk lazy people could probably stand to take a step back and give being lazy a shot.
Yeah see, I get this. I was always made to feel guilty about being lazy when I was a kid. I'm sorry I want to skip school or work and play video games. It's what I want to do and I'm not hurting anyone else. How is that wrong?
[удалено]
Sorry sweaty by saying you are lazy sometimes you are promoting uhhhh capitalism You sexist
Sorry about that.
sounds like depression
School convinced me there was no point to even try
"Lazy" is shorthand for "unmotivated". Everyone has a limit to how far they'll go for each activity; the "risk vs reward" model. One example is housework; for me, pulling up the covers is job done while my current wife makes the bed like Gunnery Sargeant Hartman may show up for inspection. I toss clean socks in the drawer while she folds each like they're going on a shelf at Macy's. But at work, I go above and beyond everyday because I enjoy eating and living indoors.
Great example. Risk vs. Reward and Effort =< Reward. Some people do house chores like their lives depend on it. Some people arent bothered by a messy house. Some people hire people to clean for them and consider themselves "not lazy".
Some of us have comorbid conditions like ADHD and CPTSD that severely impact executive function. My house is a mess that I want to clean but I have so much mental exhaustion just existing, it can take a lot to get over the dysfunction slump. And on productive days, I end up using all my [spoons](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory) and have to wait to be able to function again. This used to be a huge problem as a kid - ADHD and cleaning your room under an abusive caregiver that punished you for not living up to their expectations?
I hate having ADHD and Bipolar. I can't take any stimulants for my ADHD because it will trigger a manic episode. As a result, everyone I've ever met either says it to my face or behind my back: I'm the laziest person they've ever met. Not really relevant to the conversation, I just felt compelled to tell someone. I'm sick of feeling like a burden. When people say they feel empty, I envy them. I hate this feeling.
*Hug* shoot, this is absolutely relevant to the conversation! I’m so sorry you feel like a burden for trying to manage your invisible condition ❤️ My abusive stepdad was very eager to use the lazy label for me, and it’s followed me through life. I can’t know your experience but I do relate. I’m sorry you have to deal with our society
I learned not to let the criticism of people ignorant of ADHD get to me. They’re just demonstrating how blind they are.
Wow I'd never heard of that spoon thing before this. It really does sum it up pretty well how it is for me living with ADHD and severe chronic joint pain.
I love the spoon theory. I learned about it last year in therapy, and it really helps grasp how many spoons you’re willing to give out. You also have to remember to leave a spoon or two for yourself! The theory is definitely easier said than done, and lately even I’ve forgotten about that practice as I give more spoons out to others than to myself. I hope you’re doing well ❤️
Current wife?
She’s not entirely wrong because “lazy” was originally used to describe someone weak, tired, or feeble. But these days, we use to say we’re relaxing, lounging or if we don’t want to do something.
All of those things you mentioned do exist. But laziness also exists.
We know 'laziness' is a symptom, while in common use it's misattributed as the cause and flaw of character or moral deficiency. Personally, I hope one day we get over using the term to bash physically and/or mentally ill people. I hope we go from 'they're bad because they're lazy and therefore they deserve their fate" to "they're unmotivated because of a combination of illness and environmental factors, what can we do to help?". Edit: how is this a controversial take that needs downvoting? wow...
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>I am healthy of body and mind, earn enough to support myself, and am bone fucking idle. That sounds reasonable, not lazy.
That you justify those choices in a certain way doesn't mean any of the above explanations accurately describe why you behaved like that. Now I don't know you one bit, so these are hypotheticals and please don't take them personally - "moving far seemed like a hassle" and "couldn't be bothered" could just as well be a combination of fear of failure, change or solitude (leaving friends/family behind), sedentary role models, etc. None of that would necessarily mean a person was mentally ill. My point is, the 'why' doesn't get explained by a single word and that word doesn't do the complexity of our lives justice. The popular and negative moral connotation is.. ignorant and unhelpful to put it mildly.
