I’m sure I’m not the first person to ever note this observation, but here goes.
When we are spending our leisure time, we do so by observing others’ spending their non-working time. And when we are working, we spend our time unable to witness others’ leisure time.
The converse of this is interesting to me as well. Who would want to spend two hours at the movies watching people at an office typing? Only a few of us. And who among us would want to spend our paid work time watching others enjoy themselves? Very few of us.
So, we go to the movies, watch television or read a novel about people living their lives and not working. These characters go on vacation, get in fights, make love, and cry tears of joy and sadness.
And when we go to work, we disallow ourselves the ability to watch people go on vacation, get in fights, make love, and cry tears of joy and sadness.