People Share Jobs That Exist Because Humans Are Not The Brightest Bunch
This post proves it... we are not a species made to last
Have you ever seen a really random sign somewhere that warns against doing something crazy and bizarre, and immediately knew there was a crazy story behind it? Likely, it was from someone being an idiot, prompting a smarter individual to put up a warning about doing said idiotic thing, in case another idiot had the same idea.
A thread on Reddit recently asked, “What job exists because we are stupid?” The jobs listed in the posts show that sometimes, signs are not enough. Sometimes, we big-brained humans need another human to tell us not to do something that seems blindingly obvious from the outside. Check out the highlights below.
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?"The Role of Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive dissonance theory, introduced by Leon Festinger, 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.
Research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology highlights that 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."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."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 Psychology of Human Error
Human errors are often a reflection of cognitive biases and social influences that affect decision-making.
According to research published in the Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, factors such as overconfidence and confirmation bias can lead to mistakes.
Understanding these psychological principles is crucial in mitigating errors in various professional settings.
When individuals share experiences of human error, it can foster a sense of community and shared learning.
Research indicates that discussing mistakes openly can enhance teamwork and lead to overall improvements in performance.
This highlights the importance of creating a culture that embraces learning from errors rather than punishing them.
Strategies for Reducing Human Error
Implementing structured decision-making processes can significantly reduce the likelihood of human error.
Research from the University of Michigan has shown that checklists and clear protocols can enhance accuracy and reliability in high-stakes environments.
Encouraging teams to adopt these practices can create safer and more effective work environments.
Promoting a growth mindset within teams can also lead to better handling of mistakes.
According to Carol Dweck's research on mindset, individuals who view challenges as opportunities for growth are more likely to learn from their errors.
Encouraging a culture that views mistakes as learning opportunities can enhance resilience and continuous improvement.
Psychological Analysis
These anecdotes highlight how our cognitive biases can make us overlook obvious information, like signage or common sense safety, leading to jobs existing simply to compensate for these blind spots. Interestingly, the "Potato dirtier" job reflects a psychological principle known as "effort justification"—we value things more if we believe they've required more effort; hence, 'dirty' potatoes seem more authentic and valuable. Finally, the need for "The Guy Who Has To Constantly Remind People Not To Sexually Harass People" underscores the unfortunate persistence of harmful social norms and behaviors.
Analysis generated by AI
Analysis & Alternative Approaches
Understanding the psychological underpinnings of human error is essential for creating safer and more effective workplace environments.
By fostering a culture of learning and implementing structured practices, organizations can significantly reduce the occurrence of mistakes.
Ultimately, embracing human imperfection can lead to greater innovation and improved 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.
Clinical Perspective & Next Steps
Understanding the psychological underpinnings of human behavior can significantly inform how we address the absurdities of life, including the need for seemingly unnecessary jobs. By recognizing cognitive biases and situational influences, individuals and organizations can foster environments that prioritize learning and growth. This not only reduces the likelihood of errors but also encourages a culture of support and resilience.
Research from the American Psychological Association indicates that creating spaces for open communication and reflection can lead to better decision-making outcomes, ultimately benefiting society as a whole.
