People Share Jobs That Exist Because Humans Are Not The Brightest Bunch
This post proves it... we are not a species made to last
Some jobs exist because people keep proving they cannot be trusted with the obvious. A Reddit thread recently asked, “What job exists because we are stupid?” and the answers were full of tiny disasters, awkward reminders, and human beings needing other human beings to step in.
From escalator closures to traffic lights, the stories all point to the same thing, signs are not always enough. Sometimes someone has to stand there and say, no, really, do not do that.
And the replies get more ridiculous the further you go.
Escalator attendant
"I had a temp job in a posh department store a few years ago. The escalator going down from floor 2 to floor 1 had to be taken out to be replaced, which took a month. Despite the many notices and the signs directing people to the lifts and stairs, a member of staff had to stand at the top of the closed escalator just to direct the public to the lifts and stairs. It broke people's brains, and it was worrying to see how many tried to get past the barriers or became angry and shouty because there was no escalator. Like, holy shit, how did people cope before moving stairs were invented?"
That escalator really did a lot of heavy lifting, even when it was gone.
The Role of Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive dissonance theory explains how individuals experience psychological discomfort when their beliefs conflict with their behaviors. This is often observed in the workplace, where jobs exist to mitigate human error, such as safety inspectors or warning sign creators.
When people are confronted with their mistakes, they may rationalize these behaviors to maintain self-esteem. Understanding this can help organizations create supportive environments that encourage learning from errors rather than punitive responses.
Potato dirtier
"I met a guy once-his job was putting dirt on potatoes. Somebody along the supply chain washed them pretty well by the time they got to the grocery store. People didn't trust the clean potatoes, so one guy had to put dirt back on them to make them seem more authentic."
The Guy Who Has To Constantly Remind People Not To Sexually Harass People
"My husband is a labor and employment attorney for a massive company and gives monthly seminars to everyone there to not send dick pics or sexually harass one another.And like clockwork, someone in that room does it within a couple of weeks."
Apparently the seminar is not the part people remember.
Cross-walk helpers
"On crowded nights, Disney Springs has employees working at crosswalks at the intersections from the overflow parking lots to tell people when they can cross. They’re normal intersections that have lights indicating when you can cross. People just don’t acknowledge them and will try to run across oncoming traffic."
Gas station attendant
"I'm a self-serve gas station attendant.Honestly, the only reason I'm here is to slap the emergency stop button if someone starts pumping gas outside their car or gas can. Oh, and to shut off the pumps when I leave."
Tech support
"Tier 1 IT support.Did you try turning it off and on again? Sure you did. Could you blow into the cable to make sure there is no dust in the connec-Oh, the cable was loose? How surprising! Have a good day."
Hunbots
"All the jobs at MLM companies.(Instagram ladies selling flat tummy teas with 'entrepreneur' written in your bio... I am looking at you!)"
Traffic lights are apparently hard to understand
"Traffic police in Baltimore.I was there this summer, and the gridlock was atrocious. People push their way into the intersection, the light turns red, and they are stuck there until the light is about to turn red in the opposite direction, at which point those people push their way into the intersection, and the cycle perpetuates. During rush hour, they have police standing in the intersections-not to direct traffic, though, simply to hold their hand up when the light turns red so that people don't push their way into the intersection. Basically, a human has to stand in traffic for hours just to tell the drivers what the lights mean. It was unbelievable."
This is the same kind of brain-melter as the 81 visual anomalies that make your logic spin in the mud.
Bin Assistant
"At my university, we have a person whose job is to stand by the garbage area and make sure people dispose of their trash appropriately."
Safety manager
"I'm a safety manager; a big portion of my job is saying things like, 'Please don't smoke near this flammable liquid,' or other things most of us take for granted that people already know."
C'mon people using a bin is NOT hard
"Litter control personnel for public parks and beaches."
The Guy Who Has To Tell You Not To Touch A Stingray
"I work in an aquarium, and we have what I can best describe as floor guides, which are just staff that interact with people and share interesting info about the exhibits. Realistically, while that is part of the job, the main reason for these people being out there is to tell people to keep their hands out of the stingray and turtle tanks because, for some reason beyond my comprehension, people don't naturally get this concept.At least once a day, I hear, 'Well, why can't I touch the stingrays?' So far, my all-time favorite outcome of that question was a kid who said, 'They have the word sting in their name.' I have wanted to say that so many times, but I am unable."
Absolute heroes
"The guys who install rubber padding around telephone and light poles so when we walk and text, we don't break our noses walking straight into them."
Ticket companies that scam you
"Ticket companies that sell you tickets from ticket companies that sell you tickets:
Trolley helper....
"My first job out of college was to stand outside of Aldi's and help people figure out how to put the quarter in the slot to release the shopping cart and then, later, how to put the chain back in to get their quarter back."
The examples shared in the article highlight a persistent theme of human folly that often necessitates the creation of bizarre job roles. These roles frequently arise from cognitive biases and social influences that distort our decision-making processes. The prevalence of overconfidence and confirmation bias, as evidenced by the ridiculous warning signs and the absurdity behind them, underscores a troubling reality. It is not merely a matter of individual stupidity; rather, it reflects a deeper understanding of human psychology. By recognizing these tendencies, we can better equip ourselves to tackle errors in various professional environments, ultimately leading to a more informed and cautious society.
When individuals share experiences of human error, it can foster a sense of community and shared learning.
Promoting a growth mindset within teams can also lead to better handling of mistakes.
Encouraging a culture that views mistakes as learning opportunities can enhance resilience and continuous improvement.
The article highlights the absurdity of certain jobs that exist solely because of human error, showcasing the need for a deeper understanding of the factors that lead to such blunders. It suggests that organizations can benefit from fostering a culture of learning where mistakes are seen as opportunities rather than failures. By implementing structured practices, companies can mitigate the likelihood of these errors occurring in the first place. Ultimately, acknowledging human imperfection not only paves the way for safer environments but also cultivates innovation and enhances overall performance.
Social psychologists emphasize the power of situational factors on human behavior, often overshadowing individual intelligence. A study from Stanford University illustrates how people often act irrationally under pressure, leading to poor decision-making.
This phenomenon is prevalent in high-stakes environments, where the presence of stress can diminish cognitive functioning. To counteract this, organizations can implement stress-reduction strategies, such as mindfulness training and team-building exercises, to promote healthier decision-making and enhance overall performance.
The signs warning against bizarre actions are not just humorous anecdotes; they highlight a pattern of decision-making failures driven by cognitive biases. These biases often lead individuals to make poor choices, resulting in the need for jobs that seem unnecessary but serve as a reminder of our collective lapses in judgment.
Moreover, fostering environments that promote open communication and reflection can help mitigate these errors. By encouraging dialogue and learning from past mistakes, organizations can cultivate a culture that not only reduces the frequency of these absurd situations but also builds resilience among individuals. Ultimately, as the article illustrates, the presence of these quirky jobs underscores a larger societal need for growth and improvement in our decision-making processes.
Humanity keeps inventing jobs to fix the same old nonsense.
Want more office fallout? See what happened when a coworker skipped a concert, then demanded OT pay.
