Economic Survivor's Guilt

[Tenbatsuzen]

Without getting into specifics, does anyone feel guilty when they read on the board that someone has lost their job or they aren't getting a raise or a bonus and read in the newspapers about benefits being cut back?

A buddy of mine works in car sales. He was very prolific, but he admitted to me that the downturn has affected him pretty badly.

Last night while I was having dinner, our waitress had a table of teen girls stiff her tip. I actually gave her extra money to cover her on that.

Another friend of mine works in retail, and he got hit pretty badly while he's in the process of building a new house.

My wife didn't get a raise this year, and there are concerns that they are going into a big company-wide meeting tomorrow that more bad news is coming.

I'm not scared about the economy - I would probably use the term "concerned", but that's only because I plan for the worst case scenarios and what could happen if the shit hits the fan. Because I'm a cynic, I'm very well educated on how to protect my economic well-being.

[hammersavage]

Just a round about way to tell a tip story, Matty?


You people should feel shame, balances out the world.

[Foster]

I don't think guilty is the right word, but I'm concerned when I hear about someone I know losing their job. helpless might be the right word, because I wish there was something I could do to help them out

[RoseBlood]

I've had guilt about alot of things in my life. I'm not about to feel guilty over my recent good fortune which I've worked hard for and planned for. I do, however feel terribly sad and wish only the best to the recent casualities of this economic state.

[Hottub]

Guilty? Really? No. Fortunate I am still pulling a paycheck. Still treading water. It fucking sucks out there.
I know way too many who have been laid off. Every one of their stories saddens me.

Now excuse me, I'm going out to Shop Rite now to get some Malt O Meal and fishsticks.

Count your blessings.

[Heather 8]

While I have had a very sudden change in fortunes recently (back at work full-time with a substantial raise), I do feel bad for my co-workers who aren't getting raises, some of whom, in fact, are taking pay cuts, and have either had to take a second job or put off retirement to scrape by.

Then I remember how we've struggled over the past 8 months and I get over that guilt very quickly. I lucked out, for now. With the way things are going, that could change again very soon.

[TripleSkeet]

I dont feel guilty, but I do feel bad.

But I use those stories to keep my life in perspective.

Im juggling 4 jobs and my wife 1 with 2 sidejobs trying to make ends meet month to month. Her grandmother was living with us and helping out but she just died taking 20K a year in help with her. When summer comes Ill have a 2nd kid here and 2 of my jobs will be on hiatus making it even harder to make ends meet.

But in the end I just look at some of those other horror stories and realize that no matter how bad it is, it could be so much worse. At least we are all healthy and working. With a little faith and patience Im confident things will get better eventually.

[Devo37]

i feel fortunate that it hasn't affected me (yet). i feel bad when i hear about people i know losing their jobs, but it's kinda like war: you know some good people are gonna get f#cked, so all you can do is keep your head down and try to stay alive.

[earthbrown]

I went from $2000 a week to $1000 a week. Struggling but hopefully it will turn.


K

[Jujubees2]

Whenever I hear or read about another round of layoffs or another company closing, I think about what would happen if I was one of those people. Luckily, working in the higher education field I'm relatively safe from the economy (our applications are already up over 5% from last year's record numbers). But it's still scary.

[Freitag]

Whenever I hear or read about another round of layoffs or another company closing, I think about what would happen if I was one of those people. Luckily, working in the higher education field I'm relatively safe from the economy (our applications are already up over 5% from last year's record numbers). But it's still scary.

It's one of the reasons Liz wants to get into teaching/education. The field is virtually recession-proof.

[Jujubees2]

It's one of the reasons Liz wants to get into teaching/education. The field is virtually recession-proof.

Yeah, like I tell my friends, I'll never get "rich" working at a university but the benefits (free tutition for the kids and wife, retirement plan, etc.) are good.

[Thomas Merton]

Come, join us role models to the youth of today!

Tenbats, you must be Catholic

[Don Stugots]

Guilty? Really? No. Fortunate I am still pulling a paycheck. Still treading water. It fucking sucks out there.
I know way too many who have been laid off. Every one of their stories saddens me.

Now excuse me, I'm going out to Shop Rite now to get some Malt O Meal and fishsticks.

Count your blessings.

i was feeling the same way till Friday.

[Morningkill]

I feel both guilty and fortunate. I work in home construction and real estate, and all around me I see contractors and realtors I've done business with for years dropping like flies. I'm lucky enough to have enough of a financial cushion to carry me for roughly two years, and I build my projects on my own money, so I don't have any loans to worry about. Meanwhile, my best friend got laid off six weeks ago, and has no idea when he'll be working again. It sucks out loud.

[Tenbatsuzen]

Tenbats, you must be Catholic

Holy shit, that's the funniest thing I've read all week.

[CofyCrakCocaine]

No guilt. My personal success or failure will have no earth-moving impact on other people's lives and economy. As such, I am less than not obligated to feel guilty for misfortunes others may have.

Much like anything else in life, you can't walk around feeling disproportionate shame or regret. It's mostly just a guilt-fueled egotrip to somehow do spiritual penance so as to convince the cosmic spirits (or whatever the hell you believe in) to not smite your ass in a like manner someday.

Like anybody else has already said, I always feel bad to hear bad things happening to people. But never guilt. Maybe white guilt.

[hammersavage]

No guilt. My personal success or failure will have no earth-moving impact on other people's lives and economy.

Not true. Your failure would give me an everlasting erection.

[CofyCrakCocaine]

Not true. Your failure would give me an everlasting erection.

So would viagra. Or Borgnine eating out a mandrill. Should all the baby mandrills of the world feel the weight of Atlas upon their shoulders, just because they are the fruit of your jollys?

[topless_mike]

i feel bad when i hear it, and think "holy shit that could have been me" and start to ponder, just having bought a house and another kid on the way, etc.

but usually at that point, i'll see something shiny and life goes back to normal.

[Thomas Merton]

Holy shit, that's the funniest thing I've read all week.

Takes one to know one...

There is no end to Catholic guilt

"Bless me Father for I have sinned in thought, word AND deed" No escape :wallbash:

[Heather 8]

And I spoke too soon. 8's employer is closing down the facility he works at on April 17.

Meanwhile, my employer screwed things up and I won't be getting paid till the end of the month.

[Tenbatsuzen]

Takes one to know one...

There is no end to Catholic guilt

"Bless me Father for I have sinned in thought, word AND deed" No escape :wallbash:

No, I'm about as far away from a Catholic as you can get, much to my wife's grandmother's chagrin. That's why I found it funny....

I call it "shattered-faith protestant"

[Tenbatsuzen]

And I spoke too soon. 8's employer is closing down the facility he works at on April 17.

Meanwhile, my employer screwed things up and I won't be getting paid till the end of the month.

I'm sorry to hear that Heather.

[CofyCrakCocaine]

No, I'm about as far away from a Catholic as you can get, much to my wife's grandmother's chagrin. That's why I found it funny....

I call it "shattered-faith protestant"

Unitarian?

[KingModem]

I finally got bit by the economic crisis. The extent of it you ask?

1. My company has stopped matching 401K contributions.
2. My vacation time accumulated per year went from 120 hours to 80 hours.

I feel extremely fortunate that this is it.