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Poor construction worker

Discussion in 'Too Hot for Swamp Gas' started by studegator, Aug 11, 2022.

  1. studegator

    studegator GC Legend

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  2. QGator2414

    QGator2414 VIP Member

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    Been saying this for decades. They are slowly moving towards it I think.

    I would love to see high schools implement a program that teams up with local businesses to allow kids to begin to learn a trade on the ground. There are certainly hurdles that would need to be passed. From liability to concern about creating competition. But…
     
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  3. officelife

    officelife Senior

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    A person that flashes money like a college recruit while wiping away their crocodile tears over what someone said to them 10-20 years ago, isn’t how I would present the argument that trade schools are beneficial.

    We all have different desires. As much as working in the hot Florida sun framing a house sounds like hell to me; one of my good friends that is a GC, could never find happiness sitting in an office or attending meetings.

    We should strive to present opportunities to allow the younger generation to find success.

    FYI, my high school (90s) had programs for those wanting to take courses at our local trade schools along with allowing their students to take college classes at the local community college (AP didn’t exist for us back then) for those students that had enough credits starting their junior year.
     
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  4. citygator

    citygator VIP Member

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    Another college is for suckers thread? Sigh.

    Don’t know if I have the energy to point out that college is your best option statistically and that trade school is a good option if college isn’t something one has the means to attend, by either money or grades. Or to point out there are always outlier success stories.
     
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  5. WarDamnGator

    WarDamnGator GC Hall of Fame

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    Having money that can be held in one hand isn’t the same as getting rich. The fact that he’s excited about it wants to show it off means it probably doesn’t happen often for him.

    If you want to see something depressing, look at the stats of average Americans…. their net worth by age bracket, savings by age compared to what is needed for retirement, number of Americans who say they could not cover a $1000 emergency expense….

    Sure, Lots of people do well without a college degree, but someone is dragging those numbers down.
     
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  6. QGator2414

    QGator2414 VIP Member

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    Did the guy in the video say college is for suckers (I did not watch it)?

    If he really had a teacher dog him and say he would not amount to anything…I have no issue with him showing how it motivated him. Not the way I would motivate a kid in school. While I am ignorant on whether the video in the OP has anything to do with “college is for suckers”…I certainly did not take that perception from the OP.

    Get some fresh air. You seem angry this morning. ;):)
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2022
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  7. channingcrowderhungry

    channingcrowderhungry Premium Member

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    My mom used to tell me if I didn't do well in school I'd grow up to be a garbage man. Now i own a garbage company. Prolly my favorite anecdote
     
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  8. wgbgator

    wgbgator Premium Member

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    Construction is hard work, and important work, but lets check back in on this guy at like age 55 and see how he's doing as his body has been battered, he's been chewed up and spit out by indifferent employers and he's now at the mercy of the American healthcare system.
     
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  9. OklahomaGator

    OklahomaGator Jedi Administrator Moderator VIP Member

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    There's good money in garbage.
     
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  10. channingcrowderhungry

    channingcrowderhungry Premium Member

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    It never stops and its recession proof. Drivers can clear close to 100k annual if they want to hustle.
     
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  11. FutureGatorMom

    FutureGatorMom Premium Member

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    Our oldest son was told by a guidance counselor here in FL that "not everyone is college material". He has two degrees from UCF - IT and masters in IT forensics

    My other two hated traditional school. It would have been great for them to have had access to a trade school in HS. The youngest is a talented carpenter and the middle one is self taught by renovating his 38ft trawler.
     
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  12. swampspring

    swampspring GC Legend

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    I hope Boomhauer is prepared for years of dealing with the physical toll of working in that industry while his teacher might be enjoying that state pension...just maybe.

    I agree that college isn't for everyone and definitely think trade schools and apprenticeships should be encouraged, but it sounds like the teacher was trying to encourage him, in maybe a not so appropriate way to get his crap together. Unfortunately, snowflake now wants to flex 20 years later, while the teacher probably forgot about him.
     
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  13. oragator1

    oragator1 Premium Member

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    The average construction worker makes 38k nationally (I just looked), and has to work their tail off for that money.
    If he enjoys it great. And the teacher shouldn’t have stigmatized an honorable and critical job, but they also weren’t wholly wrong in the message they were trying to convey. Having good grades is generally important to your future.

    Interestingly though I remember reading a few years ago that construction workers had the highest job satisfaction of any profession.
     
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  14. philnotfil

    philnotfil GC Hall of Fame

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    And if you don't value mobility in your old age.

    I used to be all in on the trades, then I moved to a place with a lot of retirees. In my late 40s I'm one of the young guys in our congregation. And you can tell who worked trades and who worked office jobs by the way they walk into the building and hold their hymnbooks. The trades guys in their 60s and the office guys in their 80s are at about the same level physically.
     
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  15. WC53

    WC53 GC Hall of Fame

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    My grade school school report card said I was suited for manual labor, so I went to UF ;)

    It was mobile and we were poor.
     
  16. Orange_and_Bluke

    Orange_and_Bluke Premium Member

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    Don’t think anyone is saying that college is for suckers. There might be other avenues for certain people who may not need to grab a liberal arts degree.
    Surely you knew that. But guess you had to pretend to be smartest guy again. Sigh.
     
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  17. officelife

    officelife Senior

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    A billion dollar industry, according to the Kardashians ;)
     
  18. wgbgator

    wgbgator Premium Member

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    [​IMG]
     
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  19. rivergator

    rivergator Too Hot Mod Moderator VIP Member

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    No doubt that you can make good money in the trades, and many people do. But if the guy in the video is this big a jerk now, imagine him in high scholl.
    Meanwhile, From the article (not the video):

    Tuition at UF is currently $6,380 a year.
     
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  20. homer

    homer GC Hall of Fame

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    Garbage collectors back years ago put NY city on its knees when they went on strike. The city stunk.

    Trades have a lot of power and should they ever get together and use it look out.


    Imagine a national strike of plumbers, electricians, and HVACs. Poor Pelosi or Trump having to fix their own toilet or go without AC or heat.
     
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