I have been banned from AskReddit for asking many strange questions. In some of them I asked people whether they are electric locomotives:
These question seem odd, but in reality many people including myself have made a mistake of considering themselves electric locomotives. Many people fail to accomplish tasks which were too difficult to begin with. This may be one of the major sources of failure.Do you consider yourself an electric locomotive?
Can you prove that you are not an electric locomotive?
Does you boss mistake you for an electric locomotive?
Does your family mistake you for an electric locomotive?
An electric locomotive can work indefinite time without getting tired. A human who sets his/her goals beyond his/her ability is likely to fail. Such a person may achieve much less then they would have achieved had their goals been reasonable. An interesting historical note is that prior to mechanization of WWII, many battles have been lost by those who overworked their cavalry horses.
At least from early 1990s I wanted to be a writer. I wrote both Fiction in the form of short stories and Nonfiction in the form of nanoarticles. I write in the same format now. In 1990-1992 I used a xerox copier to produce a small paper zine. Now I write on forums, blogs, and other Social Media. Both in early 1990s and now my work is Politically Incorrect -- thus making money from writing is impossible. Given my passion for writing, not writing is also impossible.
From 1990s I understood that I have to have an occupation where I can make money and write on the side. I had some talent in Mathematics, though I disliked it with passion. I should have obtained Bachelor's Degree in Math and a part time job. My main criterion for a good job is low difficulty and low workload -- up to 25 hours a week. I would be happy to earn $20,000 per year. I have no intention of marrying or starting a family.
For several years I had a therapist who persuaded me that getting a PhD in Math would get me a salary above $100,000 per year. I did get a PhD in the subject I hated, but I used up most of my mental energy. After more then 15 years I am still unemployed. I did have short time jobs earning some pocket money like $2,000 per year during this time. Anyone with whom I have worked understood that I am not into Mathematics -- thus finding a real job has been impossible. I am grateful to my parents for supporting me.
A computer or an electric locomotive can perform an uninteresting task for an unlimited time, but I am only a human. Wasting my time and mental energy on a PhD was a huge mistake. Trying to earn ``big money" at a cost of unreasonable effort was a huge mistake. Overestimating my ability to sell myself for an uninteresting work was a huge mistake.
My mistake is neither unusual nor is it worse then that of millions of others. Many people, take on difficult, dangerous, and unpleasant jobs in order to built and support a family. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, each year in USA there are about 5,000 workplace fatalities. Many people who over-strain themselves become alcoholics, smokers, and drug addicts. In 2016 in USA alone, 64,000 people died from drug overdose. Many of those who take upon themselves unreasonably difficult tasks fail.
As a young adult I instinctively knew that working in an uninteresting job just for money will not bring me happiness. What I did not understand at age 24 and do understand at age 48 is that there was no chance for me to make a lot of money if I am not interested. Another thing I did not understand as a young man is that my resources are limited -- anything I do not accomplish for myself now may never be accomplished. I would advice young people to follow their interest and not to take impossible tasks upon themselves.