People: What do you do for a living?
Me: What i want.
Oop
While acknowledging the truth of the original statement, sometimes it’s just cool to know what other people do. (I am a boring corporate drone, I am fascinated by people who aren’t.) That said, if you judge people as “less than” because of their job, you’re an asshole.
@elizabethgraves speaking the truth out here!!
I couldn’t agree more, you wouldn’t believe how often I get looked at like im trash cuz I work in the construction industry.
Somebody on medium had a very interesting take on this question. They weren’t being fully serious, but the take was interesting nonetheless. The article was called “How to Be Polite”:
Here’s a polite person’s trick, one that has never failed me. I will share it with you because I like and respect you, and it is clear to me that you’ll know how to apply it wisely: When you are at a party and are thrust into conversation with someone, see how long you can hold off before talking about what they do for a living. And when that painful lull arrives, be the master of it. I have come to revel in that agonizing first pause, because I know that I can push a conversation through. Just ask the other person what they do, and right after they tell you, say: “Wow. That sounds hard.”
Because nearly everyone in the world believes their job to be difficult. I once went to a party and met a very beautiful woman whose job was to help celebrities wear Harry Winston jewelry. I could tell that she was disappointed to be introduced to this rumpled giant in an off-brand shirt, but when I told her that her job sounded difficult to me she brightened and spoke for 30 straight minutes about sapphires and Jessica Simpson. She kept touching me as she talked. I forgave her for that. I didn’t reveal a single detail about myself, including my name. Eventually someone pulled me back into the party. The celebrity jewelry coordinator smiled and grabbed my hand and said, “I like you!” She seemed so relieved to have unburdened herself. I counted it as a great accomplishment. Maybe a hundred times since I’ve said, “wow, that sounds hard” to a stranger, always to great effect. I stay home with my kids and have no life left to me, so take this party trick, my gift to you.
I read an article recently that suggested we should stop asking people what they do for a living/for work/etc entirely, because thats a) abelist, to assume that everyone you speak to is still working, and b) puts the person in an awkward position if they are unable to work/are currently unemployed/have had to take time off work due to injury or illness/are retired/etc.
The article instead suggested that we should ask things like “and what do yoou spend your days doing?” Or something similar. This leaves the floor open for them to tell you what they do as a job, or, if they don’t work or don’t want to divulge what they do or don’t want to think about work for three minutes, they can tell you what they enjoy doing. What they spend their days doing when/if they’re not at work.
It achieves the same thing– it keeps the conversation going and it helps you get to know the other person a bit better, but it frames it more on their terms. They can tell you however much they’re comfortable telling, without feeling pressured or boxed in.
“So what do you get up to?”
