Let's blast some stereotypes

[Droopy]

I will blast the "truck drivers are dumb" stereotype.

I used to own my own rig. I've written of the challenges of truck driving here. There's more to truck driving than just hopping in and driving. Now add the challenge of running your own business to that and I think you can see that you have to have a few brain cells to get the job done. I did my own book keeping and tax preparation when I was an owner/operator. If you've ever owned your own business you know that taxes can get kind of complex. You also have to know your operating costs when you are in business and I had that broken down to the cost per mile of operating my truck. Last I heard there were about 3 million truckers in the U.S. So it's probably safe to say that there are hundreds of thousands of truckers out there who are running their own businesses.

It doesn't take a Ph.D. to drive a truck and I doubt there are many of them out there doing the job, but I've met a lot of drivers who have more than a high school education. I have 2.5 years of college under my belt. I met a guy one time who was a science fiction author as well as a trucker. He had a series of books that were published. He also had a degree in engineering. He was doing well financially from the sales of his books, but he told me that no matter how successful he gets he will never completely give up trucking. He said he gets a lot of ideas for the characters of his books from the people that he meets out on the road. I know of a driver who works for the same company I do who also has a degree in engineering. He has his own small business and his wife runs the shop while he is doing his truck driving thing. He drives to supplement his income and also for the cheap health insurance our company offers. I know of another driver who is a professional musician. He drives Monday-Thursday and then pursues his music interests the rest of the week. He also drives to supplement his income.

Not that there aren't dumb drivers out there, but I'd bet that if you did a study on the I.Q.s of truck drivers you'd find that they are not much different on average as the population as a whole.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Good thread, Droopy...

I always learn things when I read what you've written. Tonight is no exception. I've never thought, myself, that truck drivers were dumb. There's all sorts of "smart"...Not all of us are intellectuals, and not all of us are the nuts and bolts types...We need both, and a whole lot more.

Thanks for posting. As usual... :toast:

[Droopy]

2. Thank you, Peggy

I always enjoy your responses to my threads. I'm glad that you find them educational.

You wouldn't believe how I was treated sometimes when I was out on the road. I was made to feel less than human sometimes. I'm lucky now in that I have a dedicated run and all the people I deal with are friendly.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Well, thank YOU, Droopy!

When I see a thread with your name on it, I come running over to see what I'll learn tonight! I'm never disappointed...

We need to try and see everyone as worthy of respect. That's a tall order, I know...and not entirely possible. But we need to try, at least with the folks we interact with, even if we know we'll never see them again. If there were more respect, IMHO, there might be fewer wars, and the like...I'm sorry you were treated badly. You do NOT deserve it, IMHO...


:pals:

[Droopy]

6. Why don't you blast a stereotype for us?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. Now there's a challenge for me! I'm not sure I can...

But I'll try...How about this: architects are expensive and don't want to listen to the homeowner...Instead, they are supposed to want to impose their own views into the design process and not let the homeowner have any say?

I know for sure that this one isn't true...Our architect was firmly on our side in the design of our house, his fees were ridiculously low and he listened to us at every turn...

Will that do?

[Droopy]

12. Good deal

I do not know much about architects, but you have taught me something new. Learn something new every day here.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

Thanks!

I was sweating this one...I hate to let my friends down. I don't like looking stupid, and sometimes I do...

Yes, there is always something new to learn on DU...

[ikojo]

32. I have a friend who dropped out of high school and worked

as a painter for a few years. One job he was on was at a local hospital. He said the doctors treated him as if he was a complete imbecile.

It was then that he decided to return to college. He graduated with straight A's and got a full tuition paid scholarship to a local law school. He attended law school with children (he was an adult in his 30s) who had attended the best boarding schools and graduated from the Ivy League. Some of the kids were second and third generation attorneys. This child of the working class, who graduated from a state university, graduated FIRST in his law school class.

[SOteric]

3. I actually know a delivery truck driver with a PhD.

In Physics. He's worked for my dad for a number of years. He's brilliant and loves Maths, Science and Physics. He just doesn't want to get roped into making bombs for a living, so he drives a truck. He's happy. He's smart. My Dad loves him.