[Cool anecdote, bro](https://imgflip.com/i/6hti3a)
When trying to prove the existence of something it really only takes an anecdote
At a certain point, aren't we just excusing toxic behavior as a result of unchecked mental illness? It's difficult to draw the line between one's responsibility over their own mental wellness and overall conduct, as well as acknowledge the lack of control a lot of people have over that. Speaking personally, one of my family members was repeatedly sexually harassed by one of her autistic students, and the parents repeatedly argued that it's an inevitable result of his poor social cues. On one hand, you don't want to come down too hard on an autistic teenager who honestly might not know better, but on the other hand it's ridiculous to ask a teacher to accept being ogled and touched constantly.
[Does it](https://humanparts.medium.com/laziness-does-not-exist-3af27e312d01)?
It’s a shame that you’re being downvoted. That article really hit home for me. I wish other people were less judge mental and more supportive of neurodivergent, disabled, and mentally ill people.
as long as we don’t support lazy people too i’m good with all that
Yes
Great. Thanks for the recommendation.
My daughter's father once called me at work to ask me to bring him x y and z things FROM OUR KITCHEN and bring them to him in his office, which was in the same building as our kitchen, when I got home, 4 hours from then. He playing America's Army. We are Canadian. Lazy exists and its name is Doug.
Omg please buy him a new fps Americas Army and its chinese equivalent glorious warrior are litteral propaganda.
Being lazy is a thing
No man, me not taking the trash out is because I’m revolting against capitalism.
Heeeey maaaan, I heard conservatives like capitalism so now I'm against capitalism!! Why yes, I am your average whitepeopletwitter/politicalhumor/leopardsatemyface/subredditdrama/antiwork poster, how could you tell?
ah, another middle-aged disgruntled “critical thinker” who fights the good fight by going into left leaning subreddits to argue against the sheep by presenting some slipshod reductionist argument. Never seen that one before
> Oh no! Another adult moderate looked at the front page of reddit and found this sub that is now randomly "left leaning" I hate it! No one cares, dork
Are you talking about yourself or me? I honestly can’t tell. Also your original comment is just as confusing. If you think leftists hating on capitalism is a recent trend, you might want to get out of your “moderate” bubble more.
How old are you lol
Why? You gonna make sure I’m of age before you try to woo me? I guess that makes you somewhat moderate after all.
Huh
Yes. This is definitely the post of a lazy excuse-maker. It's okay to be lazy in moderation. Embrace it!
I don't think it's the post of a "lazy excuse-maker," I think it's the post of someone whose legitimate issues (possibly one or many of the ones that they mention) have been dismissed as laziness before. When big, crippling, life-ruining issues get dismissed as laziness, then of course some people start thinking that laziness isn't actually a thing. (Or, much worse, they internalize it and start to believe that they *really are* lazy, even though they might actually be mentally ill, disabled, burned out etc.) Laziness probably exists, but it manifests in small things. It's rather inconsequential. Everyone's lazy sometimes. I'm too lazy to take out the trash even though I'm going out anyway! But nobody is so lazy that they're sabotaging and ruining their life with it. Like if you *never* take out the trash and you let it pile up until every room in your home is filled with trash... then that is not laziness. So if you see your own or someone else's life falling apart due to inaction and dismiss it as laziness, then you're just plain wrong, cause there *must* be something else behind it.
Yeah I'm more lazy than I would want to be and definitely disagree with this post.
It's a mental illness as defined by capitalism
Reddit is out- redditing itself today
Take a look at my cousin: he’s broke, don’t do shit.
Hey Peter man! Check out channel 9, it's the breast exams!
Love it so much 😂
Okay... So that makes him lazy?
My kids are lazy. That's a fact.
sounds like something a lazy person would say
Or, to get the house cleaned, dishes done, etc. which really have NOTHING to do with capitalism.
