What is it about work and working that people find so admirable?

I was at uni for 2 and a half years, but as soon as i deferred for half a year and found some work (at McDonalds no less) suddenly people were much more proud of me because instead of learning, i was making money. Why is that I wonder? I don't understand it.

What is it about work and working that people find so admirable?
Well--this has to do with what Max Weber (one of the "classics" of sociology) called the "Protestant ethic." I'll summarize--but be aware I'm leaving a LOT out.





Work is, of course necessary--but ingeneral, was jsut part of life--until the Protesstant Reformation (c.1517 and later). Att that time, Martin Luther and others came up with the idea that everyone--not jsut the rich or talented--had a "calling"--and that for the devout person, their work, whatever it was, shold be done with the idea of serving God. Not a bad way of looking at it, when you think about it!





However--ther's a catch. When people work hard, and are thrifty--they tend to start accumulating wealth (which wasn't exactly what Luther was trying to accomplish--but that is the logical outcome, if you think it through).





So--over time this Protestant ethic--and the fact that it led geerally to a prosperous life--became very widespread. And--when the Industrial Revolution hit, itwas the perfect jstificationfor teaching workers to work long and hard in a factory, and for others to work long and hard in offices.





By the 20th century, the concept--that work was good in itself--as an endin itself-was all that was left of that original idea of the "calling"--the spiritual signifigance was longlost. Now, we commit ourselves for our entire working lives to a restrictive life that revolves around work for the sake of work--Weber called this the "iron cage."





BTW--10 years ago, I was pretty much in the same position you are. And blind to boot. I decided to quit doing what others said I "ought" to do. I went back to school--to study what I wanted to study. I'm now well on the way to completing a doctorate, on the verge of starting my own business, and at the moment work as a researcher--but I set my own hours and there isno one looking over my shoulder telling me "if you have time to lean, you have time to clean." That iron cage is deadly--but the bars are all in your own mind. Forget what other's think--find what YOU want to do--and start doing it.
Reply:Good for you!





History--along with sociology--is my field too! :) Report Abuse

Reply:That sounds shady. I mean I can understand if they were proud of you working at a huge corporate job or something you enjoy doing, but you can't honestly say you enjoy working at McDonald's and want to make it a career? My thoughts on this is that either A) You have haters in your camp that never wanted you to succeed and are sadistic and get off on your dropping out of college and working at McDonalds B) If they were supporting you through college they didn't want to try to help you get through it, and wanted you to take care of themselves to remove the burden of supporting you. Other than that, I can't imagine anyone being a cheerleader for you and encouraging you to give away a chance at earning a degree and learn something significant for a future career to work at McDonald's. Don't worry what other people think you should do, but what you have set your goals to accomplish.
Reply:i don't know.. maybe they see you as independent person.. stand at your own feet.. instead of learning.. you earn money for your studies and expenses..
Reply:The Bible says "he who will not work, will not eat" maybe they were afraid you'd starve to death and are now glad that you won't.
Reply:In brief, people can be really obsessive and anal about money, and yes, society in the United States in particular teaches that almost like a religion.





To elaborate: People can get jealous and hateful really quickly of *anyone* they see as getting a "free ride", meaning anyone who gets paid without being at least as miserable (overworked, underpaid) as they are. Also, people are generally *not* fond of the idea of having to pay for anyone else but themselves.





To some degree this is understandable....you do want people to work for a living and not go begging. But I'd submit that a lot of people, particularly in the U.S., take this idea way the hell too far. This is what happens when greed becomes the central value system, and other things, like intelligence or good citizenship or being a good social person, are devalued.





Just my two cents, so to speak. Thanks for your time. ^_^
Reply:It shows you are accomplishing something. You are out there making a living and learning the laws and rules of maintaining a job. You are showing that you are doing something with your time and putting some effort towards life.
Reply:Were these the people who were supporting you while you studied?





They may have worried that once you got your degree without work experience nobody would hire you. That's not too far fetched.
Reply:It's not about 'making money' per se...Its more about demonstrating your belief in a noble enthusiasm -working.





Whatever it is you do to in the way of labor, if it is your means of living - people will find you more attractive than, say- a lifelong bookworm who is supported by others.





I myself find joy in the most basic of labors: Carpentry and Tilework.
Reply:In a word, accomplishment. And being able to put your signature on the work.
Reply:Life is a game of money.


I'm realizing that right now.





You have money; you have respect
Reply:In a word - productivity. If you're working, you're contributing. You are part of a force providing something that people will buy. In turn, you are earning money to buy the things that other people have provided. This is what economy is, of course. In a perfect system (like that's going to happen completely), everyone works and makes the money to buy the things that others are working to make. And everyone comes out ahead - and has earned it.