Working life

[Nate505]

I have found that it is very simple. If on late Sunday afternoon you start to get a feeling of dread in your gut because you have to go to work on Monday morning you are not happy and there are better things that you could be spending your life doing.

Yes. Then pesky things like a mortgage and bills get in the way and you have to decide: Shall I live or shall I live?

On another note, I hated elementary school, middle school, high school, and college. I couldn't wait to graduate all of them, and have not found myself pining for the "good old days" just yet. I much prefer the "real world," where there is no such thing as homework in spite of all my teachers and everyone else cramming the idea into my head that I'll be taking my work home with me. Not yet anyway, thank god.

 

[CONAN]

What would I get it in? English? Education? Great! I spent a ton of money only to make about 1K more per year and wasted tens of hours of my life worrying about going to class or doing some stupid paper. No thanks. So yeah, I could get it but it in no way would further my career which is why people typically get their Masters.

Well this rant is a little different put infinitely more pathetic. My original point is that getting your Masters doesn't affect being in the classroom (it still doesn't). If anything, it helps you stay there. Anything that makes you more employable is a good idea especially in this economy. Not to mention just the added knowledge base. But maybe you just plan on milking tenure for all it's worth. I hope you're not that teacher. But if you feel like going to school and learning more about your field/students is a waste of time then it's probably too late for you anyway.

Your response is terrible and not one I'd want from a teacher of my kid. Here's hoping you keep your opinions to yourself in the classroom.

 

[CONAN]

I think for the most part the only truly happy people in their work have their own business. Its not true for everybody but the idea of not having a boss/superior gives you the best chance at being happy in your work life. You might have more responsibilities but you will get more out of it instead of filling other peoples pockets. So if you are working towards that goal then I believe you are on the right track.

I've heard this works for some folks. Most people that have worked for someone and then started their own business say they will never go back. But there are jobs out there where you have a lot of autonomy and still work for the man. I would never want to work on my own but I teach and so have plenty of autonomy.

 

[NAOS]

I just browsed quickly through the responses to this thread, so stop me if I'm wrong, but I never saw even ONE post concerned with the morality of working for a big oil company, off-shore drilling, etc. I'm not saying that I believe one way or the other, but it is definitely a question that should be asked.

(BTW, I have an uncle that works as a geologist for an oil company in Houston. He gets by fine because he has no moral compass on this issue.)

 

[Bronco70]

I have found that it is very simple. If on late Sunday afternoon you start to get a feeling of dread in your gut because you have to go to work on Monday morning you are not happy and there are better things that you could be spending your life doing.

Yes. Then pesky things like a mortgage and bills get in the way and you have to decide: Shall I live or shall I live?

I don't think Marcus is suggesting that you shouldn't work, but that you should find a way to do something you don't hate doing. Are you really living if you spend half of your waking hours being miserable?

I grossed more money working my way through school than I make now, but I'm comfortable and infinitely more happy.

 

[larryselbows]

I just browsed quickly through the responses to this thread, so stop me if I'm wrong, but I never saw even ONE post concerned with the morality of working for a big oil company, off-shore drilling, etc. I'm not saying that I believe one way or the other, but it is definitely a question that should be asked.

(BTW, I have an uncle that works as a geologist for an oil company in Houston. He gets by fine because he has no moral compass on this issue.)

It is something that should be discussed, but perhaps for another thread? But I completely agree with you, if someone were to have an issue they should not work for an oil company. Where I disagree is that I don't think it is a measure of someones morality, I believe the two are mutually exclusive of each other. At the risk of sounding like an industry apologist, I have met many kind and generous people in the oil industry.

 

[C l u t c H 385]

I just browsed quickly through the responses to this thread, so stop me if I'm wrong, but I never saw even ONE post concerned with the morality of working for a big oil company, off-shore drilling, etc. I'm not saying that I believe one way or the other, but it is definitely a question that should be asked.

(BTW, I have an uncle that works as a geologist for an oil company in Houston. He gets by fine because he has no moral compass on this issue.)

A homophobe bigot racist AND a sissy? I thought only 3 strikes were allowed?

 

[C l u t c H 385]

You'll never be around as much acceptable ******. In the real world there are way more fugly chicks. And as they get older they get bolder and try to talk to you.

Last edited by catratcho; Yesterday at 11:27 PM. Reason: changed spelling of word so filter would take it out.

