Anonymous wrote:Op here. Yeah, I wonder if part of it is that it is their job to be pleasant. But they seem to smile and laugh with each other, too. I swear sometimes the only happy looking guy I are all day is the security guard checking IDs.

You must work in a really depressing place. You never smile with your co-workers?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PP.I would never want have one of the high pressure jobs.I'd rather be a security guard, stocking person, landscaper or something similar.
Well, I made it happen.Got my degree, invested in real estate early on and now sit at home and raise my kids.When they are older, I'll be stocking shelves somewhere part time.Good to go!

But you've obviously given up on intellectual stimulation, and impacting society positively through your vocation. Not all of us are willing to do that.

And some of us are severely over-estimating their impact on the world. Balance, people. Balance.

Exactly. Because all the lobbyists and PAC fundraisers and political axe men in DC are really impacting society "positively."

Was thinking the same thing. Hate when people match impacting society and "professional" worker together as if they always go with one another. Fact is very few jobs have major impacts on society. Most merely exist to generate revenues or provide nice to have services.

Also, education and salary don't equal worth to society.

I grew up as the daughter of a handyman and a school kitchen worker (now working white collar) and trust me, the lives of blue collar/non-professional workers are every bit as complicated as the lives of white collar workers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PP.I would never want have one of the high pressure jobs.I'd rather be a security guard, stocking person, landscaper or something similar.
Well, I made it happen.Got my degree, invested in real estate early on and now sit at home and raise my kids.When they are older, I'll be stocking shelves somewhere part time.Good to go!

But you've obviously given up on intellectual stimulation, and impacting society positively through your vocation. Not all of us are willing to do that.

And some of us are severely over-estimating their impact on the world. Balance, people. Balance.

Exactly. Because all the lobbyists and PAC fundraisers and political axe men in DC are really impacting society "positively."

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Yeah, I wonder if part of it is that it is their job to be pleasant. But they seem to smile and laugh with each other, too. I swear sometimes the only happy looking guy I are all day is the security guard checking IDs.

Of course it is part of their job to pleasant to those around them! Do you also thing waitstaff are also happier/have less stress because they approach your table with a smile?!

Op here. Yeah, I wonder if part of it is that it is their job to be pleasant. But they seem to smile and laugh with each other, too. I swear sometimes the only happy looking guy I are all day is the security guard checking IDs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I noticed this in law school, in a nonprofit, and also in government office buildings with a range of professionals:

Have you ever noticed that a lot of times the happiest, cheeriest people in the building tend not to be the white collar workers, but rather the security guards, cafeteria workers, physical plant guys, etc?

Those people seem to have smiles on their faces and give off a happier demeanor.

Am I just imagining this, or is there something to this?

Of course they're happy. Dogs are happier than people too. They have lower expectations of achievement and lifestyle. Don't you find the same in your friends who have less education and make less money?

Not PP, but I have to disagree with regard to friends. My less educated friends are insecure and judgmental. I wish they were happy people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I noticed this in law school, in a nonprofit, and also in government office buildings with a range of professionals:

Have you ever noticed that a lot of times the happiest, cheeriest people in the building tend not to be the white collar workers, but rather the security guards, cafeteria workers, physical plant guys, etc?

Those people seem to have smiles on their faces and give off a happier demeanor.

Am I just imagining this, or is there something to this?

Of course they're happy. Dogs are happier than people too. They have lower expectations of achievement and lifestyle. Don't you find the same in your friends who have less education and make less money?

Oh no. You didn't just equate blue collar workers with dogs, did you?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PP.I would never want have one of the high pressure jobs.I'd rather be a security guard, stocking person, landscaper or something similar.
Well, I made it happen.Got my degree, invested in real estate early on and now sit at home and raise my kids.When they are older, I'll be stocking shelves somewhere part time.Good to go!

But you've obviously given up on intellectual stimulation, and impacting society positively through your vocation. Not all of us are willing to do that.

And some of us are severely over-estimating their impact on the world. Balance, people. Balance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I noticed this in law school, in a nonprofit, and also in government office buildings with a range of professionals:

Have you ever noticed that a lot of times the happiest, cheeriest people in the building tend not to be the white collar workers, but rather the security guards, cafeteria workers, physical plant guys, etc?

Those people seem to have smiles on their faces and give off a happier demeanor.

Am I just imagining this, or is there something to this?

Of course they're happy. Dogs are happier than people too. They have lower expectations of achievement and lifestyle. Don't you find the same in your friends who have less education and make less money?

Er....

I think you are projecting. The security guards have lives every bit as complicated as the professors. They have less money, and different stresses.

+1. Exactly! Although I am now a professional, I grew up in a blue collar household. Because of that, I make it a point to engage with them and converse with them. All of them have backstories. Closing a big deal is pressure. No doubt! But trying to make next month's rent is also pressure - pressure that I would not want to face. I do not think that everyone the OP is seeing is cheery and happy underneath. Many of them are in jobs where they may get in trouble if they are not pleasant and polite to the professionals.