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Original poster

What’s your views on people doing Low Skilled jobs all their life? Are they stupid?

175 replies

Benny91 · 13/09/2025 22:00

People that are bin men, cleaners, bus drivers and work in retail? Do you think they’re only doing it because they’re not very smart?

As I heard this guy talking to his friend in the Gym today and that he’s a manager at a supermarket and all I overheard was that the longest ones who have worked at the place are ‘thick as shit’, and I was actually quite shocked about what he said! 😳

Also saying about those doing this long term. People often assume that people that do this way of living are failures in life?!

Whats your thoughts?

OP posts:
SaratogaFilly · 13/09/2025 22:04

That guy’s a dickhead. People doing an honest days work for an honest days pay deserve respect & thanks. I’d have struggled not to but in & tell him
how much of a thick wanker he sounded himself!

REDB99 · 13/09/2025 22:06

I don’t think they’re ‘stupid’, intelligence comes in many different shapes and sizes, it isn’t just academic intelligence that counts. I always think of groups like the Pitman Painters, working in mines but huge talent once explored and given opportunities. I do think the culture of learning as a hobby has been eroded with the decline of evening classes etc
I certainly don’t think people working in ‘low skilled’ jobs are stupid. That’s a horrible assumption.

WolfinSheepsDress · 13/09/2025 22:09

I think many people rather than being " thick as shit " have been failed by our outdated lumbering school system .

Angelyoga · 13/09/2025 22:09

I'd love to see how all these office geniuses would cope if sewer cleaners, garbage collectors, hell plumbers were on strike for a couple of weeks.

PaxAeterna · 13/09/2025 22:11

Firstly I would consider a bus driver on a different level if we are talking about unskilled jobs which you seem to be, they have specific training, it’s not an unskilled job that you just walk into. It’s also a stable job with a pension and benefits.

But otherwise no: retail workers, cleaners and bin men are critical jobs, society can’t function without them. I don’t think those people are stupid at all. They may have less education than me but that doesn’t relate to intelligence. I’m met intelligent people in a walks of life.

Honestly he sounds like a terrible manager. It’s an awful way to talk about your staff.

TragicMuse · 13/09/2025 22:12

What does he think would happen if no one was happy to do that as a job for most/all of their working life?

Society would totally grind to a halt if it was all managers and no actual workers.

Bedheadbeachbum · 13/09/2025 22:14

I think we have a horrible snobbish attitude towards low skilled work in this country.

And yet we bemoan those that don't want to work. Well why would they when their low skilled job tells the world how stupid they are?

I wish there was an overhaul of these attitudes because a job is a job and people should feel have every right to feel pride in that. Also, not everyone gets promoted, or shines at work, everyone is different.

WorthySloth · 13/09/2025 22:14

I’m a support worker my husband works in retail. My son is a painter and decorator. One daughter works in retail another is a support worker. None of us are thick. Personally I value having a job that works around my life is flexible and actually does something worthwhile. I enjoy going to work and actually get paid pretty well for what I do.

without us life would be more difficult for everyone. Remember who the key workers were when it mattered. Although people have short memories about that…

PaxAeterna · 13/09/2025 22:14

WolfinSheepsDress · 13/09/2025 22:09

I think many people rather than being " thick as shit " have been failed by our outdated lumbering school system .

But why would you see a cleaner or a bin man as a failure. Somebody has to do this work. It has more value to society than other work that is better paid

Idontknownowwhat · 13/09/2025 22:14

No, I wouldn't say they're stupid, I actually think some of the jobs that are paid at minimum wage are harder than the more "professional" jobs out there.

I certainly remember them as the "worse" jobs I've had and felt really demeaned in different ways.

At the time, training to do something better was out of the question and I assume that's lots of people's situations...

I rather hoped we changed our opinions of people who worked in supermarkets, especially after COVID and them being recognised as key workers.

pinenuts75 · 13/09/2025 22:14

My ex friend was studying a degree to teach English to Chinese students, but she couldn’t work out percentages, I work in a shop and had to show her, she still didn’t get it, does that answer your question?

SellFridges · 13/09/2025 22:14

I somewhat envy people who can remain in a low skill, low responsibility job. I just don’t quite grasp how you don’t want the next thing or the next role. I’d be in there wanting to change systems and improve service. I wouldn’t last five minutes.

