We Never Know
No Slack
I have noticed that on several things.
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And prices keep going up
- Thread starter Kathryn
- Start date
I have noticed that on several things.
SkepticThinker
Veteran Member
Who and what are "unskilled workers," exactly?
I think that terms like "unskilled" are labels used by people who struggle to find excuses to not pay people very much.
100-150 years ago, employers would have had difficulty finding people with more than an 8th grade education, or even people who could read and write in the English language. But now, as a result of public education provided by the state, employers enjoy the benefit of that, with the expectation that one with a basic high school education can be deemed "unskilled." Or even if it's a job that requires "must be able to lift 50 pounds," that would also be an ability which not everyone possesses.
Nowadays, attendance in institutions of higher learning is higher than it's ever been. So, even a college degree, in and of itself, doesn't carry as much weight as it used to, particularly if it's in the realm of liberal arts, which offers degrees in fields which aren't particularly desired by business and industry these days. There's a trope I sometimes hear about people with art history degrees working as baristas at Starbucks. They're working an "unskilled" job because they can't get a job for which they are skilled.
My grandfather had very little formal education, but he could read and write and do basic math, and he eventually became a salesman, since that job didn't require a college degree. But it still required some people skills, as well as a certain "wheeler-dealer" quality. Those are skills which seem to be acquired more naturally, not something one can learn in school, although my grandfather told me he took the Dale Carnegie Course.
We Never Know
No Slack
Shoveling crap out of barn stalls.
Unless being physically fit and tolerant to the smell are skills.
SkepticThinker
Veteran Member
I don't know what you mean at all. What job are people performing where all they have to do is smile at people???
We Never Know
No Slack
Walmart store customer greeter. They just smile and say hello as people walk in.
SkepticThinker
Veteran Member
Then it sounds like there are some skills involved. I couldn't do it, for instance. I'm not strong enough and I definitely couldn't tolerate the smell.
Perhaps there is a special technique involved or something. I don't know. Because I'm not skilled in that area.
SkepticThinker
Veteran Member
The "greeter" at my local Walmart also helps people find things and crosschecks receipts when people leave the store.
I mean, I used to be a receptionist at a front desk. I'm sure people thought I just smiled at everyone when they came in and maybe answered a phone or too, when in actuality, I was running the entire office, which I promise, did involve the use of some skills.
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Kathryn
It was on fire when I laid down on it.
I said you start out as unskilled.
SkepticThinker
Veteran Member
You said:
"You know what I mean. I mean, I guess if you want to call "show up for work sort of on time" a skill, I guess it is. If you want to call "smile occasionally at the customer and stay off your phone on company time" a skill, I guess you can."
We Never Know
No Slack
Not at the walmart I have been to. They have a stool where they set just inside the second entrance doors. They set there and smile saying hello to people coming in.
The younger ones, by the look on their face hate it. The elders are just happy to be there.
SkepticThinker
Veteran Member
Perhaps it only appears that way to you, because you don't follow them around all day long. That was my point with my story about being a receptionist.
We Never Know
No Slack
Being fit is now a skill?
Next it will be a privilege.
Did everyone who temporarily lost their sense of smell because of covid aquire a new skill but just didn't realize it?
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Kathryn
It was on fire when I laid down on it.
That was the second post you responded to. But I also don't care.
SkepticThinker
Veteran Member
Okay, so if you are never going to explain yourself or defend your position or answer any questions at all, what are you doing here?
I'm genuinely curious.
Kathryn
It was on fire when I laid down on it.
Oh, I've explained my position and answered questions, just not yours to your satisfaction, and I guess that makes you mad. It doesn't bother me though.
We Never Know
No Slack
IMO too many are comparing/confusing unskilled jobs to unimportant jobs. There are skilled and unskilled jobs. Both are needed and important.
Kathryn
It was on fire when I laid down on it.
Just like part time and full time jobs.
We Never Know
No Slack
I knew a person who was a door greeter at walmart. He loved it. He said all I have to do is smile and say hello.
He had the job because he was disabled due to his bad back. He got tired of it and quit.
Kathryn
It was on fire when I laid down on it.
Yep me too. Like freaking cat food of all things.