Do truly lazy people exist?

[sadavis00]

I am unable to point towards even person I know who is truly "lazy", in the sense of being able to do something, having the potential, but doing doing absolutely nothing.

Sure, people there are people who watch mindless T.V all day, but are these people even able to work without the kind of stress relief that T.V provides? Is not television providing them a kind of therapy, something that helps them through the anxiety and depression they may face when they work? If they "forced" themselves to work more, won't they simply be working unhappy, given that they no longer recieve the therapy of T.V?

Given this idea, I have not been able to find even one person who I can say would be just as happy doing something, as not doing something, they recieve a kind of therapy in not doing something that doing something robs them of.

Also, there are social rules of what is considered "doing something" and what is considered "not doing something". Is socializing, gossiping in the office considered doing something? I would say yes, but others may say no, they may say that only stuff done at the desk is doing something. It is these social rules define who is "lazy" and who is "productive". I think talking to people is as "productive" as doing professional work, if I define productive as something that can be consumed, being good company to someone is certainly an item of consumption for them.

Then there is the idea that people are simply not working "hard enough". I find this idea to be ridiculous also. They are not working at a pace considered adaequate probably because if they worked faster they would be "stressing" themselves, they would be unhappy. Give these people an incentive to work harder, instead of calling them lazy and making them work harder under stressful conditions.

Everyone is "doing something". They can be doing something else, that is for sure. Maybe a person who watches T.V all day can be convinced that this kind of therapy is unnecessary, they may be as happy in some job. A person who socializes all day may be convinced that if they take up marketing, they may be as happy, and they can be more socially productive, a win-win, for both society and the individual.

That said, I think the thrust of social pressure in P.D should not be on becoming more productive, it should be on trying to explore other options for living life, that lead to happiness, and these are also generally socially productive, in the sense that one is more happy with other good people than alone. (I think reading a novel is unproductive, even if a happy thing to do, because it does nothing but expand one's own mind. Reading a novel would be socially productive if it was as part of a book club, or if through the reading of the novel you becomes a better person for other people, which then is socially productive).

P.D. should only be a pursuit of one's happiness, and not some phantom ideal of a busy-busy "productive person", these may go together in many cases, but the latter should not overpower the former. I was mistaken before in this aspect, I think other people may also have become so mistaken, especially if all these articles about producitivity not being lazy are read with reference to whether these ideas will make one more or less happy when applied.

[mlc82]

The only one I've ever known was a guy who literally spent his whole days smoking pot and sitting on his couch. I allowed myself to be conned by someone I knew into letting this idiot move in with me for a little while before I knew him- needless to say, that didn't last long. I didn't allow illegal substances in my house (nor would my other roommate at the time who was also a close friend), but he'd happily head over to a friend's house to have daily quota of weed every day before plopping back on the couch (or in his room). I think he was really, truly lazy- did not care about anything but the above, didn't bother trying to pay his part of the bills (which quickly led to a throwing-out), and the one time he DID have money to pay with, went out and spent on a DVD set instead That's the only person I"ve ever known that I thought was truly just lazy for the sake of being lazy.

[Brutha]

Judging people as lazy doesn't serve any purpose. To be effective you have to move behind judgements like that. Everyone can do with his time whatever he wants.

That said the goal (at least mine) of personal development isn't to get less lazy, but to contribute in changing the world for the better.

If that results in other people judging me as less lazy that's okay.
If that results in me being happy that's okay too, but neither of those is the goal of the action.

You always have a choice to pick between different actions. You may choose to spent your time in front of the TV. That doesn't mean that you are a bad person, but it does mean that you are responsible for your own mental state of passiveness that results from watching too much TV.

Given this idea, I have not been able to find even one person who I can say would be just as happy doing something, as not doing something, they recieve a kind of therapy in not doing something that doing something robs them of.

You make a huge mistake when you assume that what people say that makes them happy actually makes them happy.
People are generally quite poor in prediction what makes them happier.

Sure, people there are people who watch mindless T.V all day, but are these people even able to work without the kind of stress relief that T.V provides?

In general television isn't a effective stress reliever.

Then there is the idea that people are simply not working "hard enough". I find this idea to be ridiculous also. They are not working at a pace considered adaequate probably because if they worked faster they would be "stressing" themselves

Hard work and fast work
is not the same thing.

[sadavis00]

Good points Brutha. Though I do think the pursuit of happiness is the most important thing. If a person can lie in bed and honestly say he that nothing more is required for his happiness, then I think he will justified in lying in bed. Though I do think this can never realistically be the case, there is always something a person can do to be happier.

[InterfaceLeader]

Originally Posted by mlc82

The only one I've ever known was a guy who literally spent his whole days smoking pot and sitting on his couch.

I don't think he was lazy, I think he was a pot-head. And there's probably a reason behind why he had such an addictive personality in the first place (that wasn't your responsibility to sort out, btw, I'm not saying that.)

I agree that 'laziness' per se doesn't exist, but I certainly think destructive habits do. Sure, TV may stop you from thinking about problems you have, which keeps you happy and 'functioning', but it doesn't let you move forward or solve those problems. Everyone does need a certain level of 'time-sink' rest periods, which I think personal productivity nuts can forget sometimes, but it's also true that gossiping behind the watercooler is only 'productive' if it's enjoyable or creating a real friendship. Most of the gossips I've known have been doing it to systematically attack other people in the office. Office politics can be a thoroughly unproductive, un-enjoyable game.

Whilst society doesn't always value certain important skills enough, I don't think anyone should be supported in smoking pot all day, or watching TV instead of getting a job (or getting a better job). Or getting exercise, or teaching, or writing, or spending time with their kids.

[Old Soul]

It is unfortunate but yeah there are lots of unmotivated people, they have no purpose or goals or passions therefore no motivation

it is sad really...... for whatever reasons led them to that point