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The only way to compare dissimilar jobs is to expand the scope of the comparison to include all the individual components of environement, job tasks, task prerequisites, duration, physical, emotional and psychological factors.
A labor intensive task may actually be much "easier" than another mental task might be when evaluated on the basis of stress and physical well being. I would much rather dig my own post hole than to lobby congress for funding to hire a post hold digger.
What do you mean when you say that somebody "worked hard to get what they got"?
Person A is a villager in Indonesia, and destroys his body by the age of 40, bending over in a rice field all his life, for a dollar a day.
Person B sits in an ergonomic chair in a cubicle at a constant 72 degrees, wearing Gucci shoes, and makes as much money as 200 villagers.
Is Person B entitled to gloat "I worked hard for what I've got"?
It's entirely relative...as in most similar topics. Can an American claim to live in a "free country"? Can a person say he's had "good health"? Can the average person in the US say he 'can't afford' new shoes?....or 'can't afford' a new car?....or 'can't afford' a trip to Paris? Are most people's kids "good kids"?
All of these are common statements, and ENTIRELY relative. It depends upon who's saying it....to whom they're speaking....and what it's being compared to.
Person B, (above), if talking to his Congressman..or to his brother who makes $10 per hour because that's all he WANTS to do....or to the 'boss's son' who came into the organization last week 'at the top'....could, in all seriousness, claim that he had "worked hard for what he's got".
If he was speaking to the Indonesian farmer, he'd sound a little silly saying that...and would probably be better seved by saying, "Fortunately, I've been able to make a LOT of money by working at a lucrative job in a wealthy nation"....or better yet, he should talk with the Indonesian about the weather.
I worked hard to get to the position I'm at now, I truly believe that my hard work in school, life, and my willingness to work 80hr. weeks and such has led me to the quality of life I enjoy now. It was a mental and physical strain but you can't compare my work to someone like the Indonesian farmer. The farmer lacks the mental attributes needed and also may be hampered down by an impossible social system.
I worked hard to get to the position I'm at now, I truly believe that my hard work in school, life, and my willingness to work 80hr. weeks and such has led me to the quality of life I enjoy now. It was a mental and physical strain but you can't compare my work to someone like the Indonesian farmer. The farmer lacks the mental attributes needed and also may be hampered down by an impossible social system.
Don't be so sure about the farmer's 'mental attributes'. He may be a dullard.or he MAY be a borderline genius. But even a borderline genius can't overcome a stifling social system, a lack of access to education, and grinding poverty making it virtually impossible for someone to 'move' around in social class.
Had Albert Einstein been born in a tent in Uzbekhistan, or as the child of a low-caste laborer in India, quite likely he'd have remained there for his entire life. Einstein did great things....but he also lived in a 'system' which allowed him to flourish.
Don't be so sure about the farmer's 'mental attributes'. He may be a dullard.or he MAY be a borderline genius. But even a borderline genius can't overcome a stifling social system, a lack of access to education, and grinding poverty making it virtually impossible for someone to 'move' around in social class.
Had Albert Einstein been born in a tent in Uzbekhistan, or as the child of a low-caste laborer in India, quite likely he'd have remained there for his entire life. Einstein did great things....but he also lived in a 'system' which allowed him to flourish.
Indeed.
I'm not sure if I worded my response correctly. I didn't mean to give you that impression.
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