Why don't people want to say what they do for a living?
Discussion
I try to avoid it, especially in social situations, because 9 times out of 10 the person who asks then makes a big song and dance about talking to an estate agent. "Ooooohhhhh not one of them, a bloody estate agent. Who sat me next to the estate agent?! lololololol".
The "job shaming" (I sound like I read the Guardian now) then ends up in a long conversation about property before them asking me how much I think their house is worth.
The "job shaming" (I sound like I read the Guardian now) then ends up in a long conversation about property before them asking me how much I think their house is worth.
For some cultures, your or your familys occupation are like 20" alloy wheels - to impress the neighbours if the occupation is deemed worthy or not spoken about if not. For instance Indians love to brag if their son/son-in-law is a doctor.
At University we we're doing a sociology module and the discussion was our parents occupations purely to illustrate diversity. Everyone replied apart from one Chinese student who simply said: "They are in business" and refused to elaborate. Everyone thought this was a little weird.
I later found out from another Chinese student that the other Chinese students parents were farmers (literally rice paddy type smallholding) in Hong Kong. Technically as farmers they are "in business" but no-one would have cared whether they were nuclear physicists or farmers. TBH I was more impressed that the parents worked hard to send him overseas to study.
At University we we're doing a sociology module and the discussion was our parents occupations purely to illustrate diversity. Everyone replied apart from one Chinese student who simply said: "They are in business" and refused to elaborate. Everyone thought this was a little weird.
I later found out from another Chinese student that the other Chinese students parents were farmers (literally rice paddy type smallholding) in Hong Kong. Technically as farmers they are "in business" but no-one would have cared whether they were nuclear physicists or farmers. TBH I was more impressed that the parents worked hard to send him overseas to study.
I don't bother listing my job because I've always worked to live, rather than lived to work. If I'm not even that enthused by my work why would I want to discuss it with anyone else?
PH is ostensibly a motoring website based around a shared enthusiasm for cars and motoring and I suppose that's how I see it.
I've also mainly worked in an industry which people assume they have some understanding about, but in reality they really don't, so any conversation is usually pretty fruitless with the vast majority of my responses being "Well, it doesn't really work like that actually..."
PH is ostensibly a motoring website based around a shared enthusiasm for cars and motoring and I suppose that's how I see it.
I've also mainly worked in an industry which people assume they have some understanding about, but in reality they really don't, so any conversation is usually pretty fruitless with the vast majority of my responses being "Well, it doesn't really work like that actually..."
I own a groundwork company, when talking to birds i normally make something mundane up, the reason? I dont want them to think i have money and secondly they havent got a clue what it is and i have to admit "I own diggers" 
I have a mate who's a fire fighter too, he never admits it to birds and always claims hes a builder - a bit odd.
I have a mate who's a fire fighter too, he never admits it to birds and always claims hes a builder - a bit odd.
If someone asks me I say "Enterprise Technologist; Data Centre Power & Cooling" at which point they glaze over & change the subject.
But if I say I work for Dell I get the "what laptop should I buy" & "Can you fix my PC" which as I do not & never have done desktops won't be of any help to them.
But if I say I work for Dell I get the "what laptop should I buy" & "Can you fix my PC" which as I do not & never have done desktops won't be of any help to them.
turbobloke said:
"What job do you do?" is just as bad as "what car do you drive?" or "what newspaper do you read?". There's a subtext nine times out of ten and it assumes one car, one 'job' and one newspaper. Not giving a precise answer could well be no more than a case of CBA.
Anyway, in keeping with the spirit of the OP - coronation flag seller. The work is a bit uneven but the holidays are great.
Yes, one step awa from asking how much someone earns.Anyway, in keeping with the spirit of the OP - coronation flag seller. The work is a bit uneven but the holidays are great.
Try having an interesting conversation instead.
Ganglandboss said:
Snozzwangler said:
Mine is just a pain in the arse to explain.
Rent boy? 
Apparently I'm not supposed to share details about my job including what it actually is, in case I become a target for coercion/bribery and all that crap.
Which is odd as it's a really boring job.
Yawn.
Major Fallout said:
My reply is always.
" You know, I have no bloody idea? But people keep asking me, I think I should make something up?"
" Shall I tell them I work in a zoo? Could I pass as zoo keeper?"
Do people turn around and walk off at this point? Seems like a lot of effort to go to in order to come over as having no sense of humour...?" You know, I have no bloody idea? But people keep asking me, I think I should make something up?"
" Shall I tell them I work in a zoo? Could I pass as zoo keeper?"
Snozzwangler said:
Ganglandboss said:
Snozzwangler said:
Mine is just a pain in the arse to explain.
Rent boy? Apparently I'm not supposed to share details about my job including what it actually is, in case I become a target for coercion/bribery and all that crap.
Which is odd as it's a really boring job.
Yawn.
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