I have been a driver since 1983 and its all that I have ever wanted to do way back to a pregrade school kid. You talk to any old timer and 9 out of 10 will tell you that. The majority of us will tell you that we do it because we love it. NOT just for the money. Its a way of life. The new drivers, started in last 10 years, are the ones that got into it for the money. Us old timers do it because we love it and are very proud of what we do. Like the one driver said if you buy it we brought it!
I think this video is great! You really went out of your way to show us the trucker lifestyle we judge but don't know. I think it's sad to see how optimistic the younger drivers are in comparison to the older one's. The younger one's have playstations and dvd players and real sense of comraderie
I think the video is interesting, and as you guys know, Little America is a part of my life. The clip really shows the importance of understanding the way capitalism works...and there is some humanizing of the generic trucker, but man this is such an interesting group that I want more about their own ways of fighting bordom and being on the road so much. The cultural aspect of the group needs more focus
Way to get the class to think outside the box because they sure didn't with mine. Good job I thought it was cool to go out there and capture something that is ever present in everyone's day to day life yet know one actually thinks about and if they do has a bad attitude about it and everyone needs to make money because of our society and sadly that is how sometimes it needs to be made.popaaron
It is disturbing how much money was the key to it all. I understand that we live in America and that we are a money drivin culture, but it is still quite disturbing. I guess i did not expect people to say that money is the main reason, I mean call me crazy, but i thought that maybe people might choose to be a truck driver, becauae they wanted to or like to.
Obviously through the interviews one can see that it is the money that makes truck drivers lives interesting for them. One should consider why other individuals that have dropped out of highschool and have no college degree, do not persue the truckers life. I do like the video, but like the rest of the comments I think it fits better as a sociological review.
It seems that the culture of the truck driver is to make a habitat out of their trucks, while stoping at stations across America that cater to their needs.
your video is interesting becuase it looks at a different perspective. I can see the ties to sociology but what is the connection to our course??? I didnt think that truck driving is a part of pop culture since it is such an exclusive industry in which access to truck driving or inclusion isnt as easy as going to the store and buying something
I know about the truck driving culture because I grew up in Fontana which is big truck stop since it has many industry plants and warehouses. A lot of my friend's parents are truck drivers because they have no other way to make that kind of money. The trucker's way of life is sad, and I don't think any of them really enjoy it. There are so many stereotypes that go along with being a trucker, and I agree that it's not fair to judge them so quickly.
xIt was interesting to see a culture or way of life that is not normally discussed. i liked all the interviews with the truck drivers because i dont think that they often get a say in our culture. The stigma of being a truck driver is something that is rarely addressed and this project does that. However i would have liked to see more popular culture references.
Hey... I like the premise of your video but do not see how it relates to the topic of our course. Perhaps you should have addressed the role of popular culture in defining social understandings of people like truck drivers, or how popular culture influences people to decide to take this as a profession. PopErin
Continued....The part where the driver was talking about how they have playstation and a dvd player in their truck brought to mind the big, expensive suv's that have the same gadgets going on in their back seats and although what games/movies are being watched will likely differ, the larger forces at work are the same. Great job.
I would have never thought to consider truckdrivers and their place in popular culture, which obviously exposes some of my personal biases. But I think what you did with your project is really important because you kind of craked open a lifestyle and type of culture creation that I'm sure a large majority of us are not familiar with. And it also pointed out how fluid popular culture can be even though we have these notions of insurmountable barriers.
it is sad to see how the industry has changed and how the younger culture is so money driven. i guess that just demonstrates how we have become a greedy society
it was so interesting to see the differences between the different generations of drivers and the stigmas attached to truckers...the lack of respect and appreciation is disappointing and i was really struck by the lack of acknowledgment the public has for what a huge service they provide and how lost our consumption driven population would be without truck drivers.
(Cont)...I thought it was also interesting that they don't even know what they ship sometimes. I think it just shows that they kind of get numb to the whole industry if they've been doing it for so long. Just trying to make a living and support their family the best way they know how.
