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Old February 5th 06, 10:56 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
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Default Age Appropriate Dress?

On Sun, 5 Feb 2006 12:39:01 -0700, "Monique Y. Mudama"
wrote:

On 2006-02-05, penned:
John F. Eldredge wrote:

Well, for that matter, I have 20 years experience as a programmer
(and college degrees in both electronics and programming, as well
as a Bachelor's degree in History), and class myself as a "skilled
worker".


That makes sense. Other than the fact that programmers are extremely
well-paid, which makes them middle-class, the work itself is
certainly of the skilled-worker variety.


I'm a little confused. What constitutes a skilled worker? The term
looks like it should mean "someone who's good at what they do and has
invested time and training into doing it well," but I don't think
that's what you mean.

I've always been a bit confused by the white collar / blue collar
distinction. I don't get it, I guess.


The white collar/blue collar labor division has always been a bit
vague. One traditional definition would be that a blue collar worker
works with his hands, making something, and a white collar worker
works with his mind. However, most "making something" jobs involve
judgement as well as physical effort, and "white-collar" jobs vary
considerably in how much individual decision-making is involved.
Management would generally be considered a white-collar job, but,
particularly in smaller companies, a low-level manager may well be
involved on the factory or restaurant floor, and not just supervising.

My classification of myself as a "skilled worker" is because a
programmer is basically a tool-maker, enabling other people's jobs to
be done more efficiently.

--
John F. Eldredge --

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