When did this change happen?

I generally don't live in the past, but one thing I've noticed--
when you meet somebody for the first time and ask what they do, they always tell you what their job is. Fine if you're an artist or craftsman or anything else that is really interesting to the person doing it, but people answer that way even if they hate the job. Older people, younger ones, it seems to be everybody who does this.
Am I remembering wrong? I seem to recall people saying, I'm really into music or books, or I love nature, or something that referred to the interests they have, not what they did to earn a living.

 

I think a lot of it comes from people having no real lives any more. They work their jobs, eat dinner, watch tele, sleep, and repeat same day after day. On a Saturday they take the family shopping in shops that everyone else shops in, Sunday have a lie in and read the newspapers to get their weekly dose of what they should be concerned about from the machine that controls them.

Essentially the only thing that differs in their lives from others of their ilk is their sad little jobs, that's why they answer like that.

Sad that society has come to this.

 

Ohhhhhhhh fuck

 

Ohhhhhhhhh fuck you may say but it is the truth!

 

Do Not Be Alarmed, The Above Post Does Not Apply To Anyone Living On The Northern Coast

Of Tasmania....



Cheers Glen.

 

Lol true Glen, we're just excited about this whole new internet thing.

 

Hahaha

 

I hate that. I get it all the time, when you meet someone for the first time they always ask- so what do you do then? What's your job? What kind of a career did you choose in your life that now defines you as a person?

And for me the answer is no so straightforward, because I have had many different jobs in my life, few of which have made me happy and most of which have just gotten in the way of other more interesting pursuits and aspirations.

 

Now that would be a satisfactory answer to 'what do you do?'

 

yep i,m so tired after work, don,t have e to do anything more. sucks

 

That's funny I came across this today...my dude and I met a cool couple the other day, they were so hell bent on what we did for a living, I work in sales and my dude installs cable, we have a great income..but I hate starting off like that...then all you do is talk about work, and try to relate...I try to leave the whole, what do you do for a living thing and age out of the convo...I don't want to be just labelled as oh, that girl that works in advertising..I'm much more than that, and I don't really dig being labeled because of my job..

 

I'm happy to say that nobody's ever asked me what I do!!!! Perhaps I'm just obviously a lost cause!

 

Those of you who hate your jobs and don't want to be "defined by it", should probably think about making a change instead of bitching about it.

 

Neither of us hate our jobs...I actually love my job and enjoy going to work every day. In these days, I'm grateful that I have a job! I just don't like talking about work work work all the time...I'd rather get to know someone by talking about what kind of music they like, books they've read, places they've seen...not just, "So, what's new at the office?"

 

Out of curiosity, what do you do?

 

I reply with "When?"

 

I’ve noticed the same. However, I remember few, when asked, “What do you do”, responding by saying anything other than what they do for a living. They think that is an answer to the question asked – and logically so – since too many times, it is. Remember “To Tell the Truth”? At the end of each round, there was always the question to the “imposters”: “What is your real name and what do you do?”

Too many have made a life of a job they do not enjoy or even hate. I’m lucky (so I’m told) in that respect since I truly love doing what I do to earn a living. I still have job or “career” related frustrations and disappointments, but those are offset by personal satisfaction of doing the job to the best of my ability. And, I still have other interests which are not work related in any way and friends that have jobs much different and not related to mine.

 

So many seem to believe that having more means a better life – failing to realize that a simple life leaves more time for real living. For those, “the machine that controls them” is within.

 

Sound advice !! :2thumbsup:

 

I've noticed this too. I'm not old, but when people ask me what I do I usually start talking about how I like to hike and camp, or how I like making machines and electronics. I only recently realized that this made some people assume I was unemployed, or that I was a park ranger. My job is working in a materials testing lab, but that's not what I think you're asking when you say "what do you do?". It probably is the time thing, most people work, watch tv, eat and sleep.