Lmao. You’re all screwed now!!!!

2 hours ago, EaglesRocker97 said:

I am not backpedaling at all. I think the Tweet used some hyperbole to make a point but the general point is valid. That 5% figure is honestly hard to believe. I'm guessing it has increased since that data was collected, but I won't argue with the figure. It's beside the point. My point in posting it was more about the common American outlook of "I suffered, they can suffer, too!" Americans generally lack empathy or compassion in this regard. That seemed pretty obviously to be the overall point to me, that was apparently lost on people in here. Also, what I posted is no different than a lot of other things posted in here. It seems like the pics thread has just become a thread for any kind of image, whether it's a Tweet or an illustration, and this one definitely has a political edge to it.

I got the point.  First of all, saying "Americans" felt like someone from Europe saying it.  I know many Europeans, worked for a global company and travelled throughout Europe, and I have many foreign friends on social media and have lots of conversations.  I'm well aware of how ignorant they are of America despite everyone thinking Americans don't know anything about other countries.  

Second, the tweet opened with the idea of working 3 jobs and being depressed so that's the main point that got addressed. I get the point you're making, the other point in the tweet was what you think was the biggest takeaway that people who had to "suffer" shouldn't just want others to suffer but make life better right?  Life is better, we continue to make progress and technological advances and such.  Generations before us were working on farms and in factories.  My dad worked in a factory after school during high school and missed out on playing sports because his dad ran off and he was helping support his mom and sister.  He worked his way up to management and executive and his sons all went to college and have successful careers. 

The tweet felt like the same ideas from younger people who want socialism or communism and everything to be fair.  The reality is that you are responsible for your life and you have to do what you need to get by.  If that means cobble together 2-3 part-time jobs or gigs while you are in school or gaining experience to move up, that's just life.  If you want to talk about labor conditions that's something else.  But the entire idea screams of entitled kids whining that they have to work too hard.  People also make life choices.  Everyone has the choice to work hard in school to get good grades, to get some type of job while in school to get some money and start getting workforce experience.  To work summer jobs, internships, make connections and think about their future.  To not waste time in college partying and playing video games and take an actual major that will get them a job not something useless.  To skip the student loan and go to trade school or get into the workforce and get on the job training and experience.  There are many choices.  We sell this idea to kids (it was sold to me in high school) to go to college and you'll get a good job.  Then people get out and realize it can be tough starting out and you have to work your way up.  It isn't always "fair" but there is opportunity and we all make choices.  

"pics or gtfo!"

"it's just a meme, guys"

Now that having conversations in the pics thread is allowed, I'll add my two cents...

I have worked with people from many different countries and cultures. Anecdotal, but I'd put us somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, with Asian cultures like the Japanese on one end, and European cultures like the Dutch on the other. Europe has a lot of specific regulatory requirements for things like vacation time, parental leave, etc. I was online one time at 1am when one of my european colleagues was logging on and he asked what the hell I was doing. He thought I was crazy and needed to seek help, he was giving me tips on managing stress and the like.  

1 hour ago, EaglesRocker97 said:

I remember a time when the US was generally doing better than "the rest of the world." If you look at the bottom, "the rest of the world," is mostly developing nations. We're certainly falling behind the rest of the industrialized world. Our standards have gotten too low.

"The Rest of the world" in that graphic includes:  Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan.  These are "developing" nations?

10 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

"pics or gtfo!"

"it's just a meme, guys"

Now that having conversations in the pics thread is allowed, I'll add my two cents...

I have worked with people from many different countries and cultures. Anecdotal, but I'd put us somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, with Asian cultures like the Japanese on one end, and European cultures like the Dutch on the other. Europe has a lot of specific regulatory requirements for things like vacation time, parental leave, etc. I was online one time at 1am when one of my european colleagues was logging on and he asked what the hell I was doing. He thought I was crazy and needed to seek help, he was giving me tips on managing stress and the like.  

