the insurance adjuster working in a cube all day, processing TPS forms, is doing something that does not register as having status or agency, and thus jealously guards a task that provides some measure of agency / status / skill signalling. I suggest that he may have a desire >
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Replying to @MorlockP @robinhanson
to do this based on ancient norms of "I have to demonstrate that I can do SOMETHING"
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Replying to @MorlockP
Are there poll questions you think might help test your theory?
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Replying to @robinhanson
good question as a first stab at it, I could imagine: * cooking displays competence and agency, Y/N ? * mowing your lawn displays competence and agency, Y/N ? * cleaning toilets displays competence and agency, Y/N ? followed by >>>
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Replying to @MorlockP @robinhanson
2/ imagine that you are transferred to a new job with the same hours and pay as now, but with less agency. Your new job provides one free home service. then ask which service they take paired with question reversed: transferred to job w less agency
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Replying to @MorlockP
What is "agency"? It is the same as autonomy, independence, or power?
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Replying to @robinhanson
I think the first two options you present are very similar, and, yes, that's what I'm getting at. Power is certainly related, but indirectly I think, bc most high autonomy / independent jobs are either upstream or downstream of power (not all, tho, e.g. cab driver).
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Replying to @MorlockP
I find it very hard to apply such concepts to the aggregate of a life. In a society like ours, we can't all do everything, and must let others do most things, so how can some such variations be called "more agency"?
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Replying to @robinhanson
I am arguing that TASKS have high or low autonomy and independence. Surely you agree that your life as an econ professor allows you more of both of those than someone working in a call center, off of a script? I am then arguing that people balance high and low agency tasks.
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Replying to @MorlockP
Not clear that distinction makes sense. All tasks are tiny fraction of set of all tasks that must be done. We can always define them finely enough that you have complete autonomy over YOUR task, even if you must coordinate it closely with others doing other related tasks.
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you asked earlier "what poll questions would tease out how people think about this?" and I answered. You are now jumping to the realm of pure theory ...and I actually disagree. Re: > We can always define them finely enough that you have complete autonomy over YOUR task
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Replying to @MorlockP @robinhanson
I strongly disagree. Does a McDonalds employee who must clean toilets every 45 min have a way of defining tasks that he can convince himself that he has high autonomy? "I can wash the outside of the toilet either before OR after the inside!" Does a call center worker w script?
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Replying to @MorlockP
That exactly what I'm asking for, a way to tell that a toilet cleaner has less autonomy or agency. His or her task is clearly lower status, but how is it less autonomous?
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