I thought this was really interesting. I thought that hearing from someone in a truck stop such as the lady behind the counter gave a different point of view. When she was talking about their reputation and how they are treated unfairly considering the importance of the truck driving industry I think pointed out what people fail to see when thinking of a trucker.
They deal with similar stresses, time crunches, health issues, and lack of sleep that many individuals in society deal with. I think one element I would have liked to have seen is how these truck drivers think attitudes towards the work that they do could be changed and what can be done to get the rest of society to appreciate the work that they do, especially since each and every one of us depends upon truck drivers for the goods that we consume.
I really enjoyed how you used both younger truck drivers and the older truck driver who has been a truck driver for 31 years. This video really shows how the culture surrounding truckers actually mirrors the culture of mainstream society. Within the trucking community, there are divides between the older and the newer truck drivers, much like there is a divide between the "elite" and the "others".
I really liked the contrasting views from the man who has been driving for thirty some years and the "younger" guys. Even within the truck driving world they have their own set of cultures with the "folk" truck drivers and the driver of the future that plays x-box and watches dvd's while making pop corn in their mini micro wave. Very well done can't wait to see more. PopAlexandra
I do agree that truck drivers are immensely disrespected in our society. It is unfortunate that people do not realize that there are more and less desirable jobs, that everyone is fighting for them, and most of us wouldnt be where we are without our economy and everyone in it functioning a certain way. This relationship, truck driver to the societal opinion of the truck driver, would be one I would call an exploitative theory. PopKelly
great teaser. was interested in the different attitudes shown by these guys towards their profession, especially their insights into the changing of attitudes over time. sounds like the day to day life can be very interesting. definitely wanting to see more
Truck drivers aren't appreciated as much as they should be. They do a lot more work that many give them credit for. We have this main stereotype of truck drivers being sleezy, dirty, lazy, old, men. This is mostly portrayed through movies. One movie that came to mind was "Thelma and Louise." Truck drivers are not portrayed in a nice way. I think this video will really open people eyes towards the amount of work they do sacrifices they make for people they don't even know. PopJoy
I think it's amazing how that man said almost everything they carry is found in Walmart stores. That must be where they go a lot. I think it's true, we do not support our truck drivers and we do not respect them as a nation. Do you think it might be because they do not have what is expected by popular culture to be respected? Popular culture tells us that in order to honor someone they have to have a certain amount of education, for the most part. popamber
Watching this it is easy to understand why every year there is a massive multiple truck accident on route 78 in New Jersey. Without driver's for these commodities there would be no way to supply many places with the goods necessary to the economy and yet they are usually treated like crap. The fact that cops won't let them sleep at truck stops is a sign of how much disrespect they receive.
That was very interesting. Truck driving never crossed my mind until now as being part of popular culture. And it has also become a dressing fad in younger kids with the trucker hats and whatnot. I have a 21 year old friend that just became a truck driver and I couldnt figure out why he would want to do such a thing but he said "hey I got nothing else" So its really interesting that something that is a last resort for many has become a fad for those that have everything.
gives me another perspective on the struggles these guys have. I agree...we do take them for granted and even are a bit initimidated by their massive presence in the next lane. I am interested in learning more about what they are thinking and feeling..thanks for this great intro to another world.
awesome video, really good quality. its interesting how they realize the health risks involved in doing their job, yet they do it to support their families or its their only means of making money. I think truck drivers dont get the respect they deserve simply because of the societal image people have of them.
I have been a driver since 1983 and its all that I have ever wanted to do way back to a pregrade school kid. You talk to any old timer and 9 out of 10 will tell you that. The majority of us will tell you that we do it because we love it. NOT just for the money. Its a way of life. The new drivers, started in last 10 years, are the ones that got into it for the money. Us old timers do it because we love it and are very proud of what we do. Like the one driver said if you buy it we brought it!
kb0fkt 5 years ago
I think this video is great! You really went out of your way to show us the trucker lifestyle we judge but don't know. I think it's sad to see how optimistic the younger drivers are in comparison to the older one's. The younger one's have playstations and dvd players and real sense of comraderie
POPCOURTNEY 5 years ago
oh god sorry I was seeing if that would work! Ok so here is my real comment and I'm sorry it didn't get posted earlier but I couldn't figure it out!
