Post: #1

I noticed that western society has become more and more removed from actual physical, dirty work, and people become more and more specialized, to the point they can't do something as simple as change their own oil. Parents tell their kids to go to university and get a 'smart' job where you don't need to use your hands.

At the same time it seems like jobs which glamorize the exact opposite sort of jobs/lifestyle (Black Gold - oil rigs, Deadliest Catch - crab fishing, Gold Rush - Mining) and a host of others all seem to be very, very popular. What is the reason for this disconnect? Just the lore-ish reminiscing about a simpler time when men were men, they worked hard, came in from the cold and put a poke of dust on the bar for whiskey? Men realize they're actually big sellouts and pussies and this gives them an outlet to fantasize? Anyone who's done those sorts of jobs can say they're anything but comfortable and easy, and while more boring, being an accountant is physically more comfortable.

Post: #2

It's the same reason as why women watch The Real Housewives.

Post: #3

I'd rather do my "man job" than be an accountant any day, well maybe when I'm 40+, I'll take a cushy office job but I enjoy working on the tools for now. The trades are so fucked, at this job I'm working now, we have a "phantom pooper" on site, so far they've found shit in two buckets and a pizza box in one of the lunch rooms, there's no telling where the phantom pooper will strike again.

Post: #4

(06-19-2013 10:14 PM)scotian Wrote:  I'd rather do my "man job" than be an accountant any day, well maybe when I'm 40+, I'll take a cushy office job but I enjoy working on the tools for now. The trades are so fucked, at this job I'm working now, we have a "phantom pooper" on site, so far they've found shit in two buckets and a pizza box in one of the lunch rooms, there's no telling where the phantom pooper will strike again.

Yeah, we had phantom shitters on Navy boats. No idea what drives a man to do such fucked up shit. Fuckin' fecal freaks.

As to the OP, the beta masses are growing exponentially. Look at how many fat pussy dudes wear Affliction shirts and watch UFC, bitching about how the fighters should do in the ring. Total beta. 99% of dudes sitting on the couch watching the shows will never pull an engine, work a rig, join the military, man a crab boat, tread a swamp, call a duck, shoot a gun, or get laid.

It's like the stadiums in Rome. Simple ways to keep the ignorant masses preoccupied and entertained.

Post: #5

I've done some manly jobs. We're talking farm labor, working at a scrap yard, junking steel, stripping down cars, standing on top of a trailer loaded with cars and catching chains that were thrown up to me to tie down the load.

This is what my weekend and summer/winter workplace looked like:



My old man said, "Look at me and look at your teachers. I had some of your teachers and they look younger than me. They don't have any stress."

I was then forbidden from working in the family business because I started enjoying it.

Post: #6

My first job was a man job, working in a lumber mill during the summers when I was 15 until 20, it was to this day the hardest job I ever worked but I'm glad I did it as it gave me good work ethic. If I ever have sons I will make sure that they do hard manual labour and hopefully pick up some skills when they're teenagers.

Post: #7

I really want to work on an Alaskan crab fishing boat sometime in my 20's just for a season or so. I think the experience from that would be gnarly and the pay from a relatively short amount of time would be worth it. I'd go through a month of hell for 30k anytime.

Post: #8

(06-20-2013 11:42 AM)TheBlackNarwhal Wrote:  I really want to work on an Alaskan crab fishing boat sometime in my 20's just for a season or so. I think the experience from that would be gnarly and the pay from a relatively short amount of time would be worth it. I'd go through a month of hell for 30k anytime.

If you don't have an iron stomach, you're going to have a horrible time. The boat turns literally almost sideways in both directions on a constant basis. You can't see this on TV 'cause the cameras are fixed to the boats themselves, making it look like not much is really happening. I've read this in a couple of places, and heard it from actual fishermen. There's also a lot more to it than you might think.

But, I do agree, it would be a pretty fucking amazing experience

Post: #9

I don't see guys working 12-20 hours straight physical labor on bad food hacking it without chemical stimulation.

Am I wrong or are guys doing meth on the fishing boats?

Post: #10

(06-20-2013 01:24 AM)scotian Wrote:  My first job was a man job, working in a lumber mill during the summers when I was 15 until 20, it was to this day the hardest job I ever worked but I'm glad I did it as it gave me good work ethic. If I ever have sons I will make sure that they do hard manual labour and hopefully pick up some skills when they're teenagers.

Definitely. If its one thing I wished I did it would be working construction during summers in highschool. I did some demolition of a house last summer. I started by tearing up 2 layers of hardwood (the bottom layer was 100 years old and tough as fuck to get up). Then I had to jackhammer through a layer of 3 inch thick concrete in the basement and haul that to the front of the house by hand, then I finished by tearing up the kitchen. Shit was brutal, but I felt fulfilled at the end of every day and felt I grew more because of it. I wouldn't do it full time though, this only took a week and a bit.

Not to derail, but do you guys who work "man jobs" look down on guys in more feminine jobs? I'm working a more 'feminine job' The mechanics and labourers aren't really opening up as much as the girls who I have to work with and the dudes in the office. Any tips on getting them to open up?