People are not always what you might want to pidgeonhole them as.

[Droopy]

4. Cool

I heard one driver say one time that we now had doctors and lawyers out there driving trucks. I guess he might be right.

[Left_Winger]

33. I have a Ph.D. and I am thinking about this type of employment

My current job stinks and I have always enjoyed driving. I have always been gifted in this area ever since I was young; I could drive almost anything (and over the years have).

An example of my 'abilities' was when I was fourteen years old and 'borrowed' my older sister's car when no one was at home. I was all the way across town when the brakes went out, but I was skilled enough to know how to use the gears to slow the car and thereby made it home without incident. Unfortunately, as I entered our driveway I had the 'accident': I killed the ignition, dropped the car into second, but as I let out the clutch the engine turned over and I went right through a picket fence in our backyard. BUSTED!!!

[Hapameli]

7. Charlie Chan and the exotic-erotic Asian woman have always peeved me...

Did a few papers on for in my Amerasian sociology class in college. Hope more colleges offer classes like that nowdays, back when I took it, it was one of two or three in the whole country.

[Droopy]

8. You mean that you

blasted a few stereotypes about Asian people in college? That must have been a good read.

[Hapameli]

9. They probably were... Wish I had kept those papers, I had an awesome proff

She was very active in the Amerasian movement. We even had the major channel in Japan (NGK? I forget) come to our class to interview us for a documentary that was aired later that year (most of us who took the class were "Hapa").

Very enlightening class, lots of tears and self-realizations in there.

[NewJeffCT]

37. I'll have to tell my wife she isn't exotic & erotic now!

Actually, having dated a smorgasboard of women of all shapes, sizes & colors, I've found that most women are more alike than different.

[Floogeldy]

11. "You'd find that they are not much different on average as the population"

You mean like the idiots who watched American Idol and voted Bush into office, twice?

Spare me the justification for your existence. I doubt if half of truck drivers can read.

[Droopy]

13. That's probably in the top ten

for the most ignorant posts I've seen on here. Congratulations! You can now say that you've accomplished something.

[hfojvt]

18. I always had a different stereotype of truck drivers

They were sorta like firemen or cops when I was young enough to believe that all cops were "good guys". You could always count on them for a friendly wave, or to help if your car broke down. As Dean Koontz writes in "Cold Fire" - "In the traditional Samaritan spirit that most truckers showed on the road, he would stop to offer assistance."
Of course, that is probably a relic of my childhood, like raw cookie dough that was safe to eat. I hate to see some sterotypes shattered.

[Droopy]

19. Well

Not all truckers will stop for stranded motorists now. Not as many as they used to. But there are still enough of us around that somebody will probably help you out. It just might take a little more time. Most drivers are still good for a honk of the horn.

[chicagojoe]

14. Sorry, dude, but you're wrong. I know truckers and I've been a trucker.

[jmm]

16. My grandfather's oldest brother was a truck driver.

He could read well enough to become a pilot during WWII and to know he was voting for a Democrat in every election he could during his life.

[Behind the Aegis]

15. I hate to do it.

All DU'ers are not very open-minded, and some are just down right mean.

Other stereotypes: not all gays screw like bunnies. Some are more like turtles...when the mood strikes, every few years, watch out! :)

[Droopy]

17. Ah yes

That lack of open mindedness and meanness was just illustrated above. But I think as a group we tend to be more open minded and kind. But not all tend to fit into that stereotype.

[Behind the Aegis]

20. Originally

I was going to post something funny, like my "gay bunnies" comment, but as I scrolled down, I saw that one comment, and I just, well, I just couldn't let it go. Not very big of me. But, I don't understand the need of some to piss all over someone's post in that manner.

But, here is another stereotype busted...

Not all witches are women! Some are men like me!

And, slightly funny...