POPCOURTNEY 5 years ago
aaaaaa sfaf
POPCOURTNEY 5 years ago
I think the video is interesting, and as you guys know, Little America is a part of my life. The clip really shows the importance of understanding the way capitalism works...and there is some humanizing of the generic trucker, but man this is such an interesting group that I want more about their own ways of fighting bordom and being on the road so much. The cultural aspect of the group needs more focus
wasmend 5 years ago
Way to get the class to think outside the box because they sure didn't with mine. Good job I thought it was cool to go out there and capture something that is ever present in everyone's day to day life yet know one actually thinks about and if they do has a bad attitude about it and everyone needs to make money because of our society and sadly that is how sometimes it needs to be made.popaaron
soan206 5 years ago
It is disturbing how much money was the key to it all. I understand that we live in America and that we are a money drivin culture, but it is still quite disturbing. I guess i did not expect people to say that money is the main reason, I mean call me crazy, but i thought that maybe people might choose to be a truck driver, becauae they wanted to or like to.
cbcm03 5 years ago
Obviously through the interviews one can see that it is the money that makes truck drivers lives interesting for them. One should consider why other individuals that have dropped out of highschool and have no college degree, do not persue the truckers life. I do like the video, but like the rest of the comments I think it fits better as a sociological review.
PopPeter
socialpete 5 years ago
It seems that the culture of the truck driver is to make a habitat out of their trucks, while stoping at stations across America that cater to their needs.
PopPeter
socialpete 5 years ago
your video is interesting becuase it looks at a different perspective. I can see the ties to sociology but what is the connection to our course??? I didnt think that truck driving is a part of pop culture since it is such an exclusive industry in which access to truck driving or inclusion isnt as easy as going to the store and buying something
calley pop culture
cbcm03 5 years ago
I know about the truck driving culture because I grew up in Fontana which is big truck stop since it has many industry plants and warehouses. A lot of my friend's parents are truck drivers because they have no other way to make that kind of money. The trucker's way of life is sad, and I don't think any of them really enjoy it. There are so many stereotypes that go along with being a trucker, and I agree that it's not fair to judge them so quickly.
-popCWatson
CoWat 5 years ago
xIt was interesting to see a culture or way of life that is not normally discussed. i liked all the interviews with the truck drivers because i dont think that they often get a say in our culture. The stigma of being a truck driver is something that is rarely addressed and this project does that. However i would have liked to see more popular culture references.
popkara 5 years ago
Hey... I like the premise of your video but do not see how it relates to the topic of our course. Perhaps you should have addressed the role of popular culture in defining social understandings of people like truck drivers, or how popular culture influences people to decide to take this as a profession. PopErin
erinvondrak 5 years ago
Continued....The part where the driver was talking about how they have playstation and a dvd player in their truck brought to mind the big, expensive suv's that have the same gadgets going on in their back seats and although what games/movies are being watched will likely differ, the larger forces at work are the same. Great job.
PopCaitlin
sillysailor00 5 years ago
I would have never thought to consider truckdrivers and their place in popular culture, which obviously exposes some of my personal biases. But I think what you did with your project is really important because you kind of craked open a lifestyle and type of culture creation that I'm sure a large majority of us are not familiar with. And it also pointed out how fluid popular culture can be even though we have these notions of insurmountable barriers.
sillysailor00 5 years ago
it is sad to see how the industry has changed and how the younger culture is so money driven. i guess that just demonstrates how we have become a greedy society
popchris
christopher23lyle 5 years ago
it was so interesting to see the differences between the different generations of drivers and the stigmas attached to truckers...the lack of respect and appreciation is disappointing and i was really struck by the lack of acknowledgment the public has for what a huge service they provide and how lost our consumption driven population would be without truck drivers.
popashly
popashly 5 years ago
(Cont)...I thought it was also interesting that they don't even know what they ship sometimes. I think it just shows that they kind of get numb to the whole industry if they've been doing it for so long. Just trying to make a living and support their family the best way they know how.
