(no subject)

[vicarz]

At the risk of sounding admitting that I'm old, I find it bizarre that people can't walk anywhere without being plugged into the phone or radio. I admit sometimes I'm walking and think I could have been more "productive" had I talked to someone, but I also value the forced not-talking-time when I'm not walking around connected. I've felt the pull of being able to live socially real time.

The classist part of me notices that people with simple jobs are on the phone all the time. The taxi driver, secretary, janitor, and security guard live on their phones/facebook. I just wonder what they could have to discuss that is of any possible relevance? They are not important except as any human is, but their tasks are the do menial labor so other people can do significant work.

Then again, people in those jobs are often poor and working multiple jobs so they may have strong family needs such as childcare that may require much maintenance. If they're working all the time, the technology may enable them to live their harsh life with far less pain, as their social connections are maintained despite their long commute and hours.

The guards I feel for, during those long hours of nothing to do. Oddly many of the ones I see are working 2nd jobs, but have huge expensive cars. They sacrifice real life, in my opinion, so they can portray wealth to others (strangers, as anyone who knows them knows they work a 2nd job as security).

Comments

[desiringmachine.livejournal.com]

It's possible that people with more complicated jobs would be on the phone more but they can't effectively divide their attention like that, the complicated job requires too much. I can't follow and participate in two rapid conversations simultaneously but I can drive and talk perfectly fine, so I can see a taxi driver being on the phone. Why not? Spending all day in your car like that gets boring. I know, I work as a courier. I'd probably be on my phone more but I find earbuds terribly uncomfortable. I will probably get another headset eventually.

How do you know people in those other jobs aren't on the phone whenever their office door is closed? I have a coworker who is on the phone every minute she can be, but nobody not in the office would know that. The taxi driver, the janitor walking around, the security guard you pass on your way inside - maybe it's just that their job is in more public view, so you *see* them talking on the phone.

I helps to remind oneself that not everybody wants the same things from life that you want, and their definitions of success vary widely. I will probably never own a home. I am approaching middle age with no savings and no prospects for a better job. Why shouldn't I spend some money on a nice new car that will last me for several years instead of holding out for the pipe dream of home ownership while wasting money in the interim on piece of shit inefficient cars that will need expensive repairs to stay running? You have property and lots of money, from what I can tell from your LJ posts, but again, from your posts, you don't often sound happy. What's this 'real life' that others are giving up by not having what you have?

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Fair enough, though I'm in the weird position of knowing how much my coworkers etc. are on the phone because all our walls are glass. We call this habitrail or each unit "a fishbowl."

[frontdoorangel.livejournal.com]

Eh, considering my cousin is on his phone almost non-stop and he's a doctor, I don't think that simple/significant job status has anything to do with phone use. For example, today at my somewhat simple job, I saw him update facebook about Cam Cameron being fired by the Ravens. Interesting? Yeah. Earth shattering or actually important? No.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Sports are a great social stratification breaker - anyone can talk about sports.

Oh god I hate sports talk. Oh well...

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

I think it's people who can get away with talking on their phones and mucking around online and still get enough work done to stay employed who do it. A lot of those jobs are simpler jobs though I know some people with more complicated jobs who waste time at work online and on the phone too. I used to be infuriated by one co-worker who was constantly on the phone. I think cell phones must be wonderful for taxi drivers and security guards to keep boredom at bay. Can you imagine having to make small talk with complete strangers all day?

[vicar.livejournal.com]

No, that actually sounds horrible now that you mention it. I typically like the building staff and am nice, but I feel uncomfortable with the morning bable when they're emptying the can. Maybe I wouldn't hate it if I were them, but I suspect the work wouldn't bother me like the people likely would.