Your Worst Employment, EVER.

[Dennis1209]

1 hour ago, Neighbor said:

It will all come to a stretching halt, and cash it will be king for a long time to come.

I see the complete opposite with cash currency. There is now a concerted effort and bank experimentation to do away with cash completely. I believe everything we see financially is a globalist plan to break the system and initiate the New World Order. Build Back Better.

[The_Patriot21]

13 hours ago, Starise said:

To the person saying why not get a job you like. I wonder how the Israelites would have responded when they were under the oppression of the Egyptians in slavery? 

FWIW, I have always had sidlines that were more hobbys than jobs and this is how I sometimes did what I 'liked". I never pursued music professionally but have had ample training in both music on various instruments and have been heavily involved in recording technology for a long time. Never attempted to make any money off of any of it so far. There are the classical music snobs and the more down to earth musicians. I have mingled with both crowds and prefer to down to earthers even though I am being classically trained on the violin. For someone else it might be sports or fishing or any number of other things after the 'work' is done.

I don't think very many people who work would say they always like their jobs. Employment is often a means to an end. Hopefully there are things we like about our jobs. I originally thought I would like having a desk job with people I direct under me and almost no one to answer to. I have a very good person who I'm under, so the politics here is wonderful. I'm in a union. I am well paid. I am in a technical field with a lot of room to grow and by all outward appearances I should be happy as I have the job some probably dream of having. The downside to it is it's a desk job, so here I sit. If there is an issue, nine times out of ten someone under me will handle it. I always thought this would be the dream job to have, but man, sitting here every day on a computer sometimes almost drives me right up the wall. I even asked the Lord for this job and He gave it to me, but now that I have it. I'm wondering what I was thinking. I seem to thrive better on getting out and doing something, at least some of the time. Sometimes I'll make excuses to go out just so I get out. 

Some jobs seem like they would really be fun, but the pay would suck and maybe doing it all the time changes the dynamic. I always thought being a park ranger would be so cool or the caretaker of some large park. I would be working outdoors. Park rangers are like park policemen too, so I would likely be security and that angle doesn't interest me.  I like to cook, but I imagine after the first week as a cook hustling to get meals out all day might get old because time is a factor. I don't think the human body was intended to be sitting all day looking at a screen, so maybe a job that is a combination of sitting, standing and some form of exercise is best for both mental and physical health.

I don't tend to like crowds, so being with talkitive people all day would literally drive me nuts, scratch salesman for me. There are probably 100 jobs open right here in my area I could take immediately for half the pay. They would likely be more fun, but do I want to take that huge pay cut? In most cases, no.

Employment is a means to an end...but one can enjoy it to. And improve it. My early career was full of crappy jobs. When I first got married I was working a dead end job for 24k a year, only because I liked where I was living. Hated it. But I didn't have any useful skills or experience to get a high paying job. So I ended up moving back to my hometown, even though I didn't want to because of an opportunity to get my CDL. Now, 15 years later and multiple jobs, some good some bad, I moved back down to the area I was, have a decent paying job that I absolutely love. I enjoy my job, I enjoy the people I work with, the schedule allows me a life with my family. I have no serious complaints about it.

Took time and hard work. And sacrifice. But it's something, that most people in the US at least, have the ability to do so if they so choose. I get it sometimes you can't, but oftentimes people don't want to put in the work and sacrifice, and time. It took me 15 years to get to the spot where I could pick and choose my jobs, while I was just talking to a gal the other day is is managing a local service station for half what I make, for way more hours and hates it, but won't do anything to change her situation. 

A lot of people these days unfortunately are under the i need it now mentality, and if they don't get it they wallow, they have a poor attitude, and they get stuck in a hole, and because of this they don't see that sometimes it just takes hard work and time. Sometimes all we need is an attitude adjustment. Even when I was working the lousy jobs I still did my best, tried to learn as much as I could from them while working towards my next goal. (Having goals is pretty important if you want to improve your life)

[The_Patriot21]

And as far as best jobs...it would be a hard choice. My last 3 jobs have been great. I hauled crude oil for 3 years. And while it was by far the most dangerous job I have ever had, (it actually did kill me once) I worked for a great company that took care of it's employees, and it paid extremely well. Work wasn't overly hard, just picking up oil from various well sites and hauling it to storage locations where it could be piped out. The only downside was a lot of hours. It was also a night shift, which was a plus for me, but my wife hated it lol.

My next job was driving for a crane outfit owned by a member of my church, doing a lot of heavy haul. I enjoyed the work and the people, only issue was it wasn't a consistent paycheck, lots of ups and downs.

