Comments on: Seeing the Other Side of the Tracks as a Truck Driver http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/truckermike/2009/08/seeing-the-other-side-of-the-tracks-as-a-truck-driver Helping Those Who Are Considering A Career In The Truck Driving Industry Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:54:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: James http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/truckermike/2009/08/seeing-the-other-side-of-the-tracks-as-a-truck-driver/comment-page-1#comment-1127 James Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:41:40 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1770#comment-1127 While the money would help some many of these people would buy the same stuff is you gave them $5 or $5,000. It's the lifestyle they've chosen and they like it just the way you do yours. There are MANY in the local homeless shelters that get social security and still chose to live on the streets vs. finding a place they could call home, While the money would help some many of these people would buy the same stuff is you gave them $5 or $5,000. It’s the lifestyle they’ve chosen and they like it just the way you do yours. There are MANY in the local homeless shelters that get social security and still chose to live on the streets vs. finding a place they could call home,

]]> By: Rhonda http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/truckermike/2009/08/seeing-the-other-side-of-the-tracks-as-a-truck-driver/comment-page-1#comment-1122 Rhonda Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:47:01 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1770#comment-1122 Well put by both of you. For years I have wondered why we are so "eager" to help other countries while we ignore many here in the United States. There is no need to see these neighborhoods anywhere. Sometimes all it takes is a person to reach out and say something positive to the ones living in the poverty areas and say I BELIVE YOU CAN DO IT. Too much greed in this country and the pay raises by many in the State/County/City government is "wasted" as far as I am concerned. Those $$ could be going to the ones who need some help. Well put by both of you. For years I have wondered why we are so “eager” to help other countries while we ignore many here in the United States. There is no need to see these neighborhoods anywhere.

Sometimes all it takes is a person to reach out and say something positive to the ones living in the poverty areas and say I BELIVE YOU CAN DO IT.

Too much greed in this country and the pay raises by many in the State/County/City government is “wasted” as far as I am concerned. Those $$ could be going to the ones who need some help.

]]> By: TruckerMikeDad http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/truckermike/2009/08/seeing-the-other-side-of-the-tracks-as-a-truck-driver/comment-page-1#comment-1101 TruckerMikeDad Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:05:14 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1770#comment-1101 TruckerMike -- Another very insightful article, and a great account of another life experience… Thanks! Poor people... they have always been, and always will be. Some that we might “perceive” to be down and out wouldn’t want to live their lives any other way. Others find themselves in a sad situation, and can’t fathom how to get out of it for something more to their liking. Without getting close to them and asking about their life, we will never know what the case might be. Seeing their living conditions may repulse us, or it may make us feel guilty for the abundance that we believe we have, or even angry knowing that they could do better. Pan handling for many is their way of life… while others use pan handling merely as a way to get them to their next want for comfort. Unfortunately, as you reported, the innocence of children do often crushed as they are carried along into this way of life. While the vast majority of people are driven to be self-sustaining, others will always look for handouts and assistance from others and government aid. Why, I bet you have come across people that “perceive” life can’t get much lower than that of a dirty, smelly, stupid, cursing, fat... Truck Driver! You may have met them at a pick-up or delivery dock, or while they were reluctantly filling-up their SUV up at a truck stop. Even though truck driving is a lifestyle you have chosen (notice I didn’t say “job”) you most likely wouldn’t want it any other way even if you were handed new opportunities. But, the perception of many people is that one becomes a truck driver for lack of not being capable of doing anything else. Oh…, if they only knew! Negative perceptions and prejudice can also be had for the very wealthy... we may see them as shallow, self-serving, and living lives without real purpose. But…, since I consider myself to be open to challenges, I’ll play the lotto for an opportunity to test the waters of a wealthy man. Hey, I can always give it up to become a truck driver. I guess WE ALL live on the “other side of the tracks” in some respect. Somewhere, wrapped up in the way we live our own lives, is a culture and heritage that we identify with to bring comfort with our surroundings. Others, living just a mile away, may surround themselves with their own identifying culture..., which might include different foods, language, religious beliefs, social values, etc., that would be objectionable to our own values of living and way of life. As you drive down the road, you have the privilege to look out your office window to see the wondrous diversity that nature has to offer. You also have the opportunity to see an equal amount of diversity in the lifestyles that mankind has made for itself. Enjoy the experiences, ... but don’t spend too much time sitting on the tracks! --TruckerMikeDad-- TruckerMike —

Another very insightful article, and a great account of another life experience… Thanks!

Poor people… they have always been, and always will be. Some that we might “perceive” to be down and out wouldn’t want to live their lives any other way. Others find themselves in a sad situation, and can’t fathom how to get out of it for something more to their liking. Without getting close to them and asking about their life, we will never know what the case might be. Seeing their living conditions may repulse us, or it may make us feel guilty for the abundance that we believe we have, or even angry knowing that they could do better. Pan handling for many is their way of life… while others use pan handling merely as a way to get them to their next want for comfort. Unfortunately, as you reported, the innocence of children do often crushed as they are carried along into this way of life. While the vast majority of people are driven to be self-sustaining, others will always look for handouts and assistance from others and government aid.

Why, I bet you have come across people that “perceive” life can’t get much lower than that of a dirty, smelly, stupid, cursing, fat… Truck Driver! You may have met them at a pick-up or delivery dock, or while they were reluctantly filling-up their SUV up at a truck stop. Even though truck driving is a lifestyle you have chosen (notice I didn’t say “job”) you most likely wouldn’t want it any other way even if you were handed new opportunities. But, the perception of many people is that one becomes a truck driver for lack of not being capable of doing anything else. Oh…, if they only knew!

Negative perceptions and prejudice can also be had for the very wealthy… we may see them as shallow, self-serving, and living lives without real purpose. But…, since I consider myself to be open to challenges, I’ll play the lotto for an opportunity to test the waters of a wealthy man. Hey, I can always give it up to become a truck driver.

I guess WE ALL live on the “other side of the tracks” in some respect. Somewhere, wrapped up in the way we live our own lives, is a culture and heritage that we identify with to bring comfort with our surroundings. Others, living just a mile away, may surround themselves with their own identifying culture…, which might include different foods, language, religious beliefs, social values, etc., that would be objectionable to our own values of living and way of life.

As you drive down the road, you have the privilege to look out your office window to see the wondrous diversity that nature has to offer. You also have the opportunity to see an equal amount of diversity in the lifestyles that mankind has made for itself. Enjoy the experiences, … but don’t spend too much time sitting on the tracks!

–TruckerMikeDad–

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