Bufftailed · 13/09/2025 22:15

I’m sure I saw somewhere that people in lower skilled jobs are happier. Turns out they got the last laugh

WolfinSheepsDress · 13/09/2025 22:15

@PaxAeterna I don't at all.

I was more taking issue with wording and sense of the op.

KylieKangaroo · 13/09/2025 22:17

My husband works in retail and he is far from stupid. He works harder than I do ( I sit in front of a computer all day) I wish he was valued more and paid more for what he does

Naws · 13/09/2025 22:21

As I heard this guy talking to his friend in the Gym today and that he’s a manager at a supermarket and all I overheard was that the longest ones who have worked at the place are ‘thick as shit’, and I was actually quite shocked about what he said!

So shocked at one man talking about his personal opinion on the staff, that you thought you'd drag in all low skilled workers, and ask people to say if they think they're stupid?

Goady in the extreme.

WorthySloth · 13/09/2025 22:21

Bufftailed · 13/09/2025 22:15

I’m sure I saw somewhere that people in lower skilled jobs are happier. Turns out they got the last laugh

I’m very happy in my job. Some days I get paid to take someone to visit family and then I wait to collect them. That gives me about 3 hours to meander around a pretty seaside town and do what I want. Breaks my day up nicely. I do 12 hour shifts so do my full time hours in 3 days. I sometimes do sleep ins where I get paid to be in bed asleep. Why would I want a higher pressure job that doesn’t actually pay that much more?

BetteButler · 13/09/2025 22:22

Yeh im really stupid. I work in care, im there for individuals and their families when it gets too much.

i enjoy my job, I love the people I work with. I am happy. I am stupid.

HerbertVonDoodlebug · 13/09/2025 22:23

I have met / worked with many people in ‘professional’ jobs who really aren’t very bright.

And met many smart and interesting people who are eg gardeners, cleaners, carers. Not everyone wants a corporate career!

NotMeNoNo · 13/09/2025 22:23

A family member in her 50s has a minimum wage job in a cafe, after many years of running her own business. Just wanted a low stress job she can shut the door on. It still takes hard work, attention to detail, kindness and customer service. I've no time for people who are snobbish about low wage and "blue collar" jobs. Your level of education and earning potential do not determine your value as a person.

LemondrizzleShark · 13/09/2025 22:25

Bus drivers earn about £48k around here, and have to undergo fairly lengthy training to get their licence, so I don’t know why you are roping them in with shelf stackers!

But to answer your question, no people in low paid jobs aren’t all thick. Some might be, some stay in them for the flexibility, some don’t actually need the money and just want something straightforward and undemanding to occupy them.

hoxtonE1 · 13/09/2025 22:25

About this manager of the supermarket, I can tell you one thing about him and I've never met him nor will I ever.
But people like him are to be found in any walk of life and employment that you can name.
I can tell you that no matter how much more intelligent he may feel he is, that he is a massive failure in his job as manage, and I'm quite certain that he does not get the respect I'm sure he feels he deserves, and is in fact more than likely heartily disliked by everyone whom he manages, and in fact most likely comes in contact with.

ThreePears · 13/09/2025 22:26

"Remember who the key workers were when it mattered"

Too bloody right.

SpiritVaults72 · 13/09/2025 22:26

My late dad worked in factories all his working life. He read the Bible from cover to cover and analysed it, intelligently. He was what I call an independent thinker. He could hear ANY tune, and play it, on his guitar, verbatim. And the supermarket manager who sneeringly described his co- workers thus? He wouldn't have pissed on him if he was on fire.

Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 13/09/2025 22:27

@Benny91 , I believe anyone who works for their living is absolutely not failing at life and they have my respect.
I believe there are some absolutely arrogant individuals who erroneously believe they are in a position to judge and belittle others, I don’t have much respect for for them.
Interestingly I was having a very similar conversation with my husband this evening. We were discussing what the difference is in our opinion between financially successful people and those who are not. We concluded as we always have that successful people take risks and usually make many sacrifices, many who do will fail so I’m not sure what the fairy dust is that makes the few successful but an element of luck will be involved.
The person you heard speaking sounds rather unpleasant and they are probably overrating their perceived success.