Why don't people want to say what they do for a living?

[Thankyou4calling]

Whenever I ask someone they seem evasive and not want to say what their job is.

It's always "I'm a businessman"

Yes but what business?

"All sorts"

Ahhh what specifically?

"This and that, you know I'm in business"

Are people ashamed or embarrassed ?

I just find it odd.

[Thankyou4calling]

Al U said:

Yes. They think whatever they trade in is dull. Either that or they are in the business of working for someone doing a generic job. I notice you are a company director, what do you do for a living?

What do I do?

You know, this and that, ducking n diving. Import and export mostly buying and selling.......stuff....anything. I buy and sell!

Actually I own and manage a group of Health Clubs.

[Thankyou4calling]

Al U said:

Cool, are you overweight?

I am the perfect weight for a man of 7ft 5.

Unfortunately I'm 6ft 5! ;)

[Thankyou4calling]

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.

[Thankyou4calling]

Countdown said:

I think everybody on PH is 6ft 5"

But I AM 6ft 5"

And of course powerfully built, a multiple director of several thriving companies (and several not so thriving)

But no goatee :-)

[Thankyou4calling]

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]

whoami said:

This thread is quite an eye opener.

In what way Whoami?

[Thankyou4calling]

R8Steve said:

The irony of this thread is that the OP overlooked this question and didn't answer it.

I didn't overlook it. I never saw it!

I own three franchised budget Health clubs and three independent, premium clubs.

Wanna join?

[Thankyou4calling]

Monkeylegend said:

Didn't notice it till you mentioned it

I saw a short documentary on pencil mfg some time ago, thought it was fascinating. One of the everyday objects we take so much for granted without realising what goes into the making of them.

I bet you are sick of people asking you if you have any lead in your pencil

Slight detour from the topic into the world of pencils. Somebody must buy them but I find a ready and free supply at both Argos and IKEA. They are a bit stubby but you can't complain :-)

[Thankyou4calling]

Love a good pencil. There used to be a museum in Keswick, it may still be there.

Couldn't be bothered to go though,

Probably had a descent gift shop though, lots of pencils I'd imagine.

[Thankyou4calling]

schmalex said:

My employer and our customers ask us not to disclose what we do.

Seems odd! What do you do?

[Thankyou4calling]

Blown2CV said:

99% of the people that are DV or in some way have a 'covert' career are actually just changing different values in a different spreadsheet. No one gives a fk. You're not James Bond.

Correct. If you really were "Deep undercover" you wouldn't be posting on PH.

People who say they aren't allowed to reveal their job will pretty much always have a boring job that they've been led to believe is top secret to make them feel important. Truth is they aren't.