Occupational Hazards
Ever since I started my new "job" people have asked me "So what do you do?" To that, I can respond with only several answers partially due to the nature of my position. One of these responses is of course "Nothing. Nothing at all." Another probable response is "Pointless monkey-work suitable for a lobotomized Jack Nicholson." Three, "Wasting my life." Four, "Killing myself at a desk." Five, "I can't tell you or I will I have to kill you."
The truth probably lies somewhere in between all these answers. I don't particularly like my job, but then again, I probably don't like anything that can be deemed a "job." I do like getting paid and I do like supporting myself. Even if I achieved one of those dream jobs like Rock Star, Video Game Tester, Professional Sports Hero (however unlikely) and other worthless contributors to society, some aspect of that job at one point would get to me. To be a Rock Star, for instance, requires near endless touring schedules which can become grueling and tiring. Thanks to Behind the Music, I know most real Rock Stars eventually hate touring and they eventually hate pumping out album after album. Another negative aspect of being a rock star is compromise. A Rock Star must make concessions to his band-mates, manager, recording engineers, producers, publicists, etc. These concessions can be in the form of lyric changes, calculated radio friendly songs, wardrobe, public persona, etc. Plus Rock Stars must REALLY watch out for venereal diseases. In the end such concessions and potential crotch diseases, at least for a weak man, can break his spirit and suck his passion for the music. Proof of this lies in the near countless souls that were broken on the shores of Rock Stardom. Reo Speedwagon, Journey, Warrant, Jefferson Airplane/Starship, MC Hammer, Milli Vanalli, Vanilla Ice, Dave Mustaine, Cliff Burton, Iron Butterfly, and even Weezer all lost friends, money, dreams, passion, and even their lives to the occupation of Rock Star. The majority of the people that achieve the exalted position of Rock Star suffered and lost. The numbers don't lie. Being a half-assed "engineer" is by far more stable than being a Rock Star.
To continue the comparison, a Video Game Tester could also run into disheartening difficulties on the job. The obvious problem would be to test the countless horrible games day in and day out where your faith not only in Video Game Publishers but in humanity itself is questioned. Furthermore, this job could make something that is fun for others, merely tedious for the tester. One day after not reporting his findings to his manager, the cops find the tester face down in a pile of his own waste with foam pouring out of his mouth. Of course this is a fictional supposition of how this job could be, but I have a feeling it is fairly accurate.
SO.....These "dream" jobs, can and have been far from any sort of dream for numerous individuals. Sure, my job kind of sucks and I am so alone it is not even funny anymore, but screw it. At least I am not in the process of tarnishing a dream that is impossible to achieve. More power to anyone with the balls to shoot for a dream, but don't come crying to me when you hate playing music and have contracted HIV. As a warning to those who give a damn about me, do not expect me to talk about my job and if I do, do not expect it to be positive and enlightening in any way. The majority of people hate their jobs and their lives, so it seems I might have entered that majority. But its not over yet. Maybe when gene therapy is actually available I can add 50 years onto my life and make this waste null and void.
The truth probably lies somewhere in between all these answers. I don't particularly like my job, but then again, I probably don't like anything that can be deemed a "job." I do like getting paid and I do like supporting myself. Even if I achieved one of those dream jobs like Rock Star, Video Game Tester, Professional Sports Hero (however unlikely) and other worthless contributors to society, some aspect of that job at one point would get to me. To be a Rock Star, for instance, requires near endless touring schedules which can become grueling and tiring. Thanks to Behind the Music, I know most real Rock Stars eventually hate touring and they eventually hate pumping out album after album. Another negative aspect of being a rock star is compromise. A Rock Star must make concessions to his band-mates, manager, recording engineers, producers, publicists, etc. These concessions can be in the form of lyric changes, calculated radio friendly songs, wardrobe, public persona, etc. Plus Rock Stars must REALLY watch out for venereal diseases. In the end such concessions and potential crotch diseases, at least for a weak man, can break his spirit and suck his passion for the music. Proof of this lies in the near countless souls that were broken on the shores of Rock Stardom. Reo Speedwagon, Journey, Warrant, Jefferson Airplane/Starship, MC Hammer, Milli Vanalli, Vanilla Ice, Dave Mustaine, Cliff Burton, Iron Butterfly, and even Weezer all lost friends, money, dreams, passion, and even their lives to the occupation of Rock Star. The majority of the people that achieve the exalted position of Rock Star suffered and lost. The numbers don't lie. Being a half-assed "engineer" is by far more stable than being a Rock Star.
To continue the comparison, a Video Game Tester could also run into disheartening difficulties on the job. The obvious problem would be to test the countless horrible games day in and day out where your faith not only in Video Game Publishers but in humanity itself is questioned. Furthermore, this job could make something that is fun for others, merely tedious for the tester. One day after not reporting his findings to his manager, the cops find the tester face down in a pile of his own waste with foam pouring out of his mouth. Of course this is a fictional supposition of how this job could be, but I have a feeling it is fairly accurate.
SO.....These "dream" jobs, can and have been far from any sort of dream for numerous individuals. Sure, my job kind of sucks and I am so alone it is not even funny anymore, but screw it. At least I am not in the process of tarnishing a dream that is impossible to achieve. More power to anyone with the balls to shoot for a dream, but don't come crying to me when you hate playing music and have contracted HIV. As a warning to those who give a damn about me, do not expect me to talk about my job and if I do, do not expect it to be positive and enlightening in any way. The majority of people hate their jobs and their lives, so it seems I might have entered that majority. But its not over yet. Maybe when gene therapy is actually available I can add 50 years onto my life and make this waste null and void.
posted by Blackthorne at 9:39 AM
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