Post: #11

Yeah I definitely think a lot of skills are being lost, but hopefully we will see less of a stigma towards the various trades in the future compared to this current generation

I think the popularity of these shows is that they keep things exciting, with less BS, you can show men with fewer filters (even though reality tv is manufactured)

They also tap into the desire to learn fundamental skills that round yourself out as a man (even if that's only vicariously for most couch potatoes)

I started a thread that overlaps with this discussion, there's some relevant video clips as well, interested in what you guys have to say:

/thread-24445.html

Post: #12

Not saying one type of work is better than another, I'm just saying its ironic that in the last 50 years, parents pushed their kids away from those physical jobs, but then at the same time there's almost a primal draw for the same people to see see men being men, and that I think some wish they were more like that. If their lives and jobs are so much better, then why the draw?

Though at the same time, at least speaking to the oil field side of things, those shows are incredibly manufactured. The real show would just be 30 minutes of safety meetings and people filling out work permits.

While there is no shame in hard work, I can definitely say it takes a toll on the body, and its good to have options. But is good for character building. That's one of the reasons I almost think mandatory military service is a great idea.

Post: #13

(06-20-2013 10:55 PM)JimNortonFan Wrote:  I don't see guys working 12-20 hours straight physical labor on bad food hacking it without chemical stimulation.

Am I wrong or are guys doing meth on the fishing boats?

From what I've heard, Amphetamines are somewhat popular on boats, but not sleeping for weeks at a time makes it really difficult to function, and focus - which, as you can imagine, is pretty bad when you're in the treachourous waters of the ocean

Post: #14

(06-20-2013 10:55 PM)JimNortonFan Wrote:  I don't see guys working 12-20 hours straight physical labor on bad food hacking it without chemical stimulation.

Am I wrong or are guys doing meth on the fishing boats?

In my work trailer we have four jugs of Super Pump Max , some kind of pre work out drink mix that the guys have been taking, myself I just stick to the coffee. One guy takes ephedrine and caffeine pills to stay awake on night shift, I don't think its very common for guys to get strung out on meth doing industrial work because if the company has "reasonable suspicion", they can drug test them.

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Post: #15

When I was a kid I used to work in a steel mill. Shitty dirty work, sketchy colleagues (couple of ex-cons), bad hours and not much to put on your resume (pay was fairly good though).

As "manly" as it was I don't see any real life lessons being taught there that I wouldn't learn among some of my rowdier friends anyhow. The hours worked (sometimes to 11pm) took away from chasing skirt and generally fucked up my rhythm. While I have no regrets about the work I don't either have any romantic and attachment to it.

Just because I've lived a Springsteen song doesn't mean I suddenly make some growth as a person. The factor between paycheck (as high as possible) and worked hours (as few as possible) will shape your life far more.

Post: #16

The idea of working in an office building seems completely insane I have no clue how anyone could endure it.

Some people (like me) are programmed to work in a man job environment. I just feel right in the shop. Sometimes I think about getting water job well, creating a water job like a stone crab boat (seasonal) and cruise around pulling traps all day with my degenerate cousins.

The money..

I get the impression that some of you think it's soft so I'll break it down a bit..

In the auto shop you have three choices. Hourly (like 15 an hour or whatever) Flat rate ( % of labor for every hour billed @ $25 or so) Percentage ( % of total repair bill so if it's 800 they give you around 10% chain stores do this that fuck everyone)


Now if you own the place...

Today I have two guys and me working..

One dude is doing a rear seal on a hummer that pays 10 hours @ 80 an hour. Not much in parts but I'll mark them up 30% so it will cost me after paying the guy and parts $260. So I will make $630. The guy will make 200 for today he's happy.

The other guy is working on a Toyota that has a bunch of leaks and the Ac needs an Evap. It's an 1800 ticket. I'll make 1000 of that one.

I do Diagnostics so I diagnosed 3 cars so far (15 min) and have an Alternator on an Audi, Distributor on a Nissan, climate control head unit on a Volvo which I'll do myself which will total 8 billable labor hours @ $80 so 640 plus parts markup 200 more.

So $840, $1000, $630 = $2470 today which is a good day. If I was more aggressive and didn't all day I could make this do that volume daily. I would have to advertise and hire more people, babysit etc so I keep my shit on a slow pace for now.

That's almost 50k a month if done right minus rent and stuff @ around 2,500. 570,000 a year.

Post: #17

^^^ Yeah but if you work in an office you can get manicures and wear custom suits everyday.

Post: #18

@ el mech

as a 30 yo who has worked an office job for 8 years...how long would an apprenticeship in an auto shop like you own last...to the point where you could be making 50k / year ?

do family - owned shops take on 30yo apprentices with no experience? or do you have to know what you're doing already?

Post: #19

(06-21-2013 03:36 PM)stoney Wrote:  @ el mech

as a 30 yo who has worked an office job for 8 years...how long would an apprenticeship in an auto shop like you own last...to the point where you could be making 50k / year ?

do family - owned shops take on 30yo apprentices with no experience? or do you have to know what you're doing already?

Start at an oil change place or tire place and work up from there and take some classes. I would train someone if I liked them but you would at least have to know basic stuff. I hired this guy once because on the interview he was so pathetic kinda like the IRT but with cars. I made him try to fix his own car (for lulz) on the interview that was pissing oil and I bought him the part. I thought....This dude is gonna get eaten up here so I hired him...Now he's a beast but still a little weak on diagnostics..He went to drive a truck to make $$$ but is coming back after he pays his house off in a year or so.

Start using tools and see if you like it