Lars Eighner is a writer known for his stories concerning his time spent homeless in the late eighties, and also for his weighty contributions to gay erotica.
After reading this essay I couldn't help but wonder if dumpster diving can be considered a job. How many in this class consider dumpster diving a job? How do each of you define "work" and what exactly is a "job"?
Just in case anyone was curious, Lizbeth died in 1998 at age 13.
7 comments:
I don't think that I would consider dumpster diving a job. On the other hand, dumpster diving is something done in order to survive.
I would define "work" as a job that one doesn't necessarily like. A "job," however, I would define as work that one enjoys.
I define a "job" as being a method or means of providing and making a living for one's self. So, I would have to classify dumpster diving as a job, despite its unorthodoxy.
I would define work as a task done in order to enact a change which the worker believes will benefit his/herself in some way. By this definition, dumpster diving is work. Also, I would call a job an occupation in which a person does work. A job also would be somewhat of a more stable type of work, where the person does the same task over and over. In this way, dumpster diving can become a "job," yet it isn't always a job. However, I think it's implied that in addition to diving, Eighner also worked a "regular" job [at least for part of his diving time]. The difference here would be between a job and employment, or a job and work. The difference depends on how job is defined [whether having a job=employment or having a job=working].
Although Amy says that dumpster diving is not a "job", I would tend to disagree. I think that "work" is the effort put into a "job". So while dumpster diving may not be considered a glamorized job it still is a job. For the "work" and knowledge necessary to stay alive while dumpster diving is unreal. It seems, that Eighner has perfected the art of dumpster diving through his struggles, acquired knowledge, and time. A "job" has just the same effects and characteristics.
I wouldn’t define dumpster as a job. This is because a job is something you do and get paid for, either you like the job or not. Dumpster will be an action performed to survive which of course is exhausting and nasty, but I don’t think is consider a job at all.
People hold jobs in order to provide a living for themselves and family. Since Eighner was using dumpster diving as a way to provide for himself, not only is it a way of life, for him it is a job. Although I wouldn't recommend anyone trying to live this way, for the divers it is their only means of providing for themselves.
I do believe that dumpster diving is a job. He is putting effot into a task of providing for himself. He is working hard to maintain his somewhat unusually job.
Post a Comment