Why Commentators need to research their columns

**James Deuce** · 22nd November 2009, 20:41

MS Watkins may well think she has a point, but the implication is that blue collar workers can't be taken seriously because they're thick and uneducated. I actually know that she has the landscape wrong, because she's attempted to use a stereotype to reinforce a point and it doesn't work.

Biker stereotype: Modern day Viking with no respect for anything or anyone.

Blue Collar stereotype: Left school at earliest opportunity to dig ditches and drink beer.

Modern day motorcyclist: Large financial investment in hobby/transport, social, looks to "improve their riding" whatever they may think that improvement entails, and from my experience, tends to be broadly read and capable of stringing a cogent sentence together. Job, perceived social standing, actual financial worth are meaningless to a motorcyclists when they are dealing with another motorcyclist. IMO it is one of the few remaining examples of social equality left in NZ now that sports have been moved into the professional domain.

**bikemike** · 22nd November 2009, 22:09

Originally Posted by smoky

[I]

'Blue Collar' use to mean working class who typically perform manual labor and earns an hourly wage - that would cover the majority of IT workers as well as

You could debate Blue Collar all you like, but there's no way the majority of IT workers would consider their work to be manual!

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**GOONR** · 23rd November 2009, 08:56

Originally Posted by bikemike

You could debate Blue Collar all you like, but there's no way the majority of IT workers would consider their work to be manual!

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{

think;
type;
if coffee.needed
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}

I'd agree with that, I've worked in IT for over twenty years and the closest I have come to doing any manual work was unpacking a new laptop!

**k2w3** · 23rd November 2009, 10:10

What is it about IT and motorcycling? Sick of being labelled nerds at school, we get the last laugh by now being able to afford some cool wheels and ditching that dork image all at the same time. That's my theory, anyway.

k2w3. ERP boy.

**smoky** · 23rd November 2009, 16:40

Originally Posted by bikemike

You could debate Blue Collar all you like, but there's no way the majority of IT workers would consider their work to be manual!

I said typically perform manual labour, not all.
I know you IT lot like to think you're akin to professionals like doctors and lawyers, but in reality most of you are as poorly paid as truck drivers, call center workers and receptionists.
The distinction between those of you who are well paid and your average IT blue collar worker is when you earn a salary as apposed to earning an hourly wage.

Not having a go at real IT workers, but now days every second buffoon who's done a quick poly course on computers, or learnt how to load software on a laptop, calls them selves an IT professional.