Look, I'll be the first among us to call out people who put way too much of their identity in their work. But I'm not talking about that.
Throughout history and throughout cultures there's a universal: children, adults, and the elderly all like to feel like they have some kind of purpose in their community. Getting food, physical healing, emotional support, construction, passing on wisdom. All of these things are under threat.
I think you gravely underestimate how important this is, and how bored and dismal life would be if you didn't have some kind of purpose in your community.
Throughout history and throughout cultures there's a universal: children, adults, and the elderly all like to feel like they have some kind of purpose in their community. Getting food, physical healing, emotional support, construction, passing on wisdom. All of these things are under threat.
I think you gravely underestimate how important this is, and how bored and dismal life would be if you didn't have some kind of purpose in your community.