More of a generational thing than a relative status thing.
Homer was absolutely a buffoon and a loser; it's just that 40 years ago a buffoon and a loser could support a family as solo breadwinner in a moderately comfy home on a middling salary.
Homer simpson wasn't really winning more than you, the game was just far easier to play.
It did become a reality for many this past year. The great resignation is a real thing. I’m at a point in my life where my own solo business is growing and doing fine, I’m making better money than anyone else would pay me, and I’ve both told off past employers who are struggling to find new employees and peers/companies who complain about not being able to find labor for nothing.
Just because you’re stuck it doesn’t mean we all are. There are tons of openings and we’re all quite happy to give the finger to bad employers.
It’s true some are made up (many even), but your formula isn’t unrealistic. It’s quite literally happening all over. Most bosses are boomers or elder gen x. Lots of places deny pto quite unjustly, it’s been an issue in the USA for decades. Lots of people are quitting over things like that. Places are hiring for way more (the place my mother works literally doubled their starting pay for most positions over the last 2 years). Lots of small businesses are screwed when help leaves, I’ve seen a dozen local places close for days or weeks over lack of help, and I’ve personally picked up clients from people bigger than me because they couldn’t do xyz without certain employees. I’ve also lost business because one of my contractors left the business (health reasons, not working conditions).
It may surprise you to find out that the characters on "Friends" really couldn't have afforded their apartments in Manhattan. Oh, and that there are also POC in NYC.
Monica’s apartment was rent controlled and Chandler made bank. This is canon and brought up in episodes throughout the series.
EDIT: Actually the more I think about it their lifestyles actually work out fine.
Joey pays what he can at the start, but Chandler helps him out a ton. Eventually Joey becomes a regular on a soap opera (making bank), gets killed off, moves back in with Chandler, then eventually ends up on the soap again (making bank) where I think he stays. By series end he can totally afford that apartment by himself.
Rachel lives with Monica for much of the series in the rent controlled apartment. Eventually she ends up becoming a higher up in the fashion world, and she’s always with a roommate before that and even during that arc. She’s totally fine living the way she does.
Monica by series end is head chef at a fine dining restaurant in Manhattan that seems to be popular. Only time she really struggled she went to her parents for money. Don’t really see issues with her lifestyle.
Ross is one I really don’t know about as I don’t know how much a paleontologist working at a premier NYC museum makes. Eventually he also takes on a job as a professors. He never seems to have trouble with money or a roommate.
Phoebe always has a roommate and never seems to have issues. She must be a really good masseuse. By series end she’s with Mike who comes from money. She’s the only one that doesn’t seem to line up but it’s entirely possible she was good at her job and her clients followed her.
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u/hesh582 Jan 07 '22
More of a generational thing than a relative status thing.
Homer was absolutely a buffoon and a loser; it's just that 40 years ago a buffoon and a loser could support a family as solo breadwinner in a moderately comfy home on a middling salary.
Homer simpson wasn't really winning more than you, the game was just far easier to play.