Anonymous once said, “There are three things that are certain in life – Death, Tax and Change.”
Comparing the present to the past centuries, the changes that have happened are incredible and extraordinary. It is true that change is mandatory; progress, however, is optional. Trends that were once being fuzzed over may not be as desired once it is made up-to-date.
Technology has gone a long way, ever changing and evolving to newer heights as it tackles the way we communicate and interact with one another, finding ways to keep us entertained. With the birth of the new technology, however, some old traditions must pass away; death cannot be escaped.
The death of occupations once sought centuries ago may be non-existent today, without our realizing it, leaving us to be sentimental as we look back and remember. This month, the Menagerie brings you a catalog of job occupations that are either slowly nearing death or have become fully extinct.
Ice man
Before refrigerators came into the picture, iceboxes existed! Ice was cut from lakes and rivers and stored in icehouses. From these icehouses, ice was delivered door to door, and ice deliverymen would distribute the ice themselves to restaurants and homes.
Photo processors
Kodak filing for bankruptcy is no surprise. Gone were the times wherein people would excitedly finish up their rolls of film, and wait until they get home to have their rolls of shots developed. Digital Photography has taken over, and individuals could snap a photo with the use of their cell phones, D-SLR and point-and-shoot cameras for the results to appear at an instant. The call for photo processors is weakening; going are the people who spend hours in a dark room working with chemicals to properly develop photos.
Video store clerk
Video store clerks used to come in handy whenever one would be interested in renting a VHS, VCD, or DVD over the weekend. You could ask them for their personal movie favorites in different types of genres, though most of the time they are content just standing behind the counter, waiting patiently for you to take your pick. With today’s online live streaming, unblocked torrents and rampant downloading, these video store clerks are a thing of the 90’s.
Newspaper Deliverer
Newspaper deliverers would use their bicycles and motorbikes to go to every house in the morning to deliver the people’s news, highlighting yesterday and the midnight’s events. With the presence of the Internet today, and with the actual news being only a click away, beating the efficiency of the newspaper boy, these ‘boys’ might suffer from less print newspaper demand.
Mailman
When writing real, snail mail letters was in, the mailman would happily deliver these handwritten letters to designated homes and post boxes. But today, letter writing seems to be dying, being replaced with electronic mail and various social media websites. Aside from delivering monthly bills and occasional post cards received even as the person who sent it has gone back to the Philippines, what will be come of the mailman in the near future?
Party clowns
Party clowns and magicians go hand in hand when it comes to sources of entertainment especially at children’s parties. It seems to the writer, however, that kids today no longer throw parties as often as before. Perhaps because of the fact that kids prefer getting the latest gadgets or throwing parties in general have become too costly. These clowns have been reduced to finding niches in other fields, like corporate functions.
Elevator operator
Elevator Operators? Really? Some of you may claim that elevator operators may exist even today, but wait a minute! Comparing elevator operators back then, elevators were manual and it was quite technical, as one had to attempt to land the elevator at the exact level with the floor. An elevator back then could not stop in the middle of a certain level back then; imagine how exhausting and tedious that would’ve been back then! With our fully operational and automatic elevators, elevator operators are becoming an additional expense for hotels and offices.
Typist
Computers were different back then. Typing documents and other tasks needed people such as typists. Often enough, this job occupation was given to young ladies. If they are seen to be excelling in this field, they may even move up to becoming a secretary. What a promising career path.
These are only a handful of job opportunities that were popular in demand back then. Evolution does set in even the most unexpected aspects in our lives without us knowing. Who knows what tomorrow will bring us?