-Pop Meghann
megzc402 5 years ago
I thought this was really interesting. I thought that hearing from someone in a truck stop such as the lady behind the counter gave a different point of view. When she was talking about their reputation and how they are treated unfairly considering the importance of the truck driving industry I think pointed out what people fail to see when thinking of a trucker.
-Pop Meghann
megzc402 5 years ago
PopBritni continued...
They deal with similar stresses, time crunches, health issues, and lack of sleep that many individuals in society deal with. I think one element I would have liked to have seen is how these truck drivers think attitudes towards the work that they do could be changed and what can be done to get the rest of society to appreciate the work that they do, especially since each and every one of us depends upon truck drivers for the goods that we consume.
Irisgrnday 5 years ago
I really enjoyed how you used both younger truck drivers and the older truck driver who has been a truck driver for 31 years. This video really shows how the culture surrounding truckers actually mirrors the culture of mainstream society. Within the trucking community, there are divides between the older and the newer truck drivers, much like there is a divide between the "elite" and the "others".
PopBritni
Irisgrnday 5 years ago
I really liked the contrasting views from the man who has been driving for thirty some years and the "younger" guys. Even within the truck driving world they have their own set of cultures with the "folk" truck drivers and the driver of the future that plays x-box and watches dvd's while making pop corn in their mini micro wave. Very well done can't wait to see more. PopAlexandra
popalexandra 5 years ago
I do agree that truck drivers are immensely disrespected in our society. It is unfortunate that people do not realize that there are more and less desirable jobs, that everyone is fighting for them, and most of us wouldnt be where we are without our economy and everyone in it functioning a certain way. This relationship, truck driver to the societal opinion of the truck driver, would be one I would call an exploitative theory. PopKelly
kellystein 5 years ago
Brittany this is great! I can't wait to see the whole thing.
-Hannah R-S
donewrong 5 years ago
great teaser. was interested in the different attitudes shown by these guys towards their profession, especially their insights into the changing of attitudes over time. sounds like the day to day life can be very interesting. definitely wanting to see more
thenormfather 5 years ago
Truck drivers aren't appreciated as much as they should be. They do a lot more work that many give them credit for. We have this main stereotype of truck drivers being sleezy, dirty, lazy, old, men. This is mostly portrayed through movies. One movie that came to mind was "Thelma and Louise." Truck drivers are not portrayed in a nice way. I think this video will really open people eyes towards the amount of work they do sacrifices they make for people they don't even know. PopJoy
joyusa 5 years ago
I think it's amazing how that man said almost everything they carry is found in Walmart stores. That must be where they go a lot. I think it's true, we do not support our truck drivers and we do not respect them as a nation. Do you think it might be because they do not have what is expected by popular culture to be respected? Popular culture tells us that in order to honor someone they have to have a certain amount of education, for the most part. popamber
amberjs 5 years ago
That was PopThor by the way.
socialmodernity 5 years ago
Watching this it is easy to understand why every year there is a massive multiple truck accident on route 78 in New Jersey. Without driver's for these commodities there would be no way to supply many places with the goods necessary to the economy and yet they are usually treated like crap. The fact that cops won't let them sleep at truck stops is a sign of how much disrespect they receive.
socialmodernity 5 years ago
That was very interesting. Truck driving never crossed my mind until now as being part of popular culture. And it has also become a dressing fad in younger kids with the trucker hats and whatnot. I have a 21 year old friend that just became a truck driver and I couldnt figure out why he would want to do such a thing but he said "hey I got nothing else" So its really interesting that something that is a last resort for many has become a fad for those that have everything.
PopNicole
nicehass 5 years ago
gives me another perspective on the struggles these guys have. I agree...we do take them for granted and even are a bit initimidated by their massive presence in the next lane. I am interested in learning more about what they are thinking and feeling..thanks for this great intro to another world.
jkahnweiler 5 years ago
awesome video, really good quality. its interesting how they realize the health risks involved in doing their job, yet they do it to support their families or its their only means of making money. I think truck drivers dont get the respect they deserve simply because of the societal image people have of them.
PopDavid
valker0206 5 years ago