We gotta be nuts to do this?

[billyruffn]

The Wall Street Journal has an article today on the Best and Worst Jobs. (You can read the article here: The Best and Worst Jobs in the U.S. - WSJ.com and learn more about the methodology here: Jobs Rated ).

The results are shown below. "Seaman" ranks 197 out of 200. Put another way, it's the 4th WORST job in America.

The Best and Worst Jobs

Of 200 Jobs studied, these came out on top -- and at the bottom:

The Best	The Worst
1. Mathematician	200. Lumberjack
2. Actuary	199. Dairy Farmer
3. Statistician	198. Taxi Driver
4. Biologist	197. Seaman
5. Software Engineer	196. EMT
6. Computer Systems Analyst	195. Roofer
7. Historian	194. Garbage Collector
8. Sociologist	193. Welder
9. Industrial Designer	192. Roustabout
10. Accountant	191. Ironworker
11. Economist	190. Construction Worker
12. Philosopher	189. Mail Carrier
13. Physicist	188. Sheet Metal Worker
14. Parole Officer	187. Auto Mechanic
15. Meteorologist	186. Butcher
16. Medical Laboratory Technician	185. Nuclear Decontamination Tech
17. Paralegal Assistant	184. Nurse (LN)
18. Computer Programmer	183. Painter
19. Motion Picture Editor	182. Child Care Worker
20. Astronomer	181. Firefighter

If this is so, and I have no reason to doubt the survey, I think we need to ask what it says about all the aspiring and accomplished seamen who hang out here. If it's one of the worst jobs in the world, why do we love it so?

Consider the criteria used in the study:

The necessary energy component
Physical demands (crawling, stooping bending, etc.)
Work conditions (toxic fumes, noise, etc.)
Physical environment extremes treated as negative scores
Stamina required
Degree of confinement

If you're honest about it, you'd have to admit that sailing ranks pretty poorly on those criteria. If that's not enough to convince you, add in the "income" component. Consider the fact that there are guys out there who get paid to do the 4th worst job in America and the idiots that hang out here do it for nothing....in fact, we pay (lots) for the priviledge.

I think it's time we all find new work!

[erps]

Looks like a geek came up with that list. The cool jobs are at the bottom:

Lumberjack and firefighter are below mathematician? What's up with that?

[Cruisingdad]

Just FYI - #201 is a Sailnet Moderator...

- CD

[xort]

A lot of desk jobs too. NO thanks. Actuary statistician accountant economist
I think I have one of the best jobs in the world; cinematographer. And they rank film editor in the top twenty; I would NOT want to be cooped up in a dark edit salon for months on end looking at other peoples stuff. Boring tedius, repetitive, sitting at a screen all day. Ooops, sounds like sailnet!

I would rank my job in the top ten for sure.

I think the list was made by a metrosexual.

[erps]

Originally Posted by xort

A lot of desk jobs too. NO thanks. Actuary statistician accountant economist
I think I have one of the best jobs in the world; cinematographer. And they rank film editor in the top twenty; I would NOT want to be cooped up in a dark edit salon for months on end looking at other peoples stuff. Boring tedius, repetitive, sitting at a screen all day. Ooops, sounds like sailnet!

I would rank my job in the top ten for sure.

I think the list was made by a metrosexual.

Did you meet any gay porn stars that Sailhog might know?

[Bene505]

On the list, Seaman is 12 rungs below (worse than) Nuclear Decontamination Tech.

Ouch!

[painkiller]

And I was just thinking about getting into Roustabouting too.

[sailhog]

Originally Posted by erps

Did you meet any gay porn stars that Sailhog might know?

If Congress doesn't give Larry Flynt that $5 billion bailout package, then I'll be out of work.

[SailKing1]

I'm a business consultant and would rate that as one of the best jobs there is and it's not even in the top 20. Make six figures a year, working less than a third of the year, have no one to answer to except yourself and get paid for your opinion. No stress except dealing with air travel. Although I can see how that could force it to the bottom if the list.

[rayncyn51]

Now I can't decide if I want to be a mathemetition or a fry cook. I think I'll head out to the c-ment pond and think about it for a mite.