Them I moved south (back to the area I had to leave over 15 years ago) and took a job driving a garbage truck, of all things. I would have never imagined I would have liked it as much as I do, but it gives me a good solid schedule, good pay and I work with a good group of people, and I actually enjoy the work, a lot more then I ever thought I would.

[Neighbor]

13 hours ago, Dennis1209 said:

I see the complete opposite with cash currency. There is now a concerted effort and bank experimentation to do away with cash completely. I believe everything we see financially is a globalist plan to break the system and initiate the New World Order. Build Back Better.

Call it what one will, whatever represents cash will be king. Whatever that maybe will easily be trackable in this world. Gold the universal solvent for financial security will be solid but it too can easily be made illegal to won as has been done in the past even in the USA. Anyway, another subject another worry that need not bother one excessively anyway. But those awful jobs;

In general I think the most awful of jobs is the one that is mentally and physically boring. For it is hard  to impossible to  maintain one's boredom. The mind desperately seeks relief from the doldrums. I used to take on as a  source of revenue sub subcontracting the preparing  for mailing the little decal stickers that were AAA membership ID's, - did lots of 20,000 at a time. I think I was 16-17  at the time. I would place a AAA decal into it's little sleeve, sleeve with the one sheet insert, insert in  envelop, envelopes in boxes of 200 each. Did that on and on and on for supplemental income. Did hundreds of thousands twenty thousand at a time sitting at home nights with the neighbor's garage stacked full of them ready to be put together for distribution. Hated that one, but had to take it to get the better one of filling half once glue bottles, another  sub sub contracting project that paid well. filling and labeling 144 to a case case after case after case. Attach brush to cap glue label to bottle fill bottle insert brush and cap it very tight. Many cases per day until perhaps as many  as 1000 cases would be done. All so the other replacement decals could be glued  onto airplanes somewhere.

All stuff that today would be done very differently if at all, by robots . Guess the Lord still provides just  seems like it must be harder for those starting out these days. Maybe not long as "free" stuff is there.

[Neighbor]

44 minutes ago, Slibhin said:

Worst job ever: Model

Best ever: Model

Figure that out.

Perhaps it is that nothing worthwhile and rewarding comes easily.  It's price is as dear as it's reward is precious. 

[Dennis1209]

8 hours ago, The_Patriot21 said:

Employment is a means to an end...but one can enjoy it to. And improve it. My early career was full of crappy jobs. When I first got married I was working a dead end job for 24k a year, only because I liked where I was living. Hated it. But I didn't have any useful skills or experience to get a high paying job. So I ended up moving back to my hometown, even though I didn't want to because of an opportunity to get my CDL. Now, 15 years later and multiple jobs, some good some bad, I moved back down to the area I was, have a decent paying job that I absolutely love. I enjoy my job, I enjoy the people I work with, the schedule allows me a life with my family. I have no serious complaints about it.

Took time and hard work. And sacrifice. But it's something, that most people in the US at least, have the ability to do so if they so choose. I get it sometimes you can't, but oftentimes people don't want to put in the work and sacrifice, and time. It took me 15 years to get to the spot where I could pick and choose my jobs, while I was just talking to a gal the other day is is managing a local service station for half what I make, for way more hours and hates it, but won't do anything to change her situation. 

A lot of people these days unfortunately are under the i need it now mentality, and if they don't get it they wallow, they have a poor attitude, and they get stuck in a hole, and because of this they don't see that sometimes it just takes hard work and time. Sometimes all we need is an attitude adjustment. Even when I was working the lousy jobs I still did my best, tried to learn as much as I could from them while working towards my next goal. (Having goals is pretty important if you want to improve your life)

Yes, Sir, I hear you. Thus far, we are blessed to live in a land of freedom and opportunity to improve our lives and conditions. Dictatorships, communism, and socialism do not afford motivation or betterment.

Several times in my military and civilian careers, I changed occupations because I was bored, wanted to advance, or the main driving force, money, and benefits. To change trades, one has to have something for education, skills, knowledge, and abilities on employment applications and resumes.

I was blessed with my military training and courses and using the G.I. Bill to attend college. When my G.I. Bill expired, changing occupations and trades became very difficult. College tuition and required books aside, being married and starting a family, working full time, owning a home, and all the repair and maintenance that entails made it stressful and challenging.

