As a kid, I always wanted to be a trash truck driver. The way they stand on the grid platform and hang on to a handle at the back of the truck was the coolest thing ever to me. My other dream job was to be a train conductor. Maybe once IT bleeds out and dies I'll switch to one of those.

[–] volvoxvsmarla@lemm.ee 16 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Apart from one young teenager I knew who really wanted to become a tax consultant - all kids I've ever met, be it while I was small myself or while I was tutoring or parenting - want to have "simple" jobs, hands on jobs. Ask kids on the playground and you will hear vet, doctor, and astronaut said along with trash truck driver, waiter, and cleaning lady.

It always breaks my heart that these kids grow up and learn that society gives a crap about certain jobs, be it their low social status and appreciation for their work or their pay. Sure, interests also change when you grow up, but I bet if working conditions, social appreciation and pay were right, we would have much more people happily and freely choosing "low life jobs".

PS as far as I know the teenager now has a career as a blogger focussing on queer issues with his bf in Berlin, he didn't become a tax consultant after all.

[–] alyth@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago

That is a beautiful observation. Kids are so pure. Sounds like your acquaintance has it made for himself!

[–] problematicPanther@lemmy.world 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The desire to be a train conductor is still strong with me as well.

[–] alyth@lemmy.world 12 points 2 months ago (1 children)

what if we 😳 held hands 🤲 at train conductor school 👉👈

[–] Nutteman@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

What if we formed some sort of human train and you run it on me ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[–] alyth@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I hate that I understand this sentence

[–] Nutteman@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

Eventually you just accept the brain rot because the alternative is reality.

[–] pumpkinseedoil@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

So.. never

[–] alyth@lemmy.world 15 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I'm surrounded by dilapidated mining facilities that were once the heart and soul of this region. Some of the villages around here look like ghost towns. Jobs go in and out of demand and IT isn't immune to this. Already, things are changing. The job market is oversaturated with far more applicants than jobs. Work that would have paid 80k in the last decade now pays 60k in today's money. I really don't see any improvement to this trend on the horizon.