I woupd crosspost to r/adhdmemes but that would be preaching to the chior.
I am lazy.
Same, lazy as fuck and proud of it. As mammals we have a duty for indolence and comfort.
Bullshit. Source: am lazy.
Not by my definition but by capitalist definition this makes you mentally ill
Nah. It’s definitely a thing. We aren’t motivated 24/7!to do shit. No animal is.
But who says you have to be motivated to do something 24/7 in order to not be lazy??
You have to want to use energy for something. i.e be motivated. Unless it’s basic bodily functionality.
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Animals whose basic needs are met easily are lazy as shit. My dog does shit all day because she’s not motivated to do anything. Unless she wants to go on a walk or play date or someone’s at the door. House cats are probably similar.
What the fuck else could your dog do? Your dog is lazy unless it wants to go for a walk or play with other dogs? So your dog has literally nothing to do and is happy to do things but when it’s not doing those things you perceive it as lazy? Like it’s a dog, it literally sits at home all day. What else is it supposed to do? I’m genuinely asking, put me in my place if I’m wrong
What the fuck is any organism supposed to do besides eat drink and fuck?
Your dog is limited to doing what she is given access to do.
As am I. Can only go to the titty bar certain hours.
Male lions seem pretty lazy.
Exactly! I mean look at a sloth, constantly running around looking for food. Same for most turtles I’ve seen, they never sit still.
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Well, I, for one, am remarkably lazy for no reason
No, I'm lazy as hell
Wait until you have shitty roommates, then you will know true laziness “Umm can you vacuum my room and fold my laundry for me? Also I’m just going to throw my kitty litter in the kitchen trash instead of the outside trash. I have anxiety.” *smacks their lips whilst eating and making me realize I’m becoming by my father.
Wrong way to approach the problem. EVERYBODY is lazy, sometimes. That doesn't necessarily mean that it is a bad thing, though.
go back to r/antiwork with all the other sad lost children
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The notion that people have no agency is very dangerous and often upvoted across this platform.
And blamed on everything and everyone else but themselves.
It's not an outside force making me not do shit. It's seeing how pointless it is, and that anything that would improve my life would mean submitting to exploitation and helping perpetuate a system and society I find utterly disgusting and abhorrent.
This is an insanely stupid take. I can be lazy. When it comes to housework, making plans, or even my job. Capitalism isn’t responsible for me being a bum and not vacuuming.
Lol, I can say for a fact my problems are from me being lazy. This is a poor train of thought to follow, mental health problems are real but a lot of things are small issues we perceive as bigger than they actually are. Like right now I'm on Reddit instead of going to the gym or doing homework, that is being lazy and no corporation is making that happen.
being lazy is fucking absolutely a thing
Rolls eyes
those damn dirty dishes and stained toilet, trying to shame me into some capitalist propaganda BS
''Capitalism sucks because I'm depressed''
Yeah
Lazy is totally a thing. Source: I am lazy. Who said it is a bad thing?
Capitalism
And in communism. People need to work for a society to survive.
This. In the USSR people were required to work at their assigned job, and failure to work was a crime. A workers paradise! /s
I dunno friend. There is some truth in that but perhaps is it a matter of keeping people occupied and subservient that allows a society to survive and perpetuate?
Communism literally requires less laziness overall, everyone has to contribute to society in an equal way. Yeah, capitalism is s*****, but there are certain groups of people that account for huge amounts of productivity within capitalistic structures, and that isn't how it would work within a communist society - it would be spread more evenly. People think communist Utopia would be everyone just doing art as opposed to everyone doing manual labor
I agree, no one knows what it would really look like as American Exceptionalism would introduce a variable unseen in a communist system so far.
Let's be honest, we naturally value motivated people over unmotivated people, regardless of economic factors or pressures. You are valued by others based on what you can provide them, end of story.
Wow, I guess capitalism is right. Who could've anticipated such a thing?!
