Wow, I can really relate to this statement! I've been in so many corporate situations where people have allowed their jobs to somehow "validate" themselves. And I've also caught myself doing it at one point.

There is absolutely an attitude towards the unemployed, especially from people with jobs who rarely, imho, understand just how difficult the job market in the US is right now. I have a friend constantly telling me to "just take anything for now." She certainly means well, but having been in her own job for over 20 years, she really has no idea how difficult it is to even find "anything for now."

This is a very good thread, thank you.