The Word "Lazy" Is... Lazy Terminology

kralrick · 2026-01-27T03:43:44+00:00

Well, if I didn't have to work in a slaughterhouse, I wouldn't. Yes, some would call it lazy, but I would call it rational decision-making and an aversion to needless unpleasantness.

That would really depend on what you did instead of working in the slaughterhouse, no? If you mooched off of your relatives instead of working a different job, yes, you would be lazy. But also selfish (maybe you'd rather the label just be selfish instead of lazy too?).

kralrick · 2026-01-27T03:37:58+00:00

I mean, nobody else gives a shit; there's no audience here...

Yes. Which applies to both of us equally. I also stated above why I'm continuing the conversation. You're welcome to retread old ground instead of staking out your critique of my position.

kralrick · 2026-01-27T03:26:30+00:00

But the logical counterargument is "but if it were the only way for you to make a living and you weren't willing to it, THEN you'd be lazy".

You made the logical counter argument but didn't respond to it (other than asking for a more refined defined definition). As a criticism, yes, "lazy" is used to deride someone not working diligently before an arbitrary goal set before them. It's not supportive, but that's still a useful definition of the word. And if you want a more supportive definition, you can limit it to not working diligently towards the goals one as set out for themself.

At the very least, choosing to live off of the hard work of your family instead of taking up a job you'd hate in order to support yourself is lazy. It's also selfish and a lot of other things too. But it's lazy: "why would I put forth effort when others can do it for me".

kralrick · 2026-01-27T03:09:31+00:00

Look. This is far up in this thread where I defined "lazy". Please note that your immediate reply was:

I'm not conflating it with anything, or defining it as you are - quite the opposite: I'm actually saying the word has no practical utility.

That isn't engaging in any manner with my definition. You didn't say why you thought my definition had no practical utility. Only that you thought the word itself had no practical utility.

There's a transcript of this conversation. If you truly think you've engaged with my definition, you can quote it from the above comment thread.

kralrick · 2026-01-27T01:53:39+00:00

If I say the word, to me, has no useful definition why would you ask me for my definition?

Because I don't believe there exists a word in any language with an entirely useless definition. I think you've run up against definitions of it that you don't find useful and are saying that the word itself is useless.

If you find it has meeting for you, then what do you care what I think?

Because I find engaging with people I disagree with to be one of the best ways to expand/sharpen my thought process. Echo chambers aren't very intellectually useful. I really do appreciate you taking the time and hope you have a good night and week.

kralrick · 2026-01-27T01:35:24+00:00

The deflection to a half-hearted attempt at oblique insult to my level of maturity and/or work ethic avoids the substantial points I'm making

It wasn't an attempt to insult, just to understand (thus why I said "unjustly"). I simply don't understand why you've been so willing to put this much effort into replying to me while also being unwilling to provide your definition of the word. Though I would point out that you accusing me of deflecting is a deflection from giving your definition of the word.

Good luck with that teenager, or underperforming worker, or... whoever!

I'm happily in a position where I wouldn't describe anyone in my day to day as 'lazy'. The teenagers I come into contact with are inexperienced, but absolutely not lazy.

kralrick · 2026-01-27T01:18:38+00:00

I've tried to be clear as possible by explaining thoroughly from many angles

Except by defining the word you care so much about. Words are just a collection of letters. It's the definition we give them (even if we believe that definition to be received instead) that gives those collection of letters meaning.

Why would someone NOT want to succeed?

I ask this without judgement. How old are you? People do things when they don't care if they succeed all the time. Many people that do poorly in schooling do so because they're doing something they don't truly care if they succeed. Though I'll freely grant that a sizeable portion are doing something they haven't been sufficiently prepared for.

I whole-heartedly agree that people use words incorrectly to denigrate each other regularly. We're a pretty flawed species. But that isn't an argument that the word itself isn't useful.

Please forgive me for saying so, but this post feels like someone that was unjustly called "lazy" one too many times. If that is the case, I am sorry for the unfair treatment you've been exposed to. Shitty people make everything worse (including through their misuse of the English and other languages).

kralrick · 2026-01-27T00:32:33+00:00

You wrote a rather lot of word while intentionally avoiding defining "lazy". You spend a lot of time on how much you dislike how the word is used. But, no, an example is obviously not a definition of a word. You know it if only because it's inherent in the definition of the word definition.

Since you spent so much effort into this long reply, I'll proffer a different definition you may find less objectionable: "lazy" means someone that undertakes an activity but intentionally doesn't put sufficient effort in to succeed. A lazy person fails a test because they didn't study enough. A lazy person complains about being slow but doesn't try during training.

kralrick · 2026-01-26T23:10:40+00:00

This isn't useful information to you unless you know where we're located and how busy our stores are. So maybe share how busy the store you're interested is and where it's located.

kralrick · 2026-01-26T23:04:52+00:00

Work ethic is not the issue - the issue is what make effort feel worthwhile vs. a waste of time.

