17 Comments
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Layne's avatar

Fuck ya. I’ve been in construction for about 10 years now. Gave up on working with the public a long time ago. I’d rather just listen to music and podcasts and do my work. I organize with the construction workers organizing committee and there are more people who think like this than you would think!

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Antonio Melonio's avatar

Man, that's amazing! Gotta find me something like that!

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Layne's avatar

We just organize with the IWW. I could tell you about it sometime if you’re interested

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Antonio Melonio's avatar

Fuck yeah!

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Anna Jane McIntyre's avatar

Yes to the yesnesssssss! yes oui on y va! hahahha here I am, an anarch-artist (groan lol) very similar in spirit and happy to be an unapathetic anti-oppression free agent as much as I can be.

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Elle Griffin's avatar

I very much agree in the value of blue collar work (my husband is a blue collar worker as well—in the refractory industry!), and I had a similar escape from tech. Would you mind me asking which field you wound up pursuing?

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Antonio Melonio's avatar

That's cool! Yeah, I'm just getting into it after a decade and more of pursuing fulfillment in white-collar jobs. Not sure where I'll end up but for now I'll be barkeeping.

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Elle Griffin's avatar

Oh awesome! I will say lifeguarding was one of my happiest jobs. There really is something to being useful (and using your body to do it!). Even as a writer sometimes I just need a break from my mind.

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Rebecca Maas's avatar

I’m 100% with you, Antonio. We are very similar... and I have come to similar conclusions. Every day there are more of us. However, I’m still grappling with how to move forward in this world... how to meaningfully contribute. I’d love to pick your brain sometime.

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Antonio Melonio's avatar

Haha same, no idea what the future will bring. Agreed!

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chris's avatar

Hi, I guess it's also a problem that you are in Austria. Austria is a place of latent greed, hate, jealousy, inferiority complex and general social toxic climate. I know because I was born and lived and still live in Austria and it is killing me. I am also of not Austrian origin. Austrians are nice on the surface but cruel and vicious in reality, especially those 45 and older. Driven by despair and hate for their life's they hurt anyone who seems to be doing better than them and this translates into work culture as well as politics and society in general. Do's not matter if blue or white collar, nasty is in both, just ask some young people learning a trade at those small family firms (KMU in German). I wish work environments would be less toxic all over, it is making people sick but money and profit go over everything. However at some point the system will break, people are no longer willing to take all the BS which is good.

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Shin_Kage's avatar

I used to be a broker, add everything you've said plus the dog eat dog, shark feeding frenzy nature of it and hated every moment of it. So monumentally inefficient too. The wages are an obscenity and linked to the volume of trades you do, not whether or not they are any good, or long term profitable. My boss introduced me to his best friend for years on my first day, six months later he put him a trade that he know would bankrupt his business, but did it anyway because it was going to be insanely profitable. Not only is greed good, but it's the only game in town, it dominates everything.

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cnrecabu's avatar

you write well. saved this post to use for inspiration for college essays.

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Antonio Melonio's avatar

Haha thanks! That's a cool compliment

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Lloyd Miner's avatar

that’s why you gotta have a side hustle that’s fulfilling

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Antonio Melonio's avatar

I am man. This is it lol

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Bill's avatar

Comments are not always directed at the author

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