X user mocks lift operator for doing the 'dumbest job in the world', gets blasted
An X user, who goes by the name 'Gabbar', shared a photograph of a lift operator and asked, "Is this the dumbest job in the world?" along with a laughing emoji. The remark backfired, prompting thousands of users to defend the worker and call out the X user for belittling someone's livelihood.
An X user was blasted online after mocking a lift operator's job in a viral post that sparked a debate about the dignity of labour. Thousands of social media users rallied behind the worker, arguing that no honest profession deserves to be ridiculed.
The user, who goes by the name 'Gabbar', shared a photograph of the lift operator and asked, "Is this the dumbest job in the world?" along with a laughing emoji. The remark backfired, prompting thousands of users to defend the worker and call out the X user for belittling someone's livelihood.
Soon after, a debate ensued as the post garnered more than four million views on X.
One user urged people not to make fun of someone who works to put food on the table. The commenter added that even if a person does not respect a particular profession, they should not mock it.
Another user responded sharply, saying that the post itself represented a far more meaningless occupation: “In fact your job is the dumbest in the world. No blame on the uncle in the picture for laughing at you. Posting s*** about people’s lives online for cheap money is the dumbest job in the world.”
Several users stressed that every form of work has value: "When hunger hits, my friend, that is when we realise that no work is small or big.”
Others argued that critics underestimate the demands of the job. One commenter said people assume the role merely involves sitting inside an elevator, but spending six to eight hours a day operating a lift can be mentally exhausting.
Another user pointed out that many elderly people are unfamiliar with how elevators function and may require assistance, adding that critics fail to understand this simple reality.
Among the most widely shared responses was a lengthy post by X user Manasa Manjunath, who argued that lift operators serve an important purpose in India.
Recalling a recent experience at a mall in Kochi, Manjunath said she was waiting with a toddler in a pram for a lift while able-bodied shoppers repeatedly occupied the elevator despite an escalator being available nearby. She claimed she waited around 15 minutes as lifts arrived and departed full.
Only one young boy, she said, offered to make space, while other adults merely smiled awkwardly. Frustrated after the long wait, she eventually asked passengers to leave the lift free for elderly people and parents with small children. Some complied, she said, but another family entered before she could board, forcing her into an uncomfortable and crowded ride.
Drawing a comparison with Bengaluru, Manjunath said lift operators there often ensure that elderly people and families with children are given priority, preventing such situations from occurring. She, thus, reiterated that the role remains necessary because many people lack basic public courtesy and elevator etiquette.
Another user sought to explain the practical and financial reasons behind employing lift operators, particularly in older residential buildings.
The person said the global elevator industry is dominated by a handful of major companies and that maintenance and repair services generate significant revenue. Lift operators, they argued, help prevent misuse that could lead to expensive breakdowns.
Buildings with older elevators and narrow shafts often employ operators because repair costs can run into several lakhs annually. Hiring a lift operator for a relatively modest salary, the person argued, is often a cost-effective way of avoiding major maintenance expenses.
"This isn't a dumb job. Not knowing the rationale for this is dumb," the user wrote.
Another commenter noted that the same lift operator being mocked today could be helping elderly residents, responding during emergencies, preventing misuse of the elevator and earning an honest living to support a family.
As the post continued to circulate online, the overwhelming sentiment was clearly in favour of the lift operator, with many using the moment to push back against job-shaming and to emphasise the dignity of labour.
An X user was blasted online after mocking a lift operator's job in a viral post that sparked a debate about the dignity of labour. Thousands of social media users rallied behind the worker, arguing that no honest profession deserves to be ridiculed.
The user, who goes by the name 'Gabbar', shared a photograph of the lift operator and asked, "Is this the dumbest job in the world?" along with a laughing emoji. The remark backfired, prompting thousands of users to defend the worker and call out the X user for belittling someone's livelihood.
Soon after, a debate ensued as the post garnered more than four million views on X.
One user urged people not to make fun of someone who works to put food on the table. The commenter added that even if a person does not respect a particular profession, they should not mock it.
Another user responded sharply, saying that the post itself represented a far more meaningless occupation: “In fact your job is the dumbest in the world. No blame on the uncle in the picture for laughing at you. Posting s*** about people’s lives online for cheap money is the dumbest job in the world.”
Several users stressed that every form of work has value: "When hunger hits, my friend, that is when we realise that no work is small or big.”
Others argued that critics underestimate the demands of the job. One commenter said people assume the role merely involves sitting inside an elevator, but spending six to eight hours a day operating a lift can be mentally exhausting.
Another user pointed out that many elderly people are unfamiliar with how elevators function and may require assistance, adding that critics fail to understand this simple reality.
Among the most widely shared responses was a lengthy post by X user Manasa Manjunath, who argued that lift operators serve an important purpose in India.
Recalling a recent experience at a mall in Kochi, Manjunath said she was waiting with a toddler in a pram for a lift while able-bodied shoppers repeatedly occupied the elevator despite an escalator being available nearby. She claimed she waited around 15 minutes as lifts arrived and departed full.
Only one young boy, she said, offered to make space, while other adults merely smiled awkwardly. Frustrated after the long wait, she eventually asked passengers to leave the lift free for elderly people and parents with small children. Some complied, she said, but another family entered before she could board, forcing her into an uncomfortable and crowded ride.
Drawing a comparison with Bengaluru, Manjunath said lift operators there often ensure that elderly people and families with children are given priority, preventing such situations from occurring. She, thus, reiterated that the role remains necessary because many people lack basic public courtesy and elevator etiquette.
Another user sought to explain the practical and financial reasons behind employing lift operators, particularly in older residential buildings.
The person said the global elevator industry is dominated by a handful of major companies and that maintenance and repair services generate significant revenue. Lift operators, they argued, help prevent misuse that could lead to expensive breakdowns.
Buildings with older elevators and narrow shafts often employ operators because repair costs can run into several lakhs annually. Hiring a lift operator for a relatively modest salary, the person argued, is often a cost-effective way of avoiding major maintenance expenses.
"This isn't a dumb job. Not knowing the rationale for this is dumb," the user wrote.
Another commenter noted that the same lift operator being mocked today could be helping elderly residents, responding during emergencies, preventing misuse of the elevator and earning an honest living to support a family.
As the post continued to circulate online, the overwhelming sentiment was clearly in favour of the lift operator, with many using the moment to push back against job-shaming and to emphasise the dignity of labour.
