Why don't people want to say what they do for a living?
Discussion
I have one of those awkward jobs that sounds very dull and isn't a 'generic' job that easy to explain
Example: Plumber/electrician/chef/postman are all generic jobs - everyone knows what's involved, and what you do
I work in logistics. It sounds boring, I don't do anything you'd relate to. It's one of those jobs where I say what I do and people say
" oh, that's......nice".
Example: Plumber/electrician/chef/postman are all generic jobs - everyone knows what's involved, and what you do
I work in logistics. It sounds boring, I don't do anything you'd relate to. It's one of those jobs where I say what I do and people say
" oh, that's......nice".
- awkward silence*
;)
Ade07 said:
Thankyou4calling said:
Impasse said:
Why do you even want to know?
It's called conversation. You meet someone and generally one of the first things most people ask is "What do you do" it's perfectly normal.A "Nothing which defines me as a person."
Maybe think of a more interesting topic of conversation. Like the weather. Or which route they took to get there. Enquiring about a person's job is sometimes a cliché too far.
Muzzer79 said:
I have one of those awkward jobs that sounds very dull and isn't a 'generic' job that easy to explain
Example: Plumber/electrician/chef/postman are all generic jobs - everyone knows what's involved, and what you do
I work in logistics. It sounds boring, I don't do anything you'd relate to. It's one of those jobs where I say what I do and people say
" oh, that's......nice".
Yep. Try and explain 'software asset management' to someone at a party. As much as I enjoy it, it's not a conversation starter Example: Plumber/electrician/chef/postman are all generic jobs - everyone knows what's involved, and what you do
I work in logistics. It sounds boring, I don't do anything you'd relate to. It's one of those jobs where I say what I do and people say
" oh, that's......nice".
- awkward silence*
Impasse said:
Q "What do you do?"
A "Nothing which defines me as a person."
Maybe think of a more interesting topic of conversation. Like the weather. Or which route they took to get there. Enquiring about a person's job is sometimes a cliché too far.
It's also seen as incredibly rude in some circles on the basis its questioning someone's social and financial standing.A "Nothing which defines me as a person."
Maybe think of a more interesting topic of conversation. Like the weather. Or which route they took to get there. Enquiring about a person's job is sometimes a cliché too far.
Anyone defined by their work is rather dull anyway.
Great topic.
Apart from being a topic of conversation, I'm hugely interested in how things work, and how people work. Fascinating.
Doesn't matter whether you own health clubs, mow lawns, build power stations, or an assistant at a pre-school. I can think of a dozen questions starting with "how?" for each of them.
Me, I build sheds. Big ones.
Apart from being a topic of conversation, I'm hugely interested in how things work, and how people work. Fascinating.
Doesn't matter whether you own health clubs, mow lawns, build power stations, or an assistant at a pre-school. I can think of a dozen questions starting with "how?" for each of them.
Me, I build sheds. Big ones.
SidJames said:
Great topic.
Apart from being a topic of conversation, I'm hugely interested in how things work, and how people work. Fascinating.
Doesn't matter whether you own health clubs, mow lawns, build power stations, or an assistant at a pre-school. I can think of a dozen questions starting with "how?" for each of them.
That strikes me as just a more subtle version of the "Oh you work in IT? Can you fix my PC?"Apart from being a topic of conversation, I'm hugely interested in how things work, and how people work. Fascinating.
Doesn't matter whether you own health clubs, mow lawns, build power stations, or an assistant at a pre-school. I can think of a dozen questions starting with "how?" for each of them.
You're not interested in the person, just what they can offer you (in this case answers to your "How to...." questions)
Asking them why they chose to do what they do is far more interesting and engaging.
Crossflow Kid said:
Impasse said:
Q "What do you do?"
A "Nothing which defines me as a person."
Maybe think of a more interesting topic of conversation. Like the weather. Or which route they took to get there. Enquiring about a person's job is sometimes a cliché too far.
It's also seen as incredibly rude in some circles on the basis its questioning someone's social and financial standing.A "Nothing which defines me as a person."
Maybe think of a more interesting topic of conversation. Like the weather. Or which route they took to get there. Enquiring about a person's job is sometimes a cliché too far.
Anyone defined by their work is rather dull anyway.
SidJames said:
Crossflow Kid said:
Impasse said:
Q "What do you do?"
A "Nothing which defines me as a person."
Maybe think of a more interesting topic of conversation. Like the weather. Or which route they took to get there. Enquiring about a person's job is sometimes a cliché too far.
It's also seen as incredibly rude in some circles on the basis its questioning someone's social and financial standing.A "Nothing which defines me as a person."
Maybe think of a more interesting topic of conversation. Like the weather. Or which route they took to get there. Enquiring about a person's job is sometimes a cliché too far.
Anyone defined by their work is rather dull anyway.
Crossflow Kid said:
Yes, really. I'm talking those social circles that encompass people who never have and never will need to work for a living, hence asking what they "do" is seen as ever so slightly impolite.
Oh please!!!Get off your high horse mate.
Saying it's rude to ask what someone does is ridiculous. There isn't such a thing as a social circle where people never have and never will work.
Go to a function at the highest level of society and you exchange pleasantries then ask something along the lines of " So what do you do for a living"
It's an accepted thing to ask, not offensive or rude at all.
I love being asked as I work hard, most of my waking hours are spent at work so yes it defines me, it's who I am and I'm proud of it.
Thankyou4calling said:
There isn't such a thing as a social circle where people never have and never will work.
Go to a function at the highest level of society and you exchange pleasantries then ask something along the lines of " So what do you do for a living"
Maybe not in your social circles. Go to a function at the highest level of society and you exchange pleasantries then ask something along the lines of " So what do you do for a living"
Sorry, T4C, but that would be exceptionally rude. You should either already know what they do to pass the time and thus be able to engage them, or you should wait until that information is offered. But to ask that question is like licking your knife or taking the nose from the brie.
Thankyou4calling said:
Oh please!!!
Get off your high horse mate.
Saying it's rude to ask what someone does is ridiculous. There isn't such a thing as a social circle where people never have and never will work.
Go to a function at the highest level of society and you exchange pleasantries then ask something along the lines of " So what do you do for a living"
It's an accepted thing to ask, not offensive or rude at all.
I love being asked as I work hard, most of my waking hours are spent at work so yes it defines me, it's who I am and I'm proud of it.
I'm not on any kind of horse, but d'you really think titled aristocracy and landed gentry "work" for money? And you call me ridiculous?Get off your high horse mate.
Saying it's rude to ask what someone does is ridiculous. There isn't such a thing as a social circle where people never have and never will work.
Go to a function at the highest level of society and you exchange pleasantries then ask something along the lines of " So what do you do for a living"
It's an accepted thing to ask, not offensive or rude at all.
I love being asked as I work hard, most of my waking hours are spent at work so yes it defines me, it's who I am and I'm proud of it.
It's an accepted thing to ask because everyone has come to accept it but really, it's very, very uninspired and boring for both parties.
If someone really is shaped by their work and the hours they spend at it, it'll come out in conversation anyway without them being directly questioned about it.
"And what do you do?" is what people who think they know etiquette believe they should say at cocktail parties, a bit like mumbling "Pleased to meet you" in the presence of Royalty....to which the alleged response is "Of course you are, I'm the f
king queen"Anyway, why aren't you at work?
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 24th July 23:50
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 24th July 23:52
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