So...is it worth it?

DublinWriter

I recently heard a speech made by ex-1960’s UK Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, warning people of the impending ‘leisure-crises’ and how automation would mean that mankind would have more time to spend pursuing leisure activities.

Now, fast forward 40 years, and your good friend, Dublinwriter, is stuck in a jam on the Naas Road today because An Garda Síochána have thought it a good thing to squat on the buslane and nab passing traffic on said lane, many of which were turning left into the service station 10 foot in feet of their check anyways.

I’m listening to the same speech on my radio in said jam and the irony and carbon-monoxide is so thick that I choked.

But here’s the circle I’ve been trying to square recently.

How many of you are actually satisfied with your jobs? Is the daily grind actually worth it? Is life all you expected it to be?

I guess I’m addressing this more to the Salarimen/Salariwomen bringing up a young family than I am to the 20-something latte-sipping PS3 owners who haven’t fully tasted of the burnt ashes of their dreams yet and who haven’t realised that they are just a small goatee-wearing cog in the gigantic machinery in the call centre/I.T. department of their host multinational.

muletide

I love my job, I worked hard in school and University I put alot of effort into my job selection process.I went through what you are going through for a few years.

Now I earn enough now that I never worry about bills, save plenty, have my own house and a great social life. My job affords me the oppurtunity for travel and further education and upskilling.My daily commute is ten minutes I walk/run it most days.

The daily grind is worth it, if it gets you to where you want to be. You need to stop and look and see if you are going somewhere or will you still be doing this at fifty. If the latter is the case then it is time for a change.

Spocker

DublinWriter wrote:

just a small goatee-wearing cog in the gigantic machinery in the call centre/I.T. department of their host multinational.

It's me! It's me! :eek:

Seriously, though, I left the 'Smoke years ago, but I consider myself lucky in that I had the chance. No, I ain't earning as much as if I'd stayed but it takes me 30 mins (max) to get to work 25 miles away, I'm usually home by six, have an alright gaff, and only a mortage in debt.

To answer your question, yes. I love dicking around with computers and hope to do so for a long time to come

leeroybrown

I'm in my mid 20's, single and have no kids. I prefer my coffee strong and black and I don't own a games console. I'll answer anyway. I agree your point - one of the things I aim to avoid is a life on the commuter belt.

At the moment I have an interesting job that pays reasonably well. I would probably prefer to move abroad than live in Dublin permenantly. I normally cycle to work so apart from some rain soaked mornings I avoid the long commute.

I was actually discussing the hassle of kids with a colleague this morning. A humourous thought came to mind: "The Chinese could learn something from the EU. While they legally impose a maximum child count the EU has a far more effective solution - inconvenience and expense".

the_syco

Agreed with the point. Currently in a dead end job, but I won't be here more than 3 years. Heck, I hope to be out of here tomorrow, but I'll keep trying. Why work in the dead end job? Its not a bad job, but the pay is minimum wage, but I need money to live. Also, its easier to look for a good job, when you have a job.

As for college, etc, I've a very short attention span. Even if I'm watching a film, my mind sometimes wanders. So I've done college, but due to short attention span, I haven't done as well as I wanted.

As for teh commuter belt: I'll always be on it. Reason: jobs. Most jobs are in Dublin, most jobs that I want are in Dublin, so Dublin commuter belt is good for now.

The Hill Billy

DublinWriter wrote:

...just a small goatee-wearing cog in the gigantic machinery in the call centre/I.T. department of their host multinational.

I was once. Now I am a heavier, slightly-balding, but self-employed goatee-wearing gear wheel in the...

Back on topic -

DublinWriter wrote:

How many of you are actually satisfied with your jobs?
Is the daily grind actually worth it?

I don't like my job or line of work (IT consultancy - utilities/billing). It pays the bills. I do, however, get to dictate my own hours to a certain degree & this is a major upside to my working situation. I start at 07:00, finish at 16:00 & am home by 17:00 for quality time with my family.

DublinWriter wrote:

Is life all you expected it to be?

Yes & no. Once saw myself as a high flyer within the multi-national that I worked in for 11 years at the start of my working life. I did well with them, but a combination of being sick to the back teeth with office politics & a duplicitous director made me see the light.

Now I'm happy not being the "high flyer" - staying in the background doing my sh1t, getting paid well for it & letting others take the credit should they wish to do so.

I couldn't give a flying fcuk coz all I want at the end of the day is to have enough time & money to look after my family.

Rev Hellfire

Its an interesting point you raised dublinwriter.
It does seem to me that in some ways we're worse off than say the working generation in the 60's. Certainly we maybe better of materially, but we seem to be losing our personal time. I for example travel up to 3-4 hours a day to and from work. Which I suspect is pretty standard these day, but would have been considered a lot at one point. I have a minimum of a 8 hour day (with people under more and more pressure to give more), which leaves me with very little time once I get home to see my kids.
Certainly my own father would have had more time.

The term wageslave has never been more apt.

bounty

3-4 hours commute wtf??

Rev Hellfire

Thats 1.5 hours each way

An hour or so on the train, plus 20-30 to get to station plus more time to get from station to work.
I'd say thats the norm for quite a lot of people.

bounty

ah, i was wondering

i love my flexitime, it allows me to beat the traffic, my commute is 30 minutes each way