The "Real" gay agenda is to be able to make our lives as boring as straight people. :)

[Droopy]

21. Damn

You got me on that one. I always thought of you as female and I never looked at your profile. I haven't seen you in a while, but it seems like I've read posts that you wrote about paganism and whitchcraft and I assumed you were female. Learn something new every day here and sometimes more than once in a thread. Please excuse my ignorance.

[Behind the Aegis]

25. No need for an apology

I am in no way offended that you thought I was a female. I see myself as someone who has both masculine and feminine qualities, both the good ones and bad. :) I am proud to have my penis and enjoy it! :) But, I am as equally proud that someone could see me as a female, too.

Another stereotype busted (to stay with the theme): not all Jews are neocons or rich. I should know...I am a Jew! :)

[khashka]

22. Not all witches are women. LOL.

You and me both, brother.

Not all bitches are women either :)

Khash.

[Behind the Aegis]

26. So true!

Especially the "bitch" part! :evilgrin:

[NMMNG]

30. "All DU'ers are not very open-minded, and some are just down right mean."

doggammit, you took my stereotype away from me:mad:


What the heck, I'll forgive you.

[6000eliot]

23. I'm gay but a total slob

I have no fashion sense. In fact, I have no sense of style at all. I had a straight friend who was a much better decorator than I could ever be.

[khashka]

27. Me too!

If queers could see the way I dress and live, I'd be voted out of the tribe.

But I'd make a great straight stoner dude.

Khash.

[6000eliot]

29. That's me too!

I'm much more influenced by hippies and rock and roll music than by anything gay.

[NawlinsNed]

28. Got a buddy like that

Except he's a sci-fi, dungeons and dragons, hawaiian shirt wearing geek who watches star trek and anime religiously and hates Will and Grace and Sex in the City and virtually every other show that portrays a gay guy as a sensitive wuss. He's usually impeccably dressed from the neck up. though. :)

[Misunderestimator]

53. And I'm a gay woman with pretty good style...

if I do say so myself :D (It's a stupid stereotype all ways.)

[6000eliot]

56. Aren't you supposed to be wearing a flannel shirt

and driving a pickup truck?

[Misunderestimator]

63. Or a Subaru...

and I swear I've never owned a pair of Birkenstocks, though I hear they are very comfortable. :)

[6000eliot]

65. That actually sounds more my speed!

Maybe I'm not a gay man, Maybe I'm a lesbian!

[Jamison]

24. There are smarter truckers nowadays I think

because of the job market. A lot of college educated professionals have been hit hard with offshoring and layoffs in recent years. I look at the classified ads for jobs every now and then in the paper, and there are many listings for truck driving. It also appears to pay fairly well, so I can see why a lot of laid off professionals are getting into this line of work. It seems like a pretty "free" type of occupation ie. no boss breathing down your neck, can take breaks when you want. What also seems good about the occupation is that they can't use someone in China to haul a load from Cleveland to Los Angeles.

[ikojo]

31. I'm Jewish and do NOT have a trust fund and

do not have rich parents.

[Debbi801]

34. Hello from another poor Jew.

:hi:

[Debbi801]

35. Just because you participate in a fetish does not make you sick or kooky.

[SarahB]

36. Suburban moms are narrow-minded, soccer mom doofuses.

Suburban moms are boring.
Suburban moms are Republicans.
People who have more than two children are dumb.
Blondes are dumb.
Buxom blondes are really dumb.

[NewJeffCT]

38. hey, did you hear about the blonde who...

just kidding!

[SarahB]

40. You!

:spank:

[NewJeffCT]

48. cute cartoon

made me smile on a day when I'm pretty pissed at our overwhelmingly Democratic state legislature.

Judging from the pics of you that I have seen, I had always thought your hair more reddish than blonde? Or, is it considered strawberry blonde?

[SarahB]

49. I go back and forth.

It's more of a dark strawberry blonde/very light golden brown naturally (depends a lot on light). Sometimes I'm natural, sometimes I go blonder, occasionally I go redder. Every few years I have to chaned things around a little. Right now, it's just a shade lighter than my natural color.

