Nyaa nyaa, can't outsource me!
May 24, 2009 12:43 PM   Subscribe

Matthew Crawford has a nicely written essay in today's NYTimes about the intellectual pleasures of skilled trade work. In an age of outsourcing, moribund academic job markets, and life in the cubicle farm, he makes a strong case for the dignity and engagement of highly skilled manual labor. (It's the Times, so registration with false information or Bugmenot may be required)

A recent article about liberal arts students seeking out summer internships on organic farms hit similar notes.

It's a subject reminiscent of Po Bronson's book What Should I Do With My Life?, and of the assorted hippy rediscoveries of farming, blacksmithing, and other skilled professions back in the 1970s.
posted by Forktine (4 comments total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: heh, hippy blacksmiths -- jessamyn



 
Previously
posted by anansi at 12:50 PM on May 24, 2009


Hell, I searched and missed it. Delete!
posted by Forktine at 12:51 PM on May 24, 2009


There was also an article on Metafilter a while ago on Japanese people going back to agricultural work.
posted by delmoi at 12:56 PM on May 24, 2009


I often think about that scene near the end of Office Space, where Peter is working on a construction crew, and telling his friends how great it is. "I'm making good money, I get fresh air, I get a lot of exercise."

As someone who spends 12 hours a day in front of a screen of one sort or another, that does sound appealing at times. That, plus knowing that when the day's work is done, it's done until the next day. No late-night checking in or IMing or whatever.
posted by jbickers at 1:29 PM on May 24, 2009


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