3 ms·

I did not notice any part of the story where he was offered a well paying job, or even any job. Did I read a different story?

fragmede 16y ago
On the two semi-reliable, specific sources of income that were mentioned, can recycling and giving blood: > But since most of the collecting was done after midnight and is arduous, I tired of the relationship and severed it. If I ever care to return to scavenging, I am assured an extra $1248 a year-my 40 percent share of the gross. > ...began selling two pints of my plasma a week-the limit-for $6 a pint. This source could add $624 to my annual income. But I found the 90-minute sessions, luring which time I was affixed to a needle, utterly boring, and I stopped. (Never mind that he would have had to stop giving blood for other reasons.) In at least those two instances, he says quit the job because it was hard work or boring. (If you're going to point out that these aren't "real" jobs, then neither is running a startup.) The author also mentioned that there were other ways he could supplement his income, but deigned not to. He comes to the conclusion, at the end of the 3rd paragraph from the end, that he could "still pass... into the sort of life I once took for granted, when all the institutions of upper middle-class life in the suburbs meant something", but that it was futile, just a wait for death; unsatisfactory. The sham that punk rock holds up: drive to work to pay for the nice car; so you can drive the nice car to work; to pay for the nice car. More eloquently coached perhaps, but I get the same sort of ennui from it as in the last paragraph - he admits to wanting to live it, without wanting to work for it.
- Tichy 16y ago
  About the blood donation, I wonder if you end up having to eat more or something like that, to compensate for the blood loss? In any case, both jobs don't sound as if they had made a big difference to his well-being.
  - fragmede 16y ago
    Keep in mind that this article is from the 70's, his yearly budget is $1765. $1248 from cans, or $624 from plasma is a bigger deal if you look at them as a percentage of his budget. maxawaytoolong asked for examples of any job, which is what I gave.
    - Tichy 16y ago
      Collecting bottles after midnight seems like a recepy for getting sick, if you are over 60. But you are of course right, he did mention jobs in his article. (donating blood really isn't a job, but collecting bottles might be OK).
- maxawaytoolong 16y ago
  Yes, I'm going to make the controversial claim that donating blood and scavenging for cans in the dark are not real jobs. It's more than a bit callous to suggest a senior citizen is not doing his part for society because he's decided to live off the benefits afforded to him by paying into taxes his whole life, instead of wallowing in the trash and selling his own bodily fluids. If you're going to point out that these aren't "real" jobs, then neither is running a startup. Previously, I thought the guy who suggested seeding the southern border of the US with landmines to keep the scourge of underpriced gardeners and line cooks out of the country had made the stupidest statement ever on Hacker News, but this is a close rival. Hopefully none of the more impressionable readers of this forum take this to heart and decide to apply for YC funding with their sperm donation startup idea. I'd hate to be the one screening the application videos.

fragmede 16y ago

On the two semi-reliable, specific sources of income that were mentioned, can recycling and giving blood: > But since most of the collecting was done after midnight and is arduous, I tired of the relationship and severed it. If I ever care to return to scavenging, I am assured an extra $1248 a year-my 40 percent share of the gross. > ...began selling two pints of my plasma a week-the limit-for $6 a pint. This source could add $624 to my annual income. But I found the 90-minute sessions, luring which time I was affixed to a needle, utterly boring, and I stopped. (Never mind that he would have had to stop giving blood for other reasons.) In at least those two instances, he says quit the job because it was hard work or boring. (If you're going to point out that these aren't "real" jobs, then neither is running a startup.) The author also mentioned that there were other ways he could supplement his income, but deigned not to. He comes to the conclusion, at the end of the 3rd paragraph from the end, that he could "still pass... into the sort of life I once took for granted, when all the institutions of upper middle-class life in the suburbs meant something", but that it was futile, just a wait for death; unsatisfactory. The sham that punk rock holds up: drive to work to pay for the nice car; so you can drive the nice car to work; to pay for the nice car. More eloquently coached perhaps, but I get the same sort of ennui from it as in the last paragraph - he admits to wanting to live it, without wanting to work for it.

Tichy 16y ago
About the blood donation, I wonder if you end up having to eat more or something like that, to compensate for the blood loss? In any case, both jobs don't sound as if they had made a big difference to his well-being.
- fragmede 16y ago
  Keep in mind that this article is from the 70's, his yearly budget is $1765. $1248 from cans, or $624 from plasma is a bigger deal if you look at them as a percentage of his budget. maxawaytoolong asked for examples of any job, which is what I gave.
  - Tichy 16y ago
    Collecting bottles after midnight seems like a recepy for getting sick, if you are over 60. But you are of course right, he did mention jobs in his article. (donating blood really isn't a job, but collecting bottles might be OK).
maxawaytoolong 16y ago
Yes, I'm going to make the controversial claim that donating blood and scavenging for cans in the dark are not real jobs. It's more than a bit callous to suggest a senior citizen is not doing his part for society because he's decided to live off the benefits afforded to him by paying into taxes his whole life, instead of wallowing in the trash and selling his own bodily fluids. If you're going to point out that these aren't "real" jobs, then neither is running a startup. Previously, I thought the guy who suggested seeding the southern border of the US with landmines to keep the scourge of underpriced gardeners and line cooks out of the country had made the stupidest statement ever on Hacker News, but this is a close rival. Hopefully none of the more impressionable readers of this forum take this to heart and decide to apply for YC funding with their sperm donation startup idea. I'd hate to be the one screening the application videos.