Post by Struth on Feb 9, 2023 13:03:07 GMT 8
They've all gone bloody nuts!
Well, not everyone, there is still us.
And there are enough of us to keep each other sane.
But other than that, by god this little global "war of the worlds" style gaslighting has taken some casualties.
I actually believe it's been relatively easy for me to remain sane, and it would be harder for some of you reading this.
So good on you. Why do I say that?
A number of factors I don't and won't deal with, that I admit, would have been harder to navigate.
You may live in a city.....that would be hard, the constant sea of humanity around you, masked and idiotic...and loud.
And never quiet.
I can get away to the scrub at any time and live in a small regional town with a large block.
I have been trained to be alone all my life, and most importantly, besides enjoying my own company immensely...after all I'm a fucking top bloke.......I have been used to being treated like some sort of social outcast all my life.
Which suite me, because I'm not that impressed with those in it.
I've spent a good chunk of my life as an interstate truck driver.
We are our own breed and that's the way we like it.
We are the privileged white men you hear about.
We are expected to deliver everything to everyone, but not be seen or heard in the process.
We are not meant to expect clean toilets or decent food, so road houses are replaced with stops in the scrub and cook your own, and wash by the water tank on the trailer.
Many a time I have hopped out of my sleeper cab in the early morning while crossing the nullabor and absolutely rejoice in the fact I won't speak to anyone all day.
We are also expected to work 18 hours a day, so socialising is out.
So I'm quite used to living without others, not catching up for special occassions etc etc etc.
When I have had to deal with people I was generally in charge of them as a tour driver so I wasn't following orders then either.
Sure I had a boss and tasks to do, but they were miles away.
And there were no cameras in vehicles, and for much of my life, no mobile phones and then bugger all reception in the scrub anyway.
When I think about the solitary life I have had...like relocating 4wd tour trucks with no passengers over 4 days in remote Arnhem land, where not only did you not talk to anyone, you never saw a car all day....I remember these times fondly.
I have boiled the billy looking over Pt Essington with no one for miles and no sign of human habitiation for miles around me.
It's a beautiful thing.......
Of course I'm not the only one to have experienced the "getting away from it all" situation.
I'm sure you will have had those times too.
It really does set you up.
You become impervious to the bullshit because you don't need to know it.
You don't need , want or care to fit in, and your employer would rather it that way.
And it's surprising how many truckies from the old school I know, who are a wake up to all that is happening.
Well past the point of caring what others think, the general population are as on the nose to truckies as truckies are to them.
Many are resentful at working so hard to be looked down upon, while those doing so would shit themselves for a month of Sundays attempting to do their job.
But then you grow up and realise you really don't care what society thinks of you, because you think worse of them.
And over the last few years that's been born out to be a correct observation.
Even before covid my days as a tour driver were numbered, as I grew ever more intolerant of tourists growing ever more pathetic.
And weren't they horrified when I fuelled my truck up and headed to Canberra.
The journalists were mortified.
The said it out loud, and they said it straight.
How dare middle aged white men think they should be heard...........exact words of journalists.
What we were protesting about was irrelevent because I, being the privileged white man I was, had no right to protest....about anything.
God, if we have to be seen, at least we should STFU.
Being seen and heard was beyond the pale.
Those millions of kilometres and all that tax paid to bludgers so they could buy their beer and smokes.........my special privilege.
No, it's been easy for me compared to how it has probably been for many of you, so here's cheers to holding your ground.
Well, not everyone, there is still us.
And there are enough of us to keep each other sane.
But other than that, by god this little global "war of the worlds" style gaslighting has taken some casualties.
I actually believe it's been relatively easy for me to remain sane, and it would be harder for some of you reading this.
So good on you. Why do I say that?
A number of factors I don't and won't deal with, that I admit, would have been harder to navigate.
You may live in a city.....that would be hard, the constant sea of humanity around you, masked and idiotic...and loud.
And never quiet.
I can get away to the scrub at any time and live in a small regional town with a large block.
I have been trained to be alone all my life, and most importantly, besides enjoying my own company immensely...after all I'm a fucking top bloke.......I have been used to being treated like some sort of social outcast all my life.
Which suite me, because I'm not that impressed with those in it.
I've spent a good chunk of my life as an interstate truck driver.
We are our own breed and that's the way we like it.
We are the privileged white men you hear about.
We are expected to deliver everything to everyone, but not be seen or heard in the process.
We are not meant to expect clean toilets or decent food, so road houses are replaced with stops in the scrub and cook your own, and wash by the water tank on the trailer.
Many a time I have hopped out of my sleeper cab in the early morning while crossing the nullabor and absolutely rejoice in the fact I won't speak to anyone all day.
We are also expected to work 18 hours a day, so socialising is out.
So I'm quite used to living without others, not catching up for special occassions etc etc etc.
When I have had to deal with people I was generally in charge of them as a tour driver so I wasn't following orders then either.
Sure I had a boss and tasks to do, but they were miles away.
And there were no cameras in vehicles, and for much of my life, no mobile phones and then bugger all reception in the scrub anyway.
When I think about the solitary life I have had...like relocating 4wd tour trucks with no passengers over 4 days in remote Arnhem land, where not only did you not talk to anyone, you never saw a car all day....I remember these times fondly.
I have boiled the billy looking over Pt Essington with no one for miles and no sign of human habitiation for miles around me.
It's a beautiful thing.......
Of course I'm not the only one to have experienced the "getting away from it all" situation.
I'm sure you will have had those times too.
It really does set you up.
You become impervious to the bullshit because you don't need to know it.
You don't need , want or care to fit in, and your employer would rather it that way.
And it's surprising how many truckies from the old school I know, who are a wake up to all that is happening.
Well past the point of caring what others think, the general population are as on the nose to truckies as truckies are to them.
Many are resentful at working so hard to be looked down upon, while those doing so would shit themselves for a month of Sundays attempting to do their job.
But then you grow up and realise you really don't care what society thinks of you, because you think worse of them.
And over the last few years that's been born out to be a correct observation.
Even before covid my days as a tour driver were numbered, as I grew ever more intolerant of tourists growing ever more pathetic.
And weren't they horrified when I fuelled my truck up and headed to Canberra.
The journalists were mortified.
The said it out loud, and they said it straight.
How dare middle aged white men think they should be heard...........exact words of journalists.
What we were protesting about was irrelevent because I, being the privileged white man I was, had no right to protest....about anything.
God, if we have to be seen, at least we should STFU.
Being seen and heard was beyond the pale.
Those millions of kilometres and all that tax paid to bludgers so they could buy their beer and smokes.........my special privilege.
No, it's been easy for me compared to how it has probably been for many of you, so here's cheers to holding your ground.