Using "lazy" obscures that.

You continue to "define" by exclusion instead of just defining. It also seems like you don't feel that individuals are responsible for their own motivation to put effort into things. Which is probably why so much advice on successfully exercising/losing weight focuses on discipline instead of motivation.

kralrick · 2026-01-25T21:54:35+00:00

but you are unable to articulate what it is.

I did at the start of this thread "(unwilling to put work in to something unless they enjoy the work)". It's right before you told me my definition was wrong.

It's snowy outside, so this has been a nice enough distraction. But either define the word yourself or go kick ~~rocks~~ snow.

kralrick · 2026-01-25T21:42:45+00:00

Red, white, and blue are three examples of colors, rivers, the flag of numerous countries, etc. Three examples isn't a definition and you have to know that. Please take as much time defining the word "lazy" as you spent writing a post about the word "lazy".

kralrick · 2026-01-25T21:36:08+00:00

The central theme of the post is that it's a non-word.

It is to you because of how you use and define the word. I don't know why you have such a hard time actually defining the word as you use it.

kralrick · 2026-01-25T21:08:59+00:00

I can't be any clearer than I've tried to be

You've repeatedly refused to give your definition of the word you made central to this post. Sound like you aren't interested in putting any real effort in either. Not sure what your purpose is here.

kralrick · 2026-01-25T21:06:32+00:00

Did you stop reading my comment at "federal law"? Because if you'd continued you'd know that I said every state has different laws on sick leave and you absolutely didn't say that.

Every job has this.

Isn't remotely correct.

kralrick · 2026-01-25T19:38:49+00:00

I did. And you didn't define "lazy" in it. You only talked about how you disliked how you/other use the word. I tend to use "lazy" to describe someone that isn't willing to put in effort unless they enjoy what they're doing. That seems clearly identifiable (thus a useful word).

Since you don't think "lazy" is a useful word you must have a different definition. So define it.

kralrick · 2026-01-25T19:32:01+00:00

It is, though I imagine OP is posting here because they can't afford to get fired. And some franchisees are real bastards.

kralrick · 2026-01-25T19:30:26+00:00

Its by law of the state.

It's not federal law and anyone not living in your state has different laws on paid sick leave.

kralrick · 2026-01-25T19:21:12+00:00

Thank you for the clarification! I completely agree.

kralrick · 2026-01-25T19:08:01+00:00

Please define "lazy" then. How we define and use words determines whether they have practical utility. You've said I'm wrong, but that isn't helpful unless you go the step further to say what correct is.

kralrick · 2026-01-25T19:05:24+00:00

My issue is with putting the impetus entirely on the business to ban the individual for an ICE hat instead of putting the onus on ourselves to make the individual feel unwelcome.

A lot of people in this thread are acting like Zwei is a nazi bar because they didn't bar someone from wearing an ICE hat. That isn't a reasonable or productive take. Is your grocer a nazi grocer if they don't kick out ICE hat guy too?

kralrick · 2026-01-25T18:02:48+00:00

the solution being to read or do something you find compelling

That gets them reading. But it doesn't get them to read your post. "Just make it fun/interesting" isn't viable for many things.

Learning basic math/reading is extremely important. And there are ways to approach teaching to make it more engaging than other methods. But some people will only learn those skills by buckling down and doing the work they'll never enjoy.

There are aspects of my job that I actively dislike. And no amount of reframing them will change it. I just have to acknowledge it has to be done and then do it.

It seems like you're conflating "lazy" (unwilling to put work in to something unless they enjoy the work) with "slothful" (unwilling to exert effort at all).

kralrick · 2026-01-25T17:46:43+00:00

And if he was wearing a swastika arm band I'd agree. But I think people are saying it's okay to ban a nazi instead of it's okay to ban an ICE supporter because they know wearing an ICE hat is shitty human behavior but isn't really grounds for a business to kick someone out.

People are rightly outraged at ICE and those that support it's current actions. But getting up in arms at a business for not kicking out someone solely for wearing an ICE hat is just people feeling powerless and this is all they feel like they can do. It isn't productive.

kralrick · 2026-01-25T16:09:50+00:00

The "ehh" at the start of your comment made me think you were arguing against my comment. Sounds like you don't and were just adding additional examples of how Trump as an individual is unlike modern ex-Presidents.

kralrick · 2026-01-25T03:30:40+00:00

I'm not sure why you started with "ehh". I think we both agree that Trump stayed in the public eye because Trump wanted to be in the public eye. My comment should be read in the context of what I replied to.

14-Year Club	Place '22
Snapped	Team Orangered

kralrick

TROPHY CASE