Right, but even when you're in poor health from sitting in a chair all day you can keep sitting in that chair and doing the same work. Whereas if you're a skilled trades worker and break your back by falling off a ladder then you can't work at all. So the downside risk is more severe.

I wonder what the burnout rate is for the trades vs white collar work.

No one is forced to sit. For example, sit stand desks, and waking breaks.

They're forced to sit in many offices.

Animal cruelty. Not as bad as factory farming but similar in spirit in the restrictions on healthy living and basic biology. Don't get me started on school...

I know someone who works in medical billing (awful soul-sucking field) and they can't even read ON THEIR BREAKS because it will look like they aren't working.

ON THEIR BREAKS.

I had a job like that once:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXh1tW16V-8

I had a job that had cameras BEHIND YOUR DESK! lol! There were like 100+ cameras for an office of 100 people.

As a former chef, I'll gladly take the extra few pounds and minor shoulder issues I've gotten as PM over scalding hot oil being poured on my arms or a meat slicer taking the tip of my thumb mostly off.

https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/logicalfallacies/False-E...

My wood shop teacher started by showing us his missing fingers eaten by a table saw. Best safety lesson ever. I always think of that when using my table saw.

Those meat slicers give me the heebie jeebies.

Sorry about your thumb.

Especially since it's a solved problem. SawStop[1] is incredible. Yes, Festool isn't cheap, but neither is an unplanned amputation. Of course it's not perfect, but you'll probably be looking at stitches instead of dismemberment.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYLAi4jwXcs

It’s fine, I ran to CVS and bought a bottle of super glue to patch myself up. Then I worked a 10 hour shift.

Still better than my grandfather who lost all the fingers on one hand to a hay bale elevator chain. It was after dark so while his wife drove him to the hospital the kids had to go look for them.

And then NPR writes insipid think pieces wondering why nobody wants to work in the trades anymore. If only we could put a finger on it…

(Edited for spelling)

The examples in that article seem poorly chosen.

I don’t disagree but I needed something fast and it met the need.

Probably, but it still isn't even comparable to the amount of damage and wear done to a body through the trades. Its like comparing some guy who plays bar league baseball to a 1st string NFL player.