# David Graebar has died, apoarently **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 3, 2020, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-graebar-has-died-apoarently/919749 "2020-09-03T20:43:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-graebar-has-died-apoarently/919749/1 "2020-09-03T20:43:01Z")
> **[David Graeber, anthropologist and author of Bullshit Jobs, dies aged 59](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/sep/03/david-graeber-anthropologist-and-author-of-bullshit-jobs-dies-aged-59)** > > The anarchist and author of bestselling books on capitalism and bureaucracy died in a Venice hospital on Wednesday I was sad to read this. I enjoyed reading “Bullshit Jobs” and some of the other books from this LSE anthropologist. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-graebar-has-died-apoarently/919749/2 "2020-09-04T16:42:03Z")
That’s a shame. I’m presently reading that book and see much relevance of what he says, and looked forward to further views of his. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2020, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-graebar-has-died-apoarently/919749/3 "2020-09-07T11:53:52Z")
Mm. Maybe as an office worker, my job isn’t as important as telling everyone how terrible their lives are, but I do my job well and it keeps me eating. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2020, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-graebar-has-died-apoarently/919749/4 "2020-09-07T19:21:21Z")
Graeber’s point is more than many people believe their own jobs are inessential and more or less meaningless. And, of course, that many jobs unnecessary and the people in them may be better employed doing socially useful jobs. If we cut out all the harmful work that would be unnecessary in a economy that wasn’t driven by profit flowing up the bosses, heck, we could all work a 15 hour week and lift everyone out of poverty. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2020, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-graebar-has-died-apoarently/919749/5 "2020-09-07T20:01:22Z")
And to commemorate David Graeber and Labor Day, this poem, author unknown: The Two Bums The bum on the rods is hunted down as the enemy of mankind. The bum on the plush is driven 'round to his club, is feted, wined, and dined. And they that curse the bum on the rods as the essence on all that’s bad Greet the other with a wining smile and extend the hand so glad. The bum on the rods is a social flea who gets an occasional bite. The bum on the plush is a social leech, bloodsucking day and night The bum on the rods is a load so light his weight we scarcely feel. But it takes the labor of dozens of men to furnish the other a meal. As long as we sanction the bum on the plush the other will always be there. But rid ourselves of the bum on the plush and the other will disappear. So make an intelligent, organised kick: get rid of the weights that crush. Don’t about the bum on the rods: get rid of the bum on the plush!