# Story Time By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2024-04-09 People tend to enjoy stories. Some go to movies; others read books. Some watch a streaming service; others listen to podcasts. Children at school tend to listen to the stories being read. It is like stories are an essential part of human existence. Historically, much of human wisdom was conveyed through stories. Biblical stories are used to instill morality. Fairy tales are frequently used to caution against breaking social norms. Stories are used to educate and entertain. What can be surmised from the stories well told about work? Often, there is a focus on the wealth that can be accumulated. There is also a frequent focus on drudgery. Seldom is the story focused on the dignity of work. Seldom is the emphasis on solidarity. Stories tend to convey either what a society wants people to do or what they want people to avoid doing. The relative obscurity of stories related to solidarity and work dignity reveals something about our society. Focusing on the drudgery of work normalizes that experience. If one is unfilled at work, one can find any number of stories to confirm that this is “normal” and that one shouldn’t have unreasonable expectations. Likewise, there is no shortage of stories for those who want to approach work competitively and maximize one’s power, wealth, and status. Within American business “selfishness is good.” To think that work should be a source of fulfillment, dignity, and well-being seems out of step with society. It should be. It should be for all. Making it so would require a radical adjustment within our society. It is clear why those at the top do not want this. It is less clear why those at the bottom aren’t demanding it. It simply must not be a story with which they are familiar. #### Related Items [[Work]] [[Society]] [[Radicals]] [[Dignity]] [[Fulfillment]] [[Norms]]