A rant about privileged people

[Food Lady]

..and I don't mean financially privileged necessarily. I'm talking about people who don't have to work when ill or in pain or sleep deprived. I know there are many people who have such good fortune but are aware that there are those of us who don't enjoy that and don't act like it's the most shocking thing in the world that suffering exists.

I'm referring to the clueless ones who can't stop to think that the less-than-Disneyland-cheerful (but polite) cashier might not be enjoying the good fortune they have. I'm talking about the ones who are genuinely shocked when I say "I didn't sleep much last night," as if everyone on earth always gets 8 hours. [Some of that particular brand are even coworkers. ] Where do these people come from? Are they human? Why do I have to explain why I'm tired or less-than-stellar? That life isn't perfect? That retail people freaking have to come to work to avoid homelessness? Do they think we all work 40 hours a week and get paid a lot? Nothing could be further from the truth and I thought everyone knew that.

It boggles the mind that some people out there have their heads shoved so far up their butts that they think everything is just peachy all the time. Sometimes I wonder if it's a Wisconsin thing and when I whine to my mom she reminds me that it certainly does seem to be that way. It's like older people here are still living in the idealized version of the '50s or something. I'd rather live in gangland sometimes. At least it's reality.

[Crai]

I hear you, I remember those days myself. Working 3 jobs couldn't afford to get sick, be sick, feel sick.

I'm going to assume you have seen Office Space, The one person I hated with a total passion in that movie was the happy annoying chipper "case of the Mondays" women. I mean on a primal level of contempt and hatred her character.

Why is it some people just don't get that not everybody is sniffing bloody roses and living on sunshine. I make it a point when i'm in a check out line or dealing with someone as a customer to try and crack jokes, give them a smile but I know they are at work and work sucks so I keep it mellow and light and try to not be a pain in the ass.

[notalwaysright]

I do think it's worse in your area. At my work, and at school everyone is always tired and sick. Or their kids are sick, or they have an hour commute, or whatever. Sometimes I feel bad because I haven't been sick in a long time, and if I don't sleep it's entirely my fault.

One problem we had at the roofing company was that homeowners didn't seem to understand that roofers couldn't work under certain conditions. If there was ice on the roof, we wouldn't risk injury to an employee. Or excessive heat. (Maybe they could do a quick repair, but not a day-long job.) Anyway, people would be so quizzical about it. "Well, it stopped snowing, so I don't see the problem, I mean it's a clear sky, for now *chuckle*" The joke is that the weather changes really fast around here, so that's the "for now" part that these homeowners would think was funny. I guess I felt that they were acting privileged because they felt they understood the situation, and that we should to bow to their will.

[April]

I am TIRED, and people don't understand that. I work full time, my husband works full time. I've got two kids who need things (even if it's just attention) and not only that, every few months, I'm on call, which means, in addition to working 40 hours a week, I also get phone calls 'round the clock. I've got insomnia badly, and never sleep well.

The only time I get to myself, is at night, or early morning. So maybe I stayed up until 1000 reading, instead of trying to sleep at 930.

The other fun thing, is people say "But you work a desk job, why are you tired?"

um because I work my ass off. and just because it's at a desk, doesn't mean it's easy. Like yeah, it doesn't physically wear me out, but it is mentally draining. I work in a correctional facility. that means that I have to try and figure out criminal thinking, deal with behavioral issues, shut down a client who is screaming obscenities at me, contact community resources, create case plans, deal with outside agencies, etc etc etc.

[MoonCat]

April - yeah, the desk job thing! "Why are you tired? You just sit and talk on the phone all day."

OH REALLY??

Mentally demanding work can be harder that physical work, especially if you also have to put up with frustratingly bad computer programs, people who bring their personal drama to work, the stress of a dying industry, and management with its head up its collective ass.

Add not being able to sleep a lot of nights and yeah. Tired. Tiiiiirrrred.

[Racket_Man]

I had this happen at home of all places. Before my Ex left for the last time 11 years ago, she basically forced me to work 2 jobs. combined 72-75 hours a week (yeah I did need the money). NO days off unless I requested one. I was working 7 days a week. 3 days a week I did BOTH jobs in one day.

Now she was on disability and could NOT work and could not really do much anyway

BUT then she had the gall to REALLY bitch and moan and complain that I was NEVER home and when I was home I slept a lot.

YA THINK bitch??????

[Crai]

Racket Man

I have a Brother going through that. His wife has 3 kids (none His) We works constantly she doesn't work, just takes class's at the community college. The Kids dad refuses to pay child support and is currently about 20 thousand behind. All he ever hears is how broke they are, and that he should get another job, that he doesn't do anything, (work's 50 hour weeks) Hard manual labor in 90 degree heat.

[mjr]

The one person I hated with a total passion in that movie was the happy annoying chipper "case of the Mondays" women. I mean on a primal level of contempt and hatred her character.

