Comment by jampekka
1 day ago
> So, you will see people whose job is to stand in the rain and watch over a construction site exit making sure people in the sidewalk do not get run over by trucks exiting the site, doing their job with utter dedication.
That kind of job existing in the first place is the problem. And that could be well called subservience instead of work ethic.
> That kind of job existing in the first place is the problem.
Yes, that was my initial reaction, too, when I first saw these people. I felt superior, in My Western World we didn't have jobs like that. We did Bigger and More Important Things. This job was surely an artifact, a silly attempt to reduce unemployment.
But after living in Japan for a while I realized that these jobs actually make a lot of sense. Those people pay attention and really do make sure that people do not get run over by trucks. They direct traffic, they make it easier for truck drivers, they make it easier and safer for people walking on the sidewalk as well. As a side effect, they also watch for unexpected things: if it's a roadwork site, theft, or even things like traffic cones toppling over, or safety lights not working correctly.
It really improves things for everyone.
> That kind of job existing in the first place is the problem.
Why? You don't think that job is important? To prevent injuries around a construction site?
In most of the world that job is done by a traffic light.
I can't speak to Japan, but the construction sites I've seen where someone is directing traffic also make use of traffic lights. They serve different purposes.