>From: "Emlyn" <emlyn@one.net.au>
>Reply-To: extropians@extropy.org
>To: <extropians@extropy.org>
>Subject: Re: High Technology of the Future
>Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2000 11:29:15 +0930
>
>Good points Harvey. I just have to quibble with this one...
>
> > 5. Free Time: We also work less time and have a lot of free time.
> > That is a major difference.
>
>Everything I've read says that we work more than ever, that the trend over
>time has been for the amount of hours people spend working to increase,
>rather relentlessly. We may possibly this century be beginning to turn that
>around... although with the 35 hour week fading from memory for most of us
>(yes, it used to exist here), I doubt it.
>
>Hunter gatherers apparently spent about 2 hours a day in work-like (staying
>alive related) activity, and from there it's gone downhill (I'll go dig for
>an attribution).
>
>Emlyn
>
I've heard several similar reports and they're completely at odds with my
personal experience. I work 40 hours a week in my current job, and up to 45
on (rare) occassion. I get 18 days off per year at my own discretion, and 8
holidays. Figure that all together with weekends and I work an average of
about 5 hours per day throughout the year.
I remember seeing pictures of people at protests during the early days of
union forming holding signs that said "8 hours work, 8 hours sleep, 8 hours
leisure", this being their goal for the ideal work day. For the most part,
they have it, and a 5 day week. I do not have sources, but I think I can say
that child labour is way down over the past century. I don't know how this
statistic (of more work hours) was put together. Maybe they are averaging in
0 hours for women who do not (and did not) work. This would obviously result
in a much higher number for today since more women work.
---------------------------------------------------
Zeb Haradon (zebharadon@hotmail.com)
My personal webpage:
http://www.inconnect.com/~zharadon/ubunix
A movie I'm directing:
http://www.elevatormovie.com
"Fish fuck in it." - W. C. Fields answer to why he never drank water.
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