White collar vs. blue collar?

[Becky2005]

My thought is obviously your DH's job is very important since the friend is obviously NEEDING a new key to his SUV....so without people like your DH, I guess your friend will be out of luck and having to find a different type of transportation to his "important" job.

My hunch is he was ticked off at the cost & just venting in a not so nice way.

 

[Becky2005]

I think this is important. As a new teacher, most will tell you to make friends with the secretary and the custodian very fast and keep them on your side (and the lunch staff, too, if you eat in the lunchroom.) These are the people who can generally answer your questions, get things done for you, etc., and the last thing you want to do is upset them.

Sooo true about the secretary! I worked as a secretary and trust me, they are the ones who get things done. We would be professional and get everything done for everyone but those who were nice to us may just get their things done a little quicker, the little extra mile type things. Of course, this was before most people went to direct deposit & I handed out the paychecks too -- people were always especially nice to me on payday!

 

[bballmom56]

make friends with the secretary and the custodian very fast and keep them on your side (and the lunch staff, too, if you eat in the lunchroom.) These are the people who can generally answer your questions, get things done for you, etc.,

I have taught my whole family this. The secretaries are the ones with the most power ! And absolutely, the custodians and lunch people. Plus you get to meet some pretty neat people if you just come down off your high horse and deign to talk to them!

OP, your DH needs to reconsider this "friendship". A "friend" who puts his "friend" down or considers himself to be much more important and do more important work is not a friend. My DH is struggling with that issue now and it may be close to the end of this 50 year friendship as his friend has always had this tendency, but is now becoming more entitled and more obnoxious about it. Mind you, the friend is a mediocre HS teacher making $100,000+ with excellent benefits and pension. DH is a college prof. with a PhD making much less than that after 20 years at a private college. "Friend" always makes comments about how little DH has to do since he "only" teaches 3-4 courses a semester. I only wish he had so little to do. Friend obviously isn't aware of committee responsibilities, student interaction (any time of day or night with the age of email) professional development, continuing to publish, attending admissions events to encourage students to enroll there, mentoring other faculty, teaching overloads for additional income and trying to supplement his income with outside endeavors. Yeah, I only wish he had so little to do. The kids and I might actually have seen him over the past 20 years. But the "friend" obviously isn't interested in this, but he is home by 3:00 every day .

 

[Stitchfans]

The bunch of thieves jab sounds more like an attack on the car industry then your husband personally. I do think that the car dealerships over-charge for almost everything. Oil changes are almost double what I can get them for at the dealership. It isn't the employee's fault though, that comes down from someone on high.

The comment about his job being more important is total crap though. I have a white collar job but don't think those who don't are somehow beneath me. There have to be people who fix cars, lay roads, build homes, and everything else. As long as you are happy where you are it doesn't matter what your job is IMO.

Could not of said it any better. Well said. My thoughts exactly.