For a two-year degree or certificate, carrying a heavy semester hour load to get it done quicker, 4-5 days a week, I would drive directly from work to the college campus cafeteria to eat supper and study. One weekend a month, I had Reserve duty. It was taxing but doable; it did not leave much time for home maintenance, family time, or relaxation and recreation. Not long ago, I would have said there are no free lunches, but the government has proven that slogan wrong in spades. Karen and Kevin are now getting their way (entitlement mentality).

The main point I wanted to emphasize, no matter one's lot in life, opportunity exists and is available to improve our circumstances and conditions.

[bropro]

On 3/8/2023 at 8:48 AM, Dennis1209 said:

Most of us old fogies have at least several jobs in our lifetimes. What was the worst job you ever had, and why? I still have occasional nightmares of my job in the early to mid-1980s.

PART ONE

My worst job was as a propane delivery driver in the ghettos of East Saint Louis, Illinois, and the surrounding vicinity. They converted to propane from natural gas because they did not pay the gas bill, resulting in disconnection. Most of the customers were C.O.D. I had to collect cash before any delivery, no checks. I often had thousands of dollars on me in this crime-infested gang-ridden city and surrounding areas.

I will mention only a few of the dozens of stories I experienced in the ghetto as a gas delivery driver. I delivered bulk propane to 250–500-gallon tanks and switched out 100# tanks for gas stoves.

Before G.P.S., It took a lot of time to find and learn where these propane tanks were located; many wrong turns and time were wasted. I was expected to make as many deliveries as possible.

Ninety percent of the time, when I made a delivery, the tank was empty. In the winter, many wanted same-day service. The company I worked for tacked a $35.00 same-day service fee, with a 100-gallon minimum. Getting these radio calls for same-day service, as I had my route organized for efficiency, was frustrating and hindering.

As I mentioned, nine out of ten tanks were utterly empty; therefore furnace, gas stove, and water heater pilot lights were out. I was required to bleed the gas lines to the appliances and relight the pilot lights at no additional charge. Thermocouples often fail to energize the gas valve, another story.

I cannot tell you how many times I lifted the top of the gas stove to light the pilot light, hundreds of roaches hurrying out and on me: roaches and their droppings everywhere and on food.

In addition to their natural gas being shut off for nonpayment, their water and sewer were usually disconnected. The sewer line was often concreted at the main line to prevent sewer system usage. But they found ways to bypass this inconvenience.

Refusal to do something at this company was frowned upon. On more than one occasion, I opened the door to the basement to light the furnace pilot light and was immediately knocked over by the stench. The sewer line was cut off under the toilet(s), and the waste was dropping and collecting in huge piles on the basement floor.

Informing the dispatcher by radio, in no uncertain terms, he directed me to go down there and light the pilot anyway. No, I will not; I can return your truck immediately if you would like.

My worst job by far was, well some of you will be able to figure it out via this picture. Thankfully it was only a 2 day job.

 

 

[farouk]

1 minute ago, bropro said:

My worst job by far was, well some of you will be able to figure it out via this picture. Thankfully it was only a 2 day job.

 

 

Hi @bropro Is this a military truck in the background there?

[bropro]

10 minutes ago, farouk said:

Hi @bropro Is this a military truck in the background there?

Yes it is. The place is Vietnam.

Gary

[com7fy8]

On 3/9/2023 at 10:42 AM, Starise said:

Park rangers

When I looked into becoming a park ranger, I was thinking of being out in the wilderness . . . doing I don't know what. But it was a profession in high demand, and the local school specializing in it had high standards. 

And now I see . . . those park rangers standing at park entrances, with even more than a mile of cars waiting to be cleared to enter the park . . . while may be they are smelling the car fumes, all day. 

And then there might be guarding the parking lots against bears, and guarding camping areas. 

One time, I did spend time with a "real" ranger in a state forest, I think it is . . . the Adirondacks in upstate New York. One time, we came ashore in his canoe, and I started pulling it up on the ground . . . while he had just stood up to come off of the canoe. And he was screaming crazily, at how I could have dumped him in the lake. Well . . . it occurred to me, that he might have such a great job, but he might have some deep problems. 

He had me wear his jacket with a ranger's patch, one evening, while I went out to check and visit and assist campers. With that jacket on . . . everyone was offering me food. And I detected some guys sneaking near some girl campers from an island camp I knew. I told the leader, then went out in the brush and called out in the dark, that if they were hiding there, they needed to get back to their camp and I would be there shortly. They seemed kind of nervous, when I got there. And I stayed on the ground near the girls' lean-to, and got my first experience with hypothermia.

So, I got a sample.