thank you
You are definitely right about me not being able to see much of the job by just watching a video and playing a game. Thank you for uncovering that this really is a flawed way of trying to figure out what airline flying really is like, which makes me really glad i posted.
The thing is though, i'm trying to find out if this really is for me. I've been lurking on this forum for over a year now, trying to suck in as much info about airline life as possible. I've also sent mails to pilots asking them questions about the job. Although i now know a lot of the hardships that come with this career, i still don't know if I really would enjoy an airline job. I am passionate about aviation, but I really don't know what flying an airliner really is like. Therefore i can't really say it's going to be worth it for the flying.
This is such a huge investment that i want to confirm it is going to be worth it, and that i won't end up being one of those that whines all day about the job. I certainly am trying to do a "self selection" as you call it. I want to make it as realistic as possible so that i'm not just guessing i will enjoy the job.
I hear "if it's your passion, go for it, it will be worth it". How do any one of us thousands of wannabees know that it's REALLY our passion when we haven't tried airline flying beforehand. That's why i simulated how it would be like in my head with information gathered from this forum and others, and from pilots whom i've interviewed (so to speak). Then i watch the cockpit videos, and then i try some of it in a game. All to make my simulation of the airline job more realistic, and see if that is really what i'd like to do. I totally see that even with all of this info, i won't know exactly how it's like to be to command an airliner. But i definitely am less rosey eyed about it, and feeling that the infatuation with a pilot career is eroding. It's just a job, nothing glamorous.
I know for certain, that if i hadn't done all of this "self selection" i would have cashed out money and gone for an airline career and probably done all i could to fly a jet.
I'm thinking there's more to life than airline flying. Compared to a year ago when i was 200% determined and sure that i was born to be an aviator.