[Pithlet]

54. You took mine

I was going to say stay at home mom, but I'm also a suburan mom. I'm buxom as well, so there's another one of mine covered. I don't always talk about my kids. I'm not boring. And I'm not stupid. Thanks, SarahBelle :hi:

[SarahB]

55. Not SAHM anymore.

But I was for a number of years.

We can be insightful
and interesting
and hotties. :D

[ghostsofgiants]

39. Just because I have long hair/dreadlocks does not mean I am a stoner

So many times I've been assumed to be the biggest stoner in a room. I've never been high before in my life.

[NewJeffCT]

41. Not all accountants are conservatives

There is me, and I think, another accountant on DU (underpants maybe?)

[NewJeffCT]

43. or uptight

I'm pretty easygoing & laid back...

[myrna minx]

46. I'm an accountant who is a flaming liberal.

:hi: Hey, my sister's Father in law is a is a bona fide liberal CPA!

[NewJeffCT]

47. wow, 4 liberals in the field

maybe we can form Progessive Accountants of America or something like that? Accoutants for Progress...

[DrGonzoLives]

51. Same thing with engineers and scientists

n/t

[VelmaD]

42. Not all Texans own an oil well...

and not all Texans are Republicans who voted for shrub. :eyes:

Oh, and this woman is VERY good at math.

[Mutley]

44. I'm Irish, but I get drunk off of two beers

I used to have a higher tolerance for alcohol, but I just don't drink much anymore. And when I do, it doesn't take long to get a buzz!

[PittPoliSci]

60. you see that's one reason why irish are such great drunks!

cause we can get drunk easily!

[NewJeffCT]

45. Just because I'm a liberal

just because I'm liberal doesn't mean I do drugs (or have done them)

It doesn't mean that I'm sexually promiscuous (well, between my divorce & getting re-married, I had some good times... but, I'm sure nothing like Ahhnold or Jack Ryan)

And, I don't sip lattes, wear birkenstocks, hug trees, get chauffered in a limo, etc, either.

[mondo joe]

50. I am Italian and I DON'T WANT TO HUG

My Italian family is as aloof and remote as any damn WASP's.

So there.

[cedahlia]

52. Librarians are not frumpy, cold, quiet, mousy, scary, etc.

We're actually a pretty cool/sexy/intelligent/fun/warm group of people! B-)

[NorthernSpy]

57. the fact that I am a leftwinger...

... does not mean that I don't value decorum and a sense of propriety.

[trof]

58. Alabamians are all ignorant rednecks.

I'm just one of the smartest rednecks you ever saw in your life.
So there!
;-)

[Jamastiene]

59. I've never heard anyone question the IQ/intelligence

level of truck drivers. Truck drivers are known in my family as the "guardian angels" on the road at night especially. Of course, my aunt used to be heavily into using her CB radio.

[Ikonoklast]

61. I am an O/O,and if someone thinks that I am dumb

that is ok with me. I used to be a company driver but after the family-owned business that I worked for over twenty-four years was sold, I went out on my own. As Droopy knows, you need to be able to run your business and also deal with various government agencies that regulate our industry, be a lawyer, accountant, mechanic, logistics expert, you name it. The last job I had as a company driver my slip-seat partner was an accountant. (he was Jewish, by the way. Another stereotype?) I asked him why he drove truck instead of CPA work, and he said he made a hell of a lot more money driving than he did at any accountancy job. He put himself through school driving part-time, and just couldn't give up the money.

[Lilith Velkor]

62. Women w/disproportionally large breasts are dumb sluts.

I'm smart, and I'm a bitch.

(The difference between a slut and a bitch, for those who don't know: a slut will do anyone, a bitch will do anyone but you.)

[Sabriel]

64. Old veterans are all conservative

My dad flew F-86s in Korea, and he voted Clinton, Clinton, Gore, Kerry. He loathes what we're doing in Iraq. He also wholeheartedly supports his daughter, who married her long-time partner last year. Yeah, Dad and Mom!