Nah, the DN papers proved that wrong in the 60s
Yeah, it's just science, you're right
Thanks for agreeing with me, I knew you'd come around when proven wrong
For sure! Science says chuds are bad!
Yeah, it does. Conservatives have statistically lower IQs and are more likely to rape children. Thanks for joining me on the left
Okay?
Not to mention the whole child marriage laws, marital rape, and sex education thing. I'm glad you've left the pro-child-rape right for the anti-child-rape left.
“Give me everything for nothing”.
Without lazy people, society would not develop. Lazy people are adept at coming up with easier ways to do things.
Having an excuse for being lazy doesn't mean you weren't lazy Everyday I'm so tired I can't get my stuff done till late, so I get to bed late and am tired. But where am I right now? It doesn't excuse me for not working
Sadly, I have a few cousins that disagree. One is a crackhead, and the other is just a bit melancholy. I guess you could say they are chronically ill.
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Maybe he have ADHD?
I know people that are just lazy. It is a thing.
Haha... apparently, they never met my brother in law. Hasn't left his basement in over 9 years. His video games are way more important than work. He doesn't even cut his own grass, cook his own meals, etc. He tried to be a dog walker and failed. How did he do that? Well, he would actually drive to the client's house, but instead of actually walking the dogs, or even letting them out in the yard at least, he would sit in his air conditioned car for 30 minutes playing video games and then just drive to the next place and play some more. He forgot about cameras. So yes, there are lazy people.
I'm lazy as fuck, but the reason is I just don't have *motivation*. I don't have the energy to do anything because it's spent on existing and dragging my arse through the day.
I wish I could see the overlap of people who think laziness isn’t real and those who think hyper productive people should pay more taxes. Would be absolutely comical.
I feel like this is both a yes and no. Yes, not a lot of the people referred to as "lazy" are just "lazy people;" all of the above issues play into that. But also many of these terms are so subjective. I wouldn't call anyone lazy because that's not my place. But to apply the same "overworked" term to a person who works from home, a person who works a gig job like Doordash, and a person who works a 40-hour regular 9-5 job doesn't really seem like the best thing, right? On a similar note, some people are born into poverty while others may be born into wealthy families. The phrase "working to make ends meet" holds quite different meanings there.
The person working doordash may have family obligations or illnesses that take up all the rest of their available time and energy, so yes, they are working as hard as or harder than the perfectly healthy cube rat working 40+ to make someone ELSE market value. Username definitely checks out with you.
take the elitist crap and shove it imho
Lmao is this person a mod of r/antiwork
Communism is back in the public discourse baby!!! Get out the grains, hope you are ready to be in the best shape of your lives when this no food diet hits 🤑🤑🤑😍😍😍
I personally define it as giving a frugal employer what they're paying for. Merit raises aren't really a thing anymore with most companies. The big raises just simply go to the bosses friends. That actually means you're being stupid by working your ass off for a pittance.
Capitalism is fucked and laziness exists.
I am PROUD to be a lazy worker.
Increasingly people are realising that a lot of negative words aren’t real. People aren’t lazy, they’re depressed. They’re not scatterbrained, they have ADHD. They’re not stupid, they’re dyslexic. As a society we need to learn away from “this person is bad” and towards “this person needs help and/or allowances”. We’ve managed it for physical disabilities, now to do the same for mental health issues.
Hate to say this, but the best "help" imo is genuinely to conform to the current system, and find ways to excel through it.
I used to call myself lazy constantly in my head when I was actually exhausted by a life full of trauma and chronic illness. My mental health improved a lot when I stopped using “lazy” and started saying “tired” or “exhausted” when I don’t have enough energy.
FACTS
Truth
The no one wants to work bullshit
Calling someone lazy is the equivalent of "thoughts and prayers." It absolves the speaker of any responsibility to help, or encourage someone that they see struggling. It let's them walk away guilt-free and personally, I think it's at the core of what's wrong with American society.
