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Comment by zem | Hacker News Reader

they also get the same shit done, and they've hooked in a reward mechanism that makes it seem less like an unending grind. win/win.

there has somehow spread the attitude that "being an adult" means that you have to do life's unpleasant-but-necessary chores, and make no attempt to alleviate their unpleasantness. i've also seen complaints about companies that offer things like on-site laundry services, that they are somehow infantalising their employees, or shielding them from having to grow up and live in the real, adult world where people do their own shit. no. if something is unpleasant and there is a legitimate way that you can do all three of not do it, still have it get done, and hurt no one in the process, that is clearly a better way!

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Until you get to this point:

"Daddy, why don't you want to put me to bed?" and "Daddy, why do you pay Mommy more to put me to bed than Timmy?"

Edit: to address your subsequent update... "there has somehow spread the attitude that "being an adult" means that you have to do life's unpleasant-but-necessary chores, and make no attempt to alleviate their unpleasantness."

There is NOTHING that can alleviate the unpleasantness of changing a blow-out diaper or dealing with a feverish, vomiting child at 3am.

the underlying problem there, then, is that putting the kids to bed is a chore rather than a chance to spend time with them. the basic principle is still sound.

I've seen them essentially submit negative bids for things when the task is something desirable. If one wants to put the kids to bed, and the other doesn't, then basically no money is exchanged because both parties agree on who should do it.

It's just a much faster way to get to that conclusion than feeling each other out with words. :)

The problem of dad not wanting to put the kids to bed (in the case of your example) is still there, whether or not the parents are open and honest about it.

So what you're really asking is "How do you balance honesty and protecting childrens' feelings?" Which is not a flaw of a bidding system, at least not more so than any other system where you actually talk about what you want.

>There is NOTHING that can alleviate the unpleasantness of changing a blow-out diaper or dealing with a feverish, vomiting child at 3am.

How a robotic AI with long extending arms in every room?

An act of God?

Or maybe a maid...

Mayhap paying your wife $20 to do it?

These are all reasonable suggestions.

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