Jobs That No Longer Exist Today- Volume 1
By DB
@dgobucks226 (37621)
January 23, 2019 11:11am CST
Here is a series on interesting/strange occupations gone due to societal and technological changes. We all know switchboard operators have been replaced, but did you know about these jobs? Read on... Glad these 2 jobs are no longer open for hiring!
"Knocker-upper" - a common job in Britian and Ireland during the 19th and 20th centuries, the employee's duty was to take a heavy stick and pound on the doors of factory workers in the early morning to wake them up for work. That would scare the heck out of me! Glad they invented an alarm clock with soothing music to wake me in the morning.
"Night soil collector" - I am not talking that type of soil, either. The job required a person to remove human waste from people's privies. The profession was prevalent in 19th-century America, Europe and Australia before the building of sewage systems eliminated this occupation. I wonder if clothespins were distributed as work related gear, ugh?
And we think some jobs are tough today. I don't always feel this way, but when I think of these jobs I have to say thank goodness for technology! What do you think?
Source- msn-lovemoney.com
Photo- customerthink.com
17 people like this
15 responses
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
27 Jan 19
Wow, thank goodness for modernization! And indoor plumbing 
1 person likes this
@rebelann (117224)
• El Paso, Texas
16 May 20
I rarely used phone booths back then @dgobucks226
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@dgobucks226 (37621)
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17 May 20
@rebelann They came in handy in a pinch. Glad they have cell phones now!
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@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
26 Apr 20
Yes, I remember that too and placing phone booths calls, lol.
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@Hate2Iron (15724)
• Canada
23 Jan 19
They would have to be high on my list of jobs I don't want!!
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@Hate2Iron (15724)
• Canada
27 Jan 19
@dgobucks226 Isn't there a TV show with a theme along that line? All the jobs that no one would ever want to do and the host takes it on!!
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@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
30 Jan 19
@Hate2Iron There might be although I've never seen it. Lousy jobs are something prevalent even today.
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
24 Jan 19
Oh dear. Knocker upper sounds a little uh, like something else. That said I am totally with you there. I hate being startled awake. I also prefer waking up with an alarm that gradually gets louder or music.
And night soil collecter, that was a really delicate way to put that....
Oh yay that no one needs to do that anymore
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@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
29 Jan 19
@dgobucks226 Ha ha.... uh, yes that is sort of awkward wording lol.
Soil feels more dirty than usual too
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@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
27 Jan 19
Yes, a knocker upper doesn't quite have the proper ring to it when it comes to job description, lol. And I'll never look at the word "soil" the same way again 
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@LadyDuck (502427)
• Italy
28 Jan 19
@dgobucks226 they are closed containers from the portable toilets. We have a portable toiled (that we never used) in the atomic shelter. It was mandatory to have an atomic shelter here until about 10 years ago.
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@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
27 Jan 19
Good point! And how about those port o potty (portable toilets) collectors. I know they have machinery for collection but that job must still stink 
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@Marilynda1225 (91076)
• United States
26 Jan 19
Nope. Neither of these jobs would be something I'd want to do
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@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
28 Jan 19
@dgobucks226 I wouldn't want it.
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@dgobucks226 (37621)
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27 Jan 19
I would be surprised if there were many applicants for those jobs, especially the night soil collector, yuck!
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@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Jan 19
Knocker upper can mean something else wink wink nod nod!
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@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
27 Jan 19
Yes, I see what you mean.
You think they would of come up with a better term for that job???
You think they would of come up with a better term for that job???1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
27 Jan 19
The night soil collector sounds really ugh but without them it would be more of an ugh.
What about stenographer and typist on the old typewriters?
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@dgobucks226 (37621)
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30 Jan 19
Yes, that is a good one too although not as messy, well except when you change the ribbon on that typewriter. Our family has an old Smith-Corona manual typewriter. Wonder if it has any significant value? Need to check that out.
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@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
20 Feb 19
Night soil collectors don't go into privy's now, they are often called Honey Dippers and they actually empty septic tanks for their customers. Same job, just as gross!
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@dgobucks226 (37621)
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22 Feb 19
Thanks for that additional input! Somehow honey as a title just doesn't seen right for their job description?
@Acefun (1220)
• Malaysia
20 Feb 19
I have not seen these job since the day I born. There are the job that has been unavailable for long time ago.
Technology does invent something that replace certain job and it will happen in the future too. Technology company that can product those innovative products will be the winner in the industry.
The bad side is that some people might be lay off since the job is replaced and simplify by machine.
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@dgobucks226 (37621)
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22 Feb 19
I could not agree my with your statements! Thanks for those insightful responses 
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@Acefun (1220)
• Malaysia
26 Feb 19
@dgobucks226
Welcome.
I hope it does motivate you to be competitive enough in the job market.
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@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
24 Jan 19
There are as many crazy jobs like that today and they won't exist a decade from now.
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