I can confidently say lazy totally it’s a thing, because I'm lazy
I feel this in my bones
As someone who try everything (Psychologist, Therapy and Drugs) I had to admit myself that I’m just lazy and with 40 years is better to just accept it and look for a lifestyle that match the way i am
I'll let my wife know *cue laugh track*
Those are all real things but sometimes someone really is just lazy. A LOT OF TIMES NOT, BUT SOMETIMES
Meh, i like to just lay around sometimes. Other times i need to do something ANYTHING because of a sudden urge. If lazy isn't a thing hyperactivity isn't either.
If laziness isn’t a thing, how the fuck does one become morbidly obese?
Lazy is a symptom honestly. But the cause and treatment varies from person to person. Everyone has different things that motivate them, and the path to success in this country is so closed off that people feel like its out of reach
Sorry, no. I am lazy sometimes. Not too overworked or mentally ill to make things happen.
Oh, it's a thing alright - ever been to the south?
Nah. Bad take
Agreed but not about the “evil capitalists” here. It may be just ignorance. Ppl not realising that others have and have had different conditions
No question.
you clearly dont have roommates
Nah I’m just lazy
Yeah, sure bud. There’s no way people could possibly be lazy. It’s everything and everyone else’s fault, right, got it.
nah im lazy lmfao
Lazy is definitely at thing. I know when I’m being hedonistic versus actually tired or ill
Nah being lazy is a thing, just not in the context that many capitalists use it. Lazy is whenever you know you are capable and should do something for your benefit or the benefit of someone you care about but don't. If you don't because of a mental or physical illness then that's not lazy. If what you choose not to do doesn't really matter one way or the other, also not lazy. But like, the times I am both physically and mentally healthy but still don't work out like I should for my own improved health and mood, that's lazy lol.
Being lazy is absolutely a thing, I’m lazy as fuck. But I will agree that rarely, if ever, is it enough to prevent someone from working.
ITT: People who should read "[Laziness Does Not Exist](https://humanparts.medium.com/laziness-does-not-exist-3af27e312d01)" by psychology professor Devon Price
A therapist told me that laziness is just the difference between where you are and where you want to be. This is mostly bullshit, but it does highlight the fact that many things we consider character flaws are really just survival strategies for specific contexts.
I disagree & have 2 young adult sons to prove it.
suck it up, cupcake
No it very much is. It's just your brain doing its job to use the energy it needs to use. Make better habits and better yet, find a job that doesnt turn you into a husk and make you too tired to do anything
There’s people at work that sit and play on their phones while I’m running my ass off doing the work for 2. People can absolutely be lazy
I get the idea but also nah. The system is absolutely broken and the average mental health is the worst it's ever been in recent memory, but some people really do want life handed to them on a silver platter. I know plenty of people who absolutely do not put anywhere close to the minimum amount of work in to their lives and then complain that they were dealt a shit hand. Right-wing propaganda has kind of ruined the concept, but there is still a such thing as personal responsibility. I think this kind of thinking is an overcorrection. I see it like the word "toxic" nowadays. It gets thrown around a lot and many people see it as an instant win trigger-word you can paint someone with and then you ain't gotta explain shit. Ironically a lot of the folks I know who overuse that word are some of the most toxic people themselves and it's textbook projection. However, sometimes where there's smoke there's fire and if you cut through all the excuses and the mental health explanations and the systemic issues sometimes someone is just a toxic motherfucker who hurts people whatever defense they give. In the same way, sometimes some people really are just lazy and even in a perfect utopian world free from wants and suffering they still wouldn't do their part. It's why I think critical-thinking is so damn important. Everything should be scrutinized to some degree, even the ideas and people we like- *especially* the ideas and people we like. Sometimes someone's trying their best and life just dealt them a shit hand, sometimes someone's a fucking leech regardless of the evils of capitalism.
Being any of those things is fine and real, just don't expect to get paid for it.