How do you feel about classifying people by their jobs?

Question

How much do our occupations really say about us? I feel very little. Yet in the UK people on TV (eg quiz shows) are always introduced by their job. "I'm Mabel, I'm 37 and I'm an office worker." Am I the only person who objects to this and feels it's meaningless?

Answer 1

Definitely meaningless! Some people naturally have had more opportunites than others and others don't necessarily want high powered jobs.

Answer 2

That so bugs me too, do they think it makes them a better person, I so hate it, personally I do not care what job anyone does as long as they are happy, I would not look down on anyone for having a job that others see as worthless or low down, I worked in a factory for 16 years and just loved it, the girls were great fun, if they had anything to say then it was said, no going behind any ones back and bitching, lots of support, we were all made redundant so I went to college to get some qualifications, I got a job at the local newspaper and just hated it, I have never come across a set of more two faced, bitchy people in all my life, they assumed everyone was beneath them and were really rude about everyone, if you didn't agree with the office bully you were sent to Coventry for the foreseeable future, I personally would never want to work in an office again, but in the same respect I would not look up or down to anyone no matter what their job was, everyone is as equal as I am.

Answer 3

I think people, in general, like to know your business. Not in a nasty way, but it's nice to know what Mabel is doing for a living. It may not say much about the person because the person might actually hate his/her job but it pays well. I think it would be a good idea to introduce them such as: This is Mabel, she's 37 and she goes white water rafting in her spare time. She's also a keen golfer and she likes to go to rock concerts with her two teenage sons... now that would tell me a lot more about this person and that she's got a wide circle of interests as opposed to middle-aged Mable who sits in an office every day, waiting for it to turn to 5 o'clock.

Answer 4

People work so long that their job becomes their definition, whether they like it or not. If they've worked full time for more than 2 years in the same place then I definitely think that their character is mostly their job. People simply don't have the time or energy to be anything more. It's pathetic and symptomatic of why the West is so vapid culturally. Think about it, you're spending 2/3rds of your waking time in your full time job. It is the greater side of your character.

It is meaningless, but, as I say, people don't have the time or energy to foster interests. That's why the British and American entertainment industry is so immediate.

Answer 5

I think it just fills a bit more time up, it's more interesting than Mabel, 37, I like cheese, but some gameshows do give little facts about people instead of what job they do, but perhaps people aren't all interesting, I find it funny when people go on with a job title like refuse disposal operative, which just means bin man.

Answer 6

I always thought this was a real American thing, when people meet for the first time they always ask ' what do you do ' .
I think a lot of people need to let you know they have a good job (or a job with a great sounding title ) because they are insecure and not that confident and they use their position to reaffirm that they clever and worthwhile, that they are a success.
In Ireland, one of the first question strangers ask is " where are you from"

Answer 7

Not sure what my job says about me. I am a bit of a proffesional drifter and a long term job for me is anything that lasts over a year. Also have done lots of temping jobs for various agencies so what does that say aboyut my personality.

Answer 8

What you do for a living says a lot about your personality. Theoretically, you wouldn't have a job you totally could not stand or had a moral objection to, right? It's just interesting to hear what people do with their time, IMHO.

Answer 9

Of course it's meaningless but it's the society we live in. I meet people as people and probably don't know what most of them do for a living. It's not important it's who they are not what they are that is important.

Answer 10

Council parking attendants would have to be placed in a category of their own..somewhere just below pond life. If you are too thick or just plain stupid to do anything else this is the job for you.