If you ask wikipedia, what is downshifting, it redirects you to the article about “simple living”. Well I disagree: it’s not the same, because one can be a downshifter, but still have a rather sophisticated lifestyle. These days, this is a trendy topic in russian blogosphere. Why? I don’t know. Maybe because it’s autumn. People get used from childhood that autumn is the time for personal growth (kindergarten -> school, 5th year -> 6th year, school -> university, graduate studies -> post graduate studies). Then, one autumn you find yourself stuck. You are in the same position as three years ago. Or maybe even ten years. What’s worse, you don’t have any idea, where you want to move. And why.
That’s the point when people start to discuss downshifting.
Interesting points:
- The hero of downshifting is Perelman. He takes long walks, he listens to the opera, and he proves the Poincaré conjecture - but he is not involved to corporate quarrels. (Perelman is a great russian mathematician, who does not belong to any scientific organization). The idea of moving up the scale of ranks is artificial and does not make sense outside the corporations.
- Downshifting is very harmful for russian society. Western culture is based on Protestantism, people have been getting used to working hard for ages. It’s good for them to relax a bit. We are different. In Russia diligence and social activity have never been popular.
- Downshifter is a freelancer who doesn’t want to find a normal job. No perspective. You lose professional networks. Your life is not structured.
- I’m not a looser, I’m a downshifter. Very comforting idea.
and, to me, the most interesting opinion:
- Denial of career, of social network - until recently, it has been an extremist idea. Now it’s a commonplace. Maybу the System can control us even without making us dependent on a comfortable job?
Links:
(in Russian)
Posted by Nadya in blogs, life