Hostage? Doesn’t pay much at the time, but people are selling the stories after the fact…
Stress is measured by the person enduring it.
Many people may think that the person working for the bomb squad, the person ‘defusing’ the bomb, may be under a huge amount of stress. However, the person doing it is crazy enough to take the job. So crazy, they may not even get stressed out doing it.
Professional cyclists on the road nearly always have emergency medical support following them(certainly in all the big tours), sometimes this might include air-ambulance medivac too.
Many high level amateur races have this kind of support as well.
Same here, I feel your pain brother. . .
Of course, stress is a self-perceived phenomenon, as Hans Selye said. That being the case, I’m intrigued by the two posts regarding teaching in the inner city. I’ve seen a number of dreadful teachers in those schools, and it’s clear that they’re plenty stressed by the situation they’re in - they’re virtually overwhelmed and threatened by their circumstances. And I’ve seen a smaller number of superb teachers there. They’re not. They’re challenged by their situation. It’s all how you look at it.
So I am a poor teacher because I am highly stressed, and if I were challenged, I would be a superb teacher? I am neither threatened, nor overwhelmed. The stress lies in trying to give value to something others hold valueless. The stress comes from people with no frame of reference other than attending some school, somewhere, acting like they know of what they speak. The stress comes from administrators that visit your classroom once a year trying to cram 18 weeks of material into 9 weeks, or holding one accountable for 2 hours of lessons in 90 miutes.
I have met zero teachers in my situation that are not highly stressed, but I have met many that are superb. Please do not insinuate that it is an either/or situation. Meaning you are either highly stressed and a poor teacher, or you are free from stress and a superb teacher.
My frame of reference is hundreds of visits to inner city schools as a teacher educator and 33 years of experience as a classroom teacher. I know of what I speak.
I agree that you may read my post as an either/or statement. It’s not meant to be all inclusive. However, despite the fact that you know zero teachers who are not stressed does not mean that they don’t exist. And teachers who do not let their circumstances stress them out and get them down, but who see them as challenges to be addressed tend to be good teachers, and those who are fearful, stressed and downtrodden by the same administration, the situation, the surroundings, etc. tend not to be. The reciprocal also tends to be true. I’ll trust that you have noticed that, which was my point.
What in the hell is a physchitraist? I think I may have to go to work tomorrow and ask the psychiatrist I work with.
Actually, SmileyDeath , a good psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor, therapist or social worker knows how to work with their clients without being burdened by their problems. It’s the really bad ones with take on everyone’s problems…then they burn out and have a nervous breakdown themselves within five years.
Bank guard in Alaska. (Everyone comes in wearing a ski mask).
Aw, alright. I stole that from George Carlin.
I was a full time police officer for several years, and I still work as a patrolman part-time. I’ve been in some pretty gritty situations.
Yet, believe it or not, my job as a business consultant gives me 100 times more stress than I ever felt in a uniform. Most of the stress comes from the dingleberries I have to work with, and trying to clean up their fuck ups. The possibility of losing my clients because of the actions of others (include my boss) is extremely stressfull, especial when there is little I can do to change the way this system works.
Whoever said first that stress is the perception of the person feeling it is absolutely correct. Every one of us could probably come on here and claim their job was the most stressfull!
Test driver at Ferrari.
“Must … trash … car. AAAAAAARRGGHH”
Can I have that job please?
IMHO, it’s difficult to generalize about particular jobs. There might be two people with the same job, one of whom is subject to lots of stress, and one who isn’t.
Take the example of a senior executive. Executive Smith has a few buddies on the board of directors who will give him a “pass” on just about anything he does. They don’t look at his work too carefully, and when there’s a problem, they’re willing to let him blame someone else. Further, Executive Smith works in a mature industry with a few traditional players who’ve basically carved up the market. Executive Smith’s job is not too stressful.
On the other hand, executive Jones works in an immature industry and companies are falling left and right. He faces a hostile board of directors that scrutinizes his every move. Jones’ job might be highly stressful.
Ultimately, I would speculate that the most important factor in how stressful a job is is the attitude of your bosses.
How about “AIDS Vaccine Tester”
Okay, Mr. Williams…we have three subjects for you to have unprotected sex with… if you’ll just step over here…hmmm…
D.