Follow-ups to my tweetstorm yesterday about unacknowledged costs of dysfunctional systems, the possibility of systemic collapse, and how we can do better:https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/981947735371743233.html …
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Graeber has a book coming out next month that proposes a theory for why there are so many bullshit jobs (which a naive view would suppose capitalism ought to eliminate).

@againstutopia,@bornwithatail_,@IlariKaila https://amzn.to/2Jrn4UkShow this thread -
In the mean time, “The Utopia of Rules: On Technology, Stupidity, and the Secret Joys of Bureaucracy,” also by
@davidgraeber, looks highly relevant, and is now on my to-read list: https://amzn.to/2ErwPhoShow this thread -
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Several people pointed out, in different ways, that the problem is not information technology, it’s social technology—or just political will. IT can free us from drudgery—or enslave us. For one example, in many countries taxes are automated. Another:https://twitter.com/StephenPiment/status/981952230759657473 …
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Relatedly, several pointed out that regulatory capture is a major cause of the problem. Economists measure the cost in terms of rent extraction and obstacles to innovation. They (probably?) don’t take into account the human cost of generating shadow work and bullshit jobs.
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I didn't really claim to explain it at all in that piece, just why it was allowed to happen; I thought; in the book I have some suggestions
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Thanks! Have just tweeted a link to your upcoming book, and about to tweet your last one :)
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on the one hand, i appreciate the term. on the other hand, i have difficulty taking someone seriously who thinks the only reason you would order late-night pizza is "capitalism"
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My reaction also.
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Shadow work = unpaid but necessary Bullshit work = paid but unnecessary Paid+necessary=essential services Unpaid+unnecessary=all stupid work as well as great genius spec work
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