this post was submitted on 14 Oct 2023
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and? which one's better?
Most of the time the 8 hour desk job pays more unfortunately. Unless you’re in a good steel workers union that is.
Statistically speaking, if you sit for 8h a day, you’re 50% more likely do die of everything. Sitting, staring at a screen is death, just a slow one.
I think toxic fumes might be worse
If your workplace has good safety standards it's not as much of a problem these days, I'd rather wear a respirator at my job working with fumes and dust than sit at a desk all day and fuck my back and eyes up. Though I'm fucking my back up too probably, but if you don't overwork yourself and use proper techniques even manual labor doesn't have to be so bad for your body.
Oh most definitely, especially if you’re sitting in those fumes all day 🙃
Idk plumbers, electricians, contractors, etc make a lot around here. I'm sure they usually have business overhead that factors into their hourly rates (like $100+ an hour here in Seattle). Or if they work independently, they'd still need to pay taxes, insurance, health insurance, licensing, etc., but assuming they make $60/hr after all that, that's pretty good.
I'm a contractor. I work in hospitals where it rains money. They charge $120 an hour for my services. By the time all the hands get in the pot, I get very close to $100 less per hour.
Both UA and IBEW have a higher pay scale than the Ironworkers local where I live.
For your health? Desk. I mean have you seen how some people look just into their 40s after spending a lifetime on a manual labor job?
For pay? Probably desk for the most part
For your mental health? Neither, gotta cut connections and live off the land
honestly that last part is kinda capitalist propaganda, the real solution is to unionize.
What do you mean by cutting off connections? To escape this hellhole we need connections more than ever, some people can manage to survive on their own off the land but humanity works better together. Our economies and societal structures are enforced by parasites but there are many people that want to build positive things.
I know electricians in their 60's that are insanely fit. Like run up and down flights of stairs all day no issue fit. They take care of themselves and always have, and never stopped moving. I think manual labour with a proper diet and sleep schedule is one of the best things you can do for your body.
It's also because a lot of blue-collar guys are heavy smokers and drinkers, which ages people fast. It's not so much the work as it is the lifestyle. The work can cause injuries as well, but being injured isn't the same thing as looking older than your years.
whichever has a union, so likely the manual labour.
Desk.
I get to see my kids.
Fresh air, free exercise, good union... Join us.