Working with one's hands in contemporary society

[esantoro]

The author of that article was recently on _The Colbert Report_.

http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport...pisodeId=231840

[azrider]

So I read the article, comments, and thread while sitting in my cubicle at work thinking about what I actually want to MAKE. (There's not really enough work to keep me busy, but I can't raise a fuss about it beacasue it's contract work, and we might lose the contract.) I am very grateful to be employeed right now but hate the fact that at the end of the day I can't point at anything and say "I did that." I have a History degree, and have been happiest in high paced phyiscal jobs with no relation to my degree. I have been at a desk for about seven years now, and question my choice of careers. That was a really good article.

[dragonspit]

So I read the article, comments, and thread while sitting in my cubicle at work thinking about what I actually want to MAKE. (There's not really enough work to keep me busy, but I can't raise a fuss about it beacasue it's contract work, and we might lose the contract.) I am very grateful to be employeed right now but hate the fact that at the end of the day I can't point at anything and say "I did that." I have a History degree, and have been happiest in high paced phyiscal jobs with no relation to my degree. I have been at a desk for about seven years now, and question my choice of careers. That was a really good article.

I think a lot of folks that are white collar type workers feel this way, I sure do. and I agree on the statement about being formed into a consumer position. I learned this a few years ago and trying to resolve, but can not get my better half to understand. but we have as a family are trying to work at getting down to more basics. and you have to teach kids this very message, some will take some will not. I started with advertising. showing and proving them that what ever is advertised usually is not. you are not getting what you pay for so why buy it type of thing. both kids kinda of understand that. not to say being kids they still dont push the limit, but I believe, and hope, that they wont start down that road to total consumer, more of a thinker. this was a great topic and i bet way more people feel this than almost any other thing in right now.

[dirtclod]

I didn't read the whole article but what i did read i agreed with. Personally i have worked with my hands to make a living sense before i got out of high school except for one breif period when i was talked into trying college at 35. I lasted one half of one semester. It was just like school i didn't understand what they were trying to teach. My mind doesn't work that way i guess.

Over the years i have done a little bit of everthing it seems. Worked for a butcher, set tombstones, worked on the farm off and on, pumped gas, mowed yards, bat tender worked for a boot leger, commerical glass work, carpenter work for several years and having been doing leather work full time for close to 20 years. I wouldn't take anything for what i have learned doing the different jobs. Knowing how to build ment i was able to build my own shop ( still a work in progress inside ) and save a ton money .

I make a living doing leather work but i just get by and i have learned to live cheap..LOL. Having the internet sure has helped business. Where i live the people that have money won't buy from me because they say it's better if it comes from some where else plus they have a bigger store. Still haven't figured out what the size of a store had to do with quality of the product. Guess i'll take some of those smart pills when i find them and i bet their next to that money tree i have been looking for all this time....LOL.

Edited September 9, 2010 by dirtclod