For the record, I wasn't changing the spelling to circumvent the filter. I had no idea we couldn't say ******. I mean I understand if we can't say ****, *****, *******...but ******?

I was spelling it for the Borat style pronunciation.

 

[franklin]

Look here, listen up. This whole find something you truly enjoy hibbidyhooblah is nonsense. Unless you're a rock star then forget your dreams and chase the greenbacks instead. I'm not saying give up on happiness, but to hedge with these two interview questions:

1. Do you test for alcohol?
2. How close is the nearest well?

If the answer to #1 is "no" and #2 is "within walking distance" then what the hell do you have to worry about? Who cares how ****** the job is. Work sucks, so at least learn to drink the exceptionally bad days away. Crack a beer!

 

[NAOS]

Look here, listen up. This whole find something you truly enjoy hibbidyhooblah is nonsense. Unless you're a rock star then forget your dreams and chase the greenbacks instead. I'm not saying give up on happiness, but to hedge with these two interview questions:

1. Do you test for alcohol?
2. How close is the nearest well?

If the answer to #1 is "no" and #2 is "within walking distance" then what the hell do you have to worry about? Who cares how ****** the job is. Work sucks, so at least learn to drink the exceptionally bad days away. Crack a beer!

By the way, Franklin has been divorced at least 3 times. The kid should know this, no offense to you Frank.

 

[Gameface]

Is it less moral to work for the oil industry than it is to consume thier products? Personally I don't see anything immoral about the oil industry. The energy they provide allows many hundreds of thousands, possibly many millions of people to live and to have a higher quality of life to boot. I do forget that a notion growing in popularity is that being human is in and of itself immoral.

 

[franklin]

By the way, Franklin has been divorced at least 3 times. The kid should know this, no offense to you Frank.

You misunderstand. See, I hid drinking from the first three for a good spell. It's the only way I could get these good Molly's around here to marry me. They were all completely clueless at first, and bought the "I need to repent before going to the big house" line. Then I started missing Sunday school, and took A LOT of trips to the shed at night. You can imagine why I've been divorced 3 times in 3 years. They all found out and were devastated. However, I've repented of my transgressions and am a changed man. My current wife knows I drink and often takes me to the store for more beer so I don't have to DUI anymore (that's how #2 found out btw). Drinking was not the problem. It was lying. Damn you Ralphie May.

Drinking at work is a good thing. Ignore NAOS and bring back the early American whiskey breaks.

 

[One Brow]

If you have an innate (as opposed to financial) desire to get the Ph. D., it's much easier before you have kids, a mortgage, etc.

If the desire is strictly financial, check with some potential employers (ask your friends if you can get some advice from their bosses, for example) about the relative value they see in a Ph. D.

Good luck. There are probably no bad decisions here.

 

[NAOS]

You misunderstand. See, I hid drinking from the first three for a good spell. It's the only way I could get these good Molly's around here to marry me. They were all completely clueless at first, and bought the "I need to repent before going to the big house" line. Then I started missing Sunday school, and took A LOT of trips to the shed at night. You can imagine why I've been divorced 3 times in 3 years. They all found out and were devastated. However, I've repented of my transgressions and am a changed man. My current wife knows I drink and often takes me to the store for more beer so I don't have to DUI anymore (that's how #2 found out btw). Drinking was not the problem. It was lying. Damn you Ralphie May.

Drinking at work is a good thing. Ignore NAOS and bring back the early American whiskey breaks.

I love this post. Rep given.

 

[NAOS]

Is it less moral to work for the oil industry than it is to consume thier products?

Good follow-up question

The rest of your post is lop-sided and over-sensationalistic.

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

Well this rant is a little different put infinitely more pathetic. My original point is that getting your Masters doesn't affect being in the classroom (it still doesn't). If anything, it helps you stay there. Anything that makes you more employable is a good idea especially in this economy. Not to mention just the added knowledge base. But maybe you just plan on milking tenure for all it's worth. I hope you're not that teacher. But if you feel like going to school and learning more about your field/students is a waste of time then it's probably too late for you anyway.

Your response is terrible and not one I'd want from a teacher of my kid. Here's hoping you keep your opinions to yourself in the classroom.

