What type of job would you prefer?

BZeto

Platinum Member
Apr 28, 2002
2,428
0
76
Would you rather have a job that is nearly always keeping you busy or one that has potential busy work but nothing really required?

Personally I'd rather have required work with deadlines that is always keeping me on my feet (figuratively). I feel having a job that doesn't really require the work to be done gives me a false sense of purpose. Plus I usually end up not doing the extra work because it really isn't important. I've had jobs like this my entire life and I really want something different. I actually get jealous of these guys in suits talking with their bluetooth headsets as they go from appointment to appointment.

Those who would rather not be busy, why? Reading internet forums all day loses its appeal after so long. Not to mention all the missed opportunities and life experiences sitting around bored 9 to 5. Ugh, I don't know what to do.
 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
i'm in the latter category but i'd prefer the former

pros of being in the latter: 36k score in ikariam, set up accounting system for my side business, added 5k posts to my postscore.
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
I'd rather be busy. Sitting around doing nothing sucks. Now, sitting around in a cubicle doing nothing for a corporation would make me go postal.
 

Patt

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2000
5,288
2
81
Busy ... I tend to slack waaay to much when I'm doing routine make-work activities.
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
63,061
19,370
136
I've had the stress of being busy 8-11 hours per day, and I'll tell you, you can have it.
From my perspective you're kinda saying having a sword run through you probably wouldn't be so bad, but once the sword is in there, damn, that shit hurts!
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
I've had the stress of being busy 8-11 hours per day, and I'll tell you, you can have it.
From my perspective you're kinda saying having a sword run through you probably wouldn't be so bad, but once the sword is in there, damn, that shit hurts!

There is a big difference between being busy contributing/creating something and being stressed.
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
63,061
19,370
136
Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
I've had the stress of being busy 8-11 hours per day, and I'll tell you, you can have it.
From my perspective you're kinda saying having a sword run through you probably wouldn't be so bad, but once the sword is in there, damn, that shit hurts!

There is a big difference between being busy contributing/creating something and being stressed.

I actually get jealous of these guys in suits talking with their bluetooth headsets as they go from appointment to appointment.
Being that busy = stress for me. If I have to put in over forty hours in a week, that's more stress.
 

pyonir

Lifer
Dec 18, 2001
40,856
321
126
i need to be kept busy. Otherwise i get very lazy and start looking for ways to slack more and more. If i'm kept busy, it's better.
 

n7

Elite Member
Jan 4, 2004
21,281
4
81
As long as it's not stressful, i like keeping busy.

Day goes by so much faster.
 

Xavier434

Lifer
Oct 14, 2002
10,373
1
0
I like being in control and I like options. Therefore, I love the jobs where I have the option of being busy but there is little to no stress tied into the workload. My job right now fits that perfectly. I get enough assignments and there is always plenty to do on my own accord which will improve things, but the deadlines for those assignments are either 3 times as long as they need to be or they are non-existent. This takes away all of the stress. Overtime doesn't exist here with exception of about 3 days a year where I put in an extra 3-4 hours of work each day. The pay makes me happy and the benefits and time off are out of this world. I love it.
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
I've had the stress of being busy 8-11 hours per day, and I'll tell you, you can have it.
From my perspective you're kinda saying having a sword run through you probably wouldn't be so bad, but once the sword is in there, damn, that shit hurts!

There is a big difference between being busy contributing/creating something and being stressed.

I actually get jealous of these guys in suits talking with their bluetooth headsets as they go from appointment to appointment.
Being that busy = stress for me. If I have to put in over forty hours in a week, that's more stress.

You may be confusing stress and lazy. :)
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
63,061
19,370
136
Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
I've had the stress of being busy 8-11 hours per day, and I'll tell you, you can have it.
From my perspective you're kinda saying having a sword run through you probably wouldn't be so bad, but once the sword is in there, damn, that shit hurts!

There is a big difference between being busy contributing/creating something and being stressed.

I actually get jealous of these guys in suits talking with their bluetooth headsets as they go from appointment to appointment.
Being that busy = stress for me. If I have to put in over forty hours in a week, that's more stress.

You may be confusing stress and lazy. :)

No, I don't think so. Are you one of those goofy "live to work" people or something? :p
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
I've had the stress of being busy 8-11 hours per day, and I'll tell you, you can have it.
From my perspective you're kinda saying having a sword run through you probably wouldn't be so bad, but once the sword is in there, damn, that shit hurts!

There is a big difference between being busy contributing/creating something and being stressed.

I actually get jealous of these guys in suits talking with their bluetooth headsets as they go from appointment to appointment.
Being that busy = stress for me. If I have to put in over forty hours in a week, that's more stress.

