We do have more time, we just spend it!

by mjh <mark@horncl[ ]com on Tuesday July 11, 2000 @06:07AM

I've been watching, from time to time, a series on PBS called "1900 House" [pbs.org]. It's about a family that has volunteered to move into a house that was rebuilt to be as close as possible to a house from 100 years ago. It has all of the same technology, including a stove that barely works but must remain on 7x24 because it's the main heat source for the house. I find this show interesting because it's unbelievable how much time is spent cooking and cleaning. Virtually all of the time is spent keeping things clean, while most of the rest of the time is spent cooking!

This show is enlightening because it demonstrates how much additional time we actually do have because of technology. And what the vast majority of us do with that extra time is (drumroll please)... watch TV!

Now, that being said, I don't disagree with the article. Employers do seem to be demanding more and more of our leisure time. And I don't think some of the demands are justified. But, if you're good at what you do, you are golden. There's a technology labor shortage - a big one. As long as this exists, those who are technically capable can either:

1. Set up reasonable boundaries without fear of reprisal, by refusing to dedicate all of your time to your employer.

2. Become co-conspirators in the drainage of their time by never setting any boundary on what is or isn't reasonable.

That being said, let's all go out and demand that we only work 60 hour weeks so that we can have some time to catch up on the Simpsons!