WORK ETHIC professor said. "Originally it was a protestant racist term"

[GabbyLoggon]

I knew "work ethic" was connected to religion and bosses; but I did not know the other bit.

Is it a phrase teachers use

Consumerism is often just the knee-jerk response of those dull people with limited imaginations borne of a childhood focused on "work ethic". They don't have the skills to create and nurture and enjoy life, so they try to buy life instead.

Oh Bonsoir, that's a brilliant observation.

Bonsoir, that's very insightful.

What interesting thoughts. I had no idea that is where the term originated . To be fair to "those dull people', I think they (we) are likely to have been trained into thinking that consumer goods are the just and correct reward for their work ethic.

Having lived in countries where the indigenous folk are considered not to have a good work ethic, but who have access to plenty of money (the most notable example being the UAE) I often think consumerism is linked mostly to lack of a good education in the liberal/philosophical sense rather than with work ethic. Does anyone agree?

I really haven't had enough exposure to cultures outside of my own (and a few other European countries - not that any of them are homegenous) tbh. But I'd say that a "lack of a good education in the liberal/philosophical sense" would apply in Britain, too.

Yes, I agree. I didn't mean to apply my comment only to a different culture - I just meant that a culture which wouldn't consider work ethic as especially valuable is equally consumerist and therefore illustrates my suggestion a bit more clearly, perhaps? So the problem might well be lack of imagination and skills to nuture and create a life to enjoy, but this is present just about everywhere.

All bosses would like the slogan

If you are interested in these Tom Hodgkinson has written some books on 'How to be Free' which covers 'work ethic' and the impact of the changes of the churches. It probably is too idealistic and capitalism will have probably changed this but it does make you wonder whether Henry's fancy to Anne has left us with long working hours.

Absolutely. Bring back St. Monday.

Gabby and most lady broadcasters do that they mean well but.....