You may be confusing stress and lazy. :)

No, I don't think so. Are you one of those goofy "live to work" people or something? :p

No, I'm one of those people who ask why would you spend your life working at something you didn't enjoy?
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
63,061
19,370
136
Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
No, I'm one of those people who ask why would you spend your life working at something you didn't enjoy?

I enjoy it, but I don't want it taking up any more time than it has to.

Thinking about it, I don't know that there's ANYTHING I want to do for more than forty hours per week, no matter how much I enjoy it.
 

ggnl

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2004
5,095
1
0
Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
I've had the stress of being busy 8-11 hours per day, and I'll tell you, you can have it.
From my perspective you're kinda saying having a sword run through you probably wouldn't be so bad, but once the sword is in there, damn, that shit hurts!

There is a big difference between being busy contributing/creating something and being stressed.

I actually get jealous of these guys in suits talking with their bluetooth headsets as they go from appointment to appointment.
Being that busy = stress for me. If I have to put in over forty hours in a week, that's more stress.

You may be confusing stress and lazy. :)

No, I don't think so. Are you one of those goofy "live to work" people or something? :p

No, I'm one of those people who ask why would you spend your life working at something you didn't enjoy?

That depends on how you define "enjoy".

I merely tolerate my job but I enjoy how much I get paid. Does that make me one of those people?
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
No, I'm one of those people who ask why would you spend your life working at something you didn't enjoy?

I enjoy it, but I don't want it taking up any more time than it has to.

Thinking about it, I don't know that there's ANYTHING I want to do for more than forty hours per week, no matter how much I enjoy it.

Short attention span, no passions or, just don't like people? :)

I can understand those folks who work solely for a paycheck but, in my opinion, forty hours a week is way too much life to invest in order to do something else I really want to.
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
63,061
19,370
136
Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
No, I'm one of those people who ask why would you spend your life working at something you didn't enjoy?

I enjoy it, but I don't want it taking up any more time than it has to.

Thinking about it, I don't know that there's ANYTHING I want to do for more than forty hours per week, no matter how much I enjoy it.

Short attention span, no passions or, just don't like people? :)

I can understand those folks who work solely for a paycheck but, in my opinion, forty hours a week is way too much life to invest in order to do something else I really want to.

Too many hobbies ;)
 

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
3
0
I want either a fun job, or a job with no option to be busy. Being busy with work that sucks is a bad thing. Having the option to be busy and not doing it makes me feel lazy.
 

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,354
10,880
136
I've had both kinds & its much better to be busy ... makes time pass a lot more quickly.
 

mAdMaLuDaWg

Platinum Member
Feb 15, 2003
2,437
1
0
I've got to experience both sides.

In my previous life (ie while I was in college), I had a full time job as a web programmer at an Electronics company. Boy were things great, I used to go into work and nef on ATOT all day long. I used to do my homework and study for tests. I barely had any deadlines, and even if I did, it was really really long. I used to stress out about the simplest things like talking to other managers about projects.. I was a really shy person and didn't really mix well with the group of people, never hung out with them or talked to them. I used to sit in my cubicle, go out for lunch by myself, and "work" until 5 PM then head out for college. Looking back, I feel that I missed a huge opportunity to develop my personality and management skills.

After college, I joined my current job at an investment bank. Boy, what a shell shock. It took me a very long time to adjust and it was a very difficult transition from being a shy introvert to being able to communicate and juggling multiple things at once. There were times that I honestly thought I wouldn't make it especially after a few 12-14 hour days. At my previous job, I used to start my day reading cnn, google news, fatwallet, and nef on ATOT. Now, I all but stopped posting here but have recently begun posting after I get back home.

There are pluses and minuses to both sides and I really recommend that anyone experience both. I know, personally, that I have grown in both character and being able to socialize with other people. Its funny... before, I loathed speaking to other people on the phone out of shyness. Now talking on the phone with people from Moscow, England, Germany, Australia, and India is a constant part of my job. I'm able to think quicker and be able to manage things better. Programming has also become more stressful since a change that is made can potentially cause a loss of millions of dollars. One thing that probably has suffered a bit though are my programming skills, since in my previous job I used to have the time to experiment with different programming languages just for the fun of it.

The way I look at it though, the times are changing and being that computer geek who just sits in his cubicle and does nothing but code is becoming harder and harder to come by. Its best that I be able to expand my horizons so to speak.
 

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
6,197
126
I have the option to be busy now, and I've been asking my manager for more work to keep me busy, so I guess that answers what my preference is.
I want to contribute at work, and nothing like deadlines to keep you motivated.