Re: Programmers Blue Collar?

To me, the difference between 'white collar' and 'blue (or pink) collar' was always the Manager vs Productive-worker divide. The Managers were over-paid, so they could afford to wear shirts that require washing after only one day's wearing. So long as I changed my under-shirt, I could go two days on a denim chambray shirt (three, when I had an office on the raised-floor in the computer room).

Now-a-days I wear jeans and a black t-shirt with a rock band on it, today it's a Jethro Tull 2000 Tour; just call me no-collar. I just sit at my desk, sorting code and causing tummy-aches for the middle management.

----
I Go Back to Sleep, Now.

OGB

Comment on Re: Programmers Blue Collar?

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Re^2: Programmers Blue Collar? (coveralls) by tye (Sage) on Jan 15, 2008 at 00:31 UTC
I've certaily seen programming shops where the programmers always wear white collars (and ties; well, the male programmers). I've never seen a programming shop where the programmers wear blue cover-alls. I'm pretty sure that is where the "blue collar" term came from. So I think "white collar" is the clear winner with regard to programmers. The "Manager vs Productive Worker" divide is what the term "Suits" is for. White collar workers work in offices (no, that doesn't mean that they each get their own office, they might be in the cube farm part of the office) and don't get their hands or knees particularly dirty because they don't do manual labor. They used to mostly wear white shirts but times have changed on that point. Sure, at least many programmers have some things in common with other "grunt" workers. But I don't think it makes sense to redefine "blue collar" to cover them. I'm actually wearing a blue collar today but I'm not wearing cover-alls. And I call the corner of the house where I do my work my "office" not my "shop". - tye	[reply]

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Re^2: Programmers Blue Collar? (coveralls)
by tye (Sage) on Jan 15, 2008 at 00:31 UTC

I've certaily seen programming shops where the programmers always wear white collars (and ties; well, the male programmers). I've never seen a programming shop where the programmers wear blue cover-alls. I'm pretty sure that is where the "blue collar" term came from.

So I think "white collar" is the clear winner with regard to programmers. The "Manager vs Productive Worker" divide is what the term "Suits" is for. White collar workers work in offices (no, that doesn't mean that they each get their own office, they might be in the cube farm part of the office) and don't get their hands or knees particularly dirty because they don't do manual labor. They used to mostly wear white shirts but times have changed on that point.

Sure, at least many programmers have some things in common with other "grunt" workers. But I don't think it makes sense to redefine "blue collar" to cover them.

I'm actually wearing a blue collar today but I'm not wearing cover-alls. And I call the corner of the house where I do my work my "office" not my "shop".

- tye

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