They did a good job of writing that character. You're supposed to hate her. Why? Because every workplace has that woman.

I know there are many people who have such good fortune but are aware that there are those of us who don't enjoy that and don't act like it's the most shocking thing in the world that suffering exists.

It's because it's ingrained in people's heads that those who work "customer facing" positions (i.e. customer service, cashier, etc.) are supposed to be happy and chipper. Because that's what you see on TV and in advertising.

Do they think we all work 40 hours a week and get paid a lot?
...It boggles the mind that some people out there have their heads shoved so far up their butts that they think everything is just peachy all the time.

It's possible they don't care. Sometimes it's a "brain to mouth filter" thing. Sometimes it's because many of them have likely never worked in that environment. It's possible that they're "blissfully unaware", as it were.

The other fun thing, is people say "But you work a desk job, why are you tired?"

um because I work my ass off. and just because it's at a desk, doesn't mean it's easy.

This! So much this! "Desk job" people deal with crap, too. Except most of the time our "customers" are our bosses, managers, etc.

[wolfie]

I have a Brother going through that. His wife has 3 kids (none His) We works constantly she doesn't work, just takes class's at the community college. The Kids dad refuses to pay child support and is currently about 20 thousand behind. All he ever hears is how broke they are, and that he should get another job, that he doesn't do anything, (work's 50 hour weeks) Hard manual labor in 90 degree heat.

WTF? He ALREADY works more than full-time, and HE needs to get another job? Why can't SHE get off her butt and get a job?

It's because it's ingrained in people's heads that those who work "customer facing" positions (i.e. customer service, cashier, etc.) are supposed to be happy and chipper. Because that's what you see on TV and in advertising.

Because TV and advertising never lie. For a lot of retail workers, the only thing "chipper" about them is where they wish they could put the mismanagers and SCs.

[Crai]

WTF? He ALREADY works more than full-time, and HE needs to get another job? Why can't SHE get off her butt and get a job?

She says she cant work and go to school AND that she wouldn't be able attend the kids band / sports / scouts / play / ect / ect / ect.


Mostly she just doesn't want to. I know many single parents that do that AND go to school AND work. I know lots of Students that work full time and school full time.

[protege]

Mentally demanding work can be harder that physical work, especially if you also have to put up with frustratingly bad computer programs, people who bring their personal drama to work, the stress of a dying industry, and management with its head up its collective ass.

Even better, is having to deal with shit equipment, plus the added bonus of being pulled in multiple directions every 5 minutes because of constant distractions.

For example, where I work, there are a dozen people on the desk...but only one (me) gets the "pleasure" of dealing with the phones. Whenever the phone rings, I have to stop whatever I'm doing, deal with the idiot on the phone, and then hopefully remember what I was working on. While I can usually "recover," and get back to work, having to deal with the phone every 5 minutes gets annoying as fuck. Plus, why is it that whenever I have a deadline, or I'm trying to fix a major problem...everyone and their mom has to call me?

I've tried to explain the problem of having to multi-task and the constant stream of distractions, but certain people in the office just don't get it. These guys sit on their collective asses, and do one thing (trading) all day long. They don't deal with the phones, they don't deal with any deadlines, shit computer equipment, or anything else. They have one job to do. I've tried to explain how stressful it is to be constantly interrupted, only to get "deal with it."

Really? There's a reason why I'm tired by 2PM. I've been running my ass off since 8AM, so I'm sorry if I'm tired as hell and no longer chipper. Get me an assistant, or deal with THAT.

[Food Lady]

then hopefully remember what I was working on. While I can usually "recover," and get back to work, having to deal with the phone every 5 minutes gets annoying

I feel you. I don't answer phones but occasionally to help out. But I do get interrupted roughly 4,000 times a night while working in cafe because people neeeeeed quarts of frozen sugar water. I'm trying to shut down and clean machines, monitor food safety and clean up customers' messes. I'm not just standing at the counter all night waiting to sell slushies to people.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I'm not just standing at the counter all night waiting to sell slushies to people.

I want a squishee made entirely out of syrup.

[Food Lady]

I want a squishee made entirely out of syrup.

You want the diabeetus.

[notalwaysright]

WTF? He ALREADY works more than full-time, and HE needs to get another job? Why can't SHE get off her butt and get a job?

Sounds like a distant relative of mine. The guy worked, she worked a little babysitting their friend's kids. They have one kid. She was always waning to go do this *expensive event* or take time and go on vacation to that *expensive resort.* She just flat out couldn't understand that while they made enough to live, they didn't make enough to do all the stuff she wanted to do. She claimed he was controlling, they broke up for a while. She lived separately, by herself, the kid lived with HIM.... For some reason the guy still paid for everything for her.

I don't get people or their weird daytime talk show style relationships.