Pathetic? Listen, I'll be a little more classy than you because you're either not understanding me or choosing simply to bash me which is fine too. But in short, I fully agree with you. I'm not saying he should discontinue his education. One never should if they give a damn. But to do so and incur tens of thousands (or even six figures) of dollars of debt is foolish in my opinion. If that message became lost in my initial reply to you, then it did. But again, there's a lot of factors involved and to ignore the monetary ramifications is like I said, foolish. If you have a bottomless bank account, all the more power to you. But debt can be a bitch. And for myself, I have many friends or relatives who are administrators (dad, stepmom to name two) as resources, I get great professional development (out of district peeps) each year for free or at a nominal cost, and can read many a great book on certain hot topic issues at a fraction of the cost. When the certainty that the classroom education will be any better is no sure thing, that's the wiser route to go in my opinion. Especially when you're unsure of how you want to professionally proceed which LE seems he may be. His case is obviously different because he's in an entirely different industry but most of the basic points remain.

 

[Gameface]

Good follow-up question

The rest of your post is lop-sided and over-sensationalistic.

You don't think access to energy allows people to live who would otherwise die? You don't enjoy the things that you are able to do becuase you have access to cheap energy? You are not aware that many people question whether humans are any more valuable than other animals? You are not aware that people think that humans are the worst thing that eve happened to this planet?

Anyway, the first sentence was a ligit question, the rest was my opinion, so take it for what it's worth.

 

[unluckyseventeen]

I am about to graduate from school with my M.S. in geology. It's incredible how fast time has passed when I look back to being a 17 year old freshman in college to a 24 year old (almost) scientist. Anyway, to the point, I have a rather large decision coming up. I currently have a standing offer from Texas A&M to continue my research as a Ph. D candidate in marine geology from my current advisor. Furthermore, I could go on to other places, I'm fairly confident, if I felt inclined to, to do a Ph. D as well (hope I'm not coming on like braggart douche bag, just trying to give some background). The alternative option is to go get a job. Pay has historically been very good for petroleum geologists: https://www.aapg.org/explorer/salarysurvey.cfm, and there are times when I really feel like getting away from the stresses of school. However, my friends that have gone on to do it in the last year seem a bit lonely in Houston, TX (Although they have only been there for about 8 months). They say they are not excited to go to work everyday but that it is nice to have a little cash in their pockets. So I have to ask those of you on here that are in the work force, how do you enjoy it? I'm not asking you guys to tell me what to do with my life, but some anecdotal advice would be helpful to allow me to better understand what it is to be "grown up". -Thanks

I'm not sure if I really count as "in the work force", considering I have a relatively low-paying, part-time job and somewhat unstable (but actually pretty decent) income from my own business, but personally I value my own time and having freedom much more than having money. I see plenty of people sacrifice their life just for money and work jobs that they hate, so they can have expensive cars and houses or whatever. I don't see what the point is.

My personal advice, as a "grown-up", would be to enjoy life. Lots of people make life a burden on themselves and don't understand what freedom really is. If your job isn't adding to your enjoyment of life, find one that does before you wind up with a mortgage and kids on your back, stuck in a job that you hate.

 

[CONAN]

I fully agree with you. I'm not saying he should discontinue his education. One never should if they give a @#!*% . But to do so and incur tens of thousands (or even six figures) of dollars of debt is foolish in my opinion. If that message became lost in my initial reply to you, then it did. But again, there's a lot of factors involved and to ignore the monetary ramifications is like I said, foolish. If you have a bottomless bank account, all the more power to you. But debt can be a @#!*% . And for myself, I have many friends or relatives who are administrators (dad, stepmom to name two) as resources, I get great professional development (out of district peeps) each year for free or at a nominal cost, and can read many a great book on certain hot topic issues at a fraction of the cost. When the certainty that the classroom education will be any better is no sure thing, that's the wiser route to go in my opinion. Especially when you're unsure of how you want to professionally proceed which LE seems he may be. His case is obviously different because he's in an entirely different industry but most of the basic points remain.

Whatever. I hope it's just semantics.

But in the context of teaching getting your Masters is almost always better than not getting it. And I don't know where u get your numbers but mine didn't cost tens of thousands. Some are great and can't be found elsewhere but it is true that some are dumb and the training you get via the district works just as well.

My Masters has paid for itself ten times over already.

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

Whatever. I hope it's just semantics.

But in the context of teaching getting your Masters is almost always better than not getting it. And I don't know where u get your numbers but mine didn't cost tens of thousands. Some are great and can't be found elsewhere but it is true that some are dumb and the training you get via the district works just as well.

My Masters has paid for itself ten times over already.

Where did you get your Masters?