What is "Productive"?

Question

OK, some details...

I decided to say screw work today. Doing that a lot lately. For reasons I am not going to get into, they don't need me there all that much.

Making about $2K a week off the Stock market. At this point, mostly from shorting. But you place the bet, and you roll the dice.

Point is, I don't consider that to be productive. I consider that to be making money.

What making money allows me to do is write, and not worry about the checks coming in from it.

Is Gary Larson being productive these days? You know, the one who wrote The Far Side? Berke Breathed with "Bloom County?" Bill Watterson, you know, the guy that wrote Calvin and Hobbs? He is doing paintings nobody wants to buy at this point. He does not care.

So, back to the question: Is making money productive? Or is it something else after you have made that money?

Answer 1

Hey buddy, I thought I would take on one of your questions. I just completed my first manuscript entitled "Enjoyment & Responsibility." I define all actions into these two categories, with the things that are vital for our existence as our responsibilities. All other actions are enjoyments.

These responsibilities include our basic necessities of food, clothing, shelter, healthcare and basic education (Welfare Rights). These are the things that are vital to the existence of every human being. It is these that we all must work together to secure. It is also these that should be secured for every individual prior to their existence. The manuscript is 517 pages long, so to shorten it I will cut to the point.

Everything that we use for our existence comes from the Earth. For everyone that is born onto the Earth the existence is free. This negates money as being vital for human existence. It is human effort that should secure these necessities. However, we do use money for enjoyments such as vacations, and other activities. When we seek to have a life that is so enourmous that it negates others from having the basic necessities of living then our money becomes counterproductive. It is not our money, however, that is doing this. It is the ideal view of ourselves (King, Queen, Rich, etc.) that makes our mere existence a burden on all other living persons and natural objects. You should do the test on the "Human Footprints" web site.

Answer 2

Well, the trouble is that you haven't defined "productive". Or rather, that you're asking for a definition.

All right, well, here's a naive definition: "productive" is that which produces value.

Thus, making money off the stock market? Is not productive. Writing? Is productive. Printing counterfeit money? Is not productive. Printing real money? Is not productive. Painting landscapes that nobody buys? Probably productive.

In the end, productivity is almost unrelated to money. Money is just a means to allow people to produce excess of what they're good at producing and trade off the excess for what they need.

Answer 3

Making money can be productive. It is the only way to be productive, according to the current Republicans and a lot of other Americans.

Some of us consider being productive as making a difference in people's lives or in the world around us. Hopefully for the better.

Once a person makes enough money to live comfortably, being productive means using your excess income to help others, whether by volunteering or by contributing money or both. If you just use your money to make more money, that is not productive in my view. While there are many people in the world who need money, the fact that you or any other wealthy person only makes more money for himself does nothing for those who need it.

And I am not just talking about charity. Many wealthy persons engage in useful activities, from developing space travel to funding research in areas the government ignores.

Answer 4

Money is valueless without the promise of trading it in for something else.

It really seems to just be a means.

Another thing to ask is "productivity," well, productive?
Is accumulation, or development of greater power, in the end worthwhile?

Human aspiration tends to the beyond, to art.
I think Nietzsche is right there.
But what is our art today?
Have we become artful machines, in a means-means realtionship?

Even in the case of making Cartoons for the public, are we in the same kind of means-means dynamic without "end" in sight?

And EVEN with the cartoonist at home, seemingly FOR himself. Is the onus of that artwork, yet again, FOR something else rather hopelessly deferred?

Answer 5

well, I don't know. I'm a nurse and just came home from work working double shift. I get to do this all over again for 12 hr shift tomorrow. money is good (at times) I have confidence in what I do however am I productive? at this moment, I'm too tired to think. I don't know. surely this is something to ponder. thank you for asking this question.

Answer 6

Being productive is to contribute something to an out come.You are making moey, sure, but not contributing to anything revolving in its circle. Except for the fact that it is allowing you to write. Do tou accomplish anything in your writing? Does your writing sell? Or offer help to smeone? Or effect your life in anyway?

Answer 7

productive..equaling the financial retribution for services rendered?
money = success...
no...money is not productive,or a mark of success...
leave your mark on the world, in one students life...on a teachers dreary pay, and your successful, save one life as a volunteer fireman, that's successful.
you have to do what it is your passionate about....that's productive/successful..
you have to be fulfilled in your own life, in order to give back...in a productive way...

Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.
—Rodin
The secret of success is constancy of purpose.
—Benjamin Disraeli
No man is a failure who is enjoying life.
—William Feather

but Bob said it best...