My colleagues in our London office would often be cutting off early to go out for drinks.  The standard weekly hours there were 35, we had offices elsewhere that were 32 hours per week vs our 40.  They get 5-6 weeks of vacation.  Every summer they would take 2 weeks "Annual Leave."  It was known they'd be gone 2 weeks.  It is hard to get approved in the US to take 2 weeks off in a row.  The US needs to have more of a culture of allowing vacation and covering while you're out.  If everyone does it like their mandatory 2 week leave, then it's not "unfair" because everyone does it.  They would also get more holidays sometimes.  Our UK office had a holiday when someone in the royal family got married or there was some special event.  (Then again our New Orleans office took Mardi Gras off!).  One co-worker in London who was originally from Sweden said they were off for Good Friday and when I said we don't get that day off, she said she thought the US more religious and Christian and would have that day off.  

A lot of them don't have the same sprawling areas like we do where you live in the suburbs and drive far for work.  It's more like NYC where you can walk to work, then walk to restaurants and bars afterward and don't need a car, public transportation with trains is more utilized.  They'd come here to Nashville for a visit and our office wasn't downtown it was in an office park in the suburbs.  They would be surprised we couldn't just go outside and walk to a place to have lunch or walk to their hotel.  We have to take cars everywhere.  

Also, we'd visit the UK offices and they were giant cube farms with no walls just open desks.  We'd be surprised they could get any work done as they socialize so much and so many distractions, everyone having lots of conversations.  So it appeared to Americans they were slacking off and not getting enough work done.  Obviously they get work done but it appeared because of all the socializing that they weren't.  Different cultures, different expectations. 

44 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

Working hard is a bad thing...wow. 
 

And this generation wonders why we call them soft. This is why I don’t have children. 
 

Americans work harder than Europeans, and that used to be a source of pride. 

Ha ha.  I know how you feel about children.  FWIW I try to teach my son about hard work.  He's 8 now (2nd grade).  He has chores to do, we teach him to be independent and figure things out for himself and support him and guide him.  I want him to grow up confident and believing in his ability to come up with solutions to problems and we don't accept "this isn't fair" comments. 

The funny thing about the complaints about older generations is that they are the ones who raised Millennials.  The Builder generation put blood, sweat and tears into building the country, the Boomers benefited and society grew more services and products and advances.  That generation wanted their kids to not have to work as hard and more people started going to college, more kids get to live at home instead of being kicked out to go work in a factory.  The generation with smart phones, video game systems, hanging out at Starbucks on their laptops and driving a car paid for by their parents complain that they have to work too hard and the older generation is evil and wants them to suffer.  

This sums it up perfectly

Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.

4 hours ago, EaglesRocker97 said:

Ironic. No, clearly it is not I who is out of touch with reality. The reality is that  many Americans have the outlook of "I suffered, they should suffer, too," rather than thinking, "I sufferered and wish that others would not have to suffer like I did." The reality is also that Americans typically work more hours than citizens in every other industrialized nation but get far less for their labors. The reality is that Europeans work to live, while Americans live to work. The reality is that our professional culture is a death cult.

Once again, I find it funny how anytime I post something in the pics thread, people can't just carry on as usual, they just have to confront me over the post because it struck some nerve. I must be doing something right if I can so consistently ruffle feathers.

*Japan has entered the chat.*

1 hour ago, vikas83 said:

Working hard is a bad thing...wow. 
 

And this generation wonders why we call them soft. This is why I don’t have children. 
 

Americans work harder than Europeans, and that used to be a source of pride. 

It’s not this generation. It’s the loudmouths of this generation. It’s just that they have no jobs and post on social media all day so you’d think everyone is a socialist. Most everyone I associate with in my generation are socially liberal but economically conservative.

We’re out there, you just don’t see us because we’re busy working. 

16 minutes ago, Bill said:

*Japan has entered the chat.*

It’s not this generation. It’s the loudmouths of this generation. It’s just that they have no jobs and post on social media all day so you’d think everyone is a socialist. Most everyone I associate with in my generation are socially liberal but economically conservative.

We’re out there, you just don’t see us because we’re busy working. 

