Jobs: Going, Going, Gone
Posted in Podcasts on November 14th, 2006
We wax nostalgic about the demise of jobs that have become obsolete, defunct, and meaningless in our world. The milkman, the cobbler, the small appliance repairman, and any number of door-to-door salesmen. What does it say about our culture? We are disposable, unfriendly, and jaded.
Music: Model Worker by Magazine from The Correct Use of Soap
Bernadette in Australia says:
I’ve been wondering when the job of postman/woman/person will disappear. About the only thing I get via snail mail these days are bills and I’ve just received my 3rd invitation to have my bills sent to me electronically. It’s only a matter of time I think.
Thought provoking show as always ladies
November 16th, 2006 at 8:52 pm
Susie Watson says:
Actually Bernadette, I get more mail than ever, since we live in the middle of nowhere, and order everything online. We couldn’t live without Amazon and all the other books that fill our mailbox. And I think we get as many catalogs as we ever did. I also don’t quite trust electronic bill pay, but then, as you know, I’m a luddite. Plus, our mailman is a reader and gives me great recommendations, too!
November 17th, 2006 at 9:21 am
dwight says:
I believe there are still full service gas stations in places like Yellowstone National Park and Disney World.
November 19th, 2006 at 10:28 pm
Emily Y. says:
One job that I wish would go away (which has somewhat) is the person in the booth (on the highway) who gives you a stub with all the exit numbers and how much to pay. A machine can do that job. It’s a total waste of taxpayer money.
I like how you guys pointed out that jobs are moving elsewhere or done by machines because both results in cheaper costs which means this gets passed down to the consumer. The consumer wins. So many people don’t realize this. People forget that this kind of change did not just happen recently.
For example, when sewing machines were invented. Every seamstress out there were out there in protests. They were furious that a machine would take their job. What they didn’t realize is that these sewing machines still needed someone to operated it. So, these seamstresses learned how to use these sewimg machines. Their productivity increased dramatically. You, as the consumer pay less for clothes, because it costs less to make.
My point is, those who survie are those who can adapt. I believe that was point that Darwin made.
Speaking of adaptation and jobs lost. I work for Kodak, who has a lot of work to do in terms of change. It’s no big surprise why. Technology changes, you must adapt. Sure, we lament the loss of the demand for film, but with digital cameras now, consumers are saving a lot of money. They only print the pictures they want. The consumer wins.
Anyway, I love hearing your stories from childhood and such. I am a Gen Y-er and 1st gen american, so I have not grown up with milkmen deliveries nor did I hear of these kinds of stories from my parents.
As for the NJ gas stations, I heard that my cousins (who live in NJ), once… when they went to get gas in NY, they just sat there… not knowing what to do. That cracked me up.
December 21st, 2006 at 10:56 am
Susie Watson says:
Great points, Emily, and I totally agree about the toll-booth people. Sometimes I think a machine would be friendlier.
Interesting about Kodak, too, because I know the case study of Polaroid who failed to adapt.
As for Kodak, I do use the Kodak Easy Share software because I bought a Kodak digital camera, but I have called the customer service (after spending forever figuring out how to contact) and I have to say, they have a lot of work to do. Incredibly frustrating. I also hated upgrading to the newest version of software (they won’t talk to you on the phone unless you do) because I had the old version figured out and the new version is much more complex and therefore less user-friendly. Software designers tend to overbuild everything, I’ve found. Just one consumer’s opinion. Maybe a future podcast for us.
December 21st, 2006 at 2:00 pm