Good point.  I know a lot of young people working hard and not complaining.  A friend of mine's son started a car detailing business in high school.  He did good quality work and would come to your house and do the work in your driveway.  He created a Facebook page for his business and used his parent's and friends networks for referrals.  He was making good money so expanded it into a bigger business with employees after high school.  I've hired plenty of younger people who are hungry and want to learn and gain experience.  One aspect of Millennials (or just any younger person as some confuse the actual generation lines) is that they want more than just to be a mindless drone.  They want purpose in their work, that doesn't mean entitled.  One way my company did this was when we'd hire people into the entry level team for data entry and basic administrative work, we'd assign them all specialties where they could become experts on that topic and train others as well.  They would get assigned special projects or be on committees and things to give them networking and visibility with other departments and leaders and it was our pool for internal promotions and transfers.  They liked having the opportunity to learn, put in the work and grow.    

4 hours ago, 20dawk4life said:

So the US is on par with the rest of the world. Damn death cult

Actually, it appears we work less hours than the rest of the world. Help me out here, what point did he think he was making?

Um, yeah, guys I never said "working hard" was a bad thing. The point is that Americans tend to work harder for less, working more than their counterparts to eek out basic subsistence while others put in less time but have better standards of living. It isn't about fairness; it's about getting a reasonable return for how much time and energy you devote to professional pursuits, but if you want to twist things, I guess this is the place.

2 hours ago, NOTW said:

"The Rest of the world" in that graphic includes:  Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan.  These are "developing" nations?

Whole lot of Central and South America in that list that you left out. Taiwan? Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think Taiwan is a first-world nation.

1 minute ago, paco said:

Actually, it appears we work less hours than the rest of the world. Help me out here, what point did he think he was making?

That American capitalism is a DEATH CULT!  

Meanwhile, these evil greedy companies giving out free stuff to people to help them during the pandemic (while the government debates stimulus bills and packing them with pork like diversity quotas):

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/03/26/these-companies-are-offering-free-stuff-to-docs-nurses-during-covid-19-pandemic/

https://www.singlegrain.com/resources/free-resources-coronavirus-covid-pandemic/

https://www.barrons.com/articles/cvs-facebook-walmart-target-coronavirus-pandemic-51584479961

https://hackernoon.com/a-list-of-businesses-giving-away-free-stuff-in-response-to-covid-19-5vnl3wba

https://www.clickorlando.com/features/2020/03/26/here-are-all-the-companies-giving-free-food-products-to-health-care-workers/

 

Just now, EaglesRocker97 said:

Whole lot of Central and South America in that list that you left out. Taiwan? I don't their first-world.

yeah, you said "most" of them were developing nations.  You are trying to suggest the US is falling behind third world countries.  I listed all the countries that disagree with your narrative (from your own graphic).  

5 minutes ago, EaglesRocker97 said:

Whole lot of Central and South America in that list that you left out. Taiwan? Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think Taiwan is a first-world nation.

Taiwan is pretty industrialized. Not subscribing to "one china", they're similar to developed china but without authoritarian oppression. 

I mean, if you guys want to refuse to believe that we're a nation in socioeconomic decline, well, go ahead and keep living that delusion if that's what helps you sleep at night.

USA #1 bestest country ever! We have the best economy! We can do no better and should never try to imagine a better way! Love it or leave it! 'MURICA!

There, do we all feel warm and fuzzy now?

https://www.lse.ac.uk/News/Latest-news-from-LSE/2020/L-December/Tax-cuts-for-the-rich

 

Employees oppressed by the evil corporate death cults

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 minutes ago, EaglesRocker97 said:

I mean, if you guys want to refuse to believe that we're a nation in socioeconomic decline, well, go ahead and keep living that delusion if that's what helps you sleep at night.

USA #1 bestest country ever! We have the best economy! We can do no better and should never try to imagine a better way! Love it or leave it! 'MURICA!

There, do we all feel warm and fuzzy now?

No one said the bolded straw man.

1 minute ago, EaglesRocker97 said:

 

13 hours ago, NOTW said:

About 5% of people work 2 jobs.

 

 

 

Just now, NOTW said:

 

Already responded to this...

Anheuser-Bush's evil greedy death cult plans unveiled:  stop making beer and give free water to Flint, MI and Hurricane victims.

23 minutes ago, EaglesRocker97 said:

Um, yeah, guys I never said "working hard" was a bad thing. The point is that Americans tend to work harder for less, working more than their counterparts to eek out basic subsistence while others put in less time but have better standards of living. It isn't about fairness; it's about getting a reasonable return for how much time and energy you devote to professional pursuits, but if you want to twist things, I guess this is the place.