people always ask "what do you do for a living"?
I'm always tempted to say mortician just to see what the say.
2007-02-20 10:21:51 · 11 answers · asked by Lexy 6 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
They* say - sorry for the typo
2007-02-20 10:24:14 · update #1
Drives me batty too... I usually say "survive"...
2007-02-20 10:26:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
well most adults spend 1/3 of their day sleeping and another 1/3 of it working so.. i think its common sine you probably spend ALOT of time doing it they would like to know what it is you chose as a profession. When I meet people I dont really like I lie to them, I have been known to say I was the following which I in fact am not and never have been: A doctor, a hooters girl, a stripper, work at taco bell, a lawyer, or a cop. But its pretty fun to see the reactions when you say ANY of the above.
2007-02-20 18:30:15 · answer #2 · answered by ChrissyLicious 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Go ahead and give a stupid response, it could be an ice breaker. People ask that question because it is a way to size up a person and make some assumptions about them. For example if a 45 year old says he works at McDonalds cooking the fries, what do you automatically think about him? It is also a question that isn't to personal and wont offend anyone, unlike asking about sexual orientation or religion or political affiliation.
2007-02-20 18:28:52 · answer #3 · answered by 3B 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They're sizing you up for the kill!
I actually b.s. quite a bit so I don't have to go into detail of what I do. I tell them everything from lawyer to trust fund baby and just leave it alone. If someone doesn't have anything better to talk about than their work, they really aren't worth the conversation. Of course, it's going to come up at one point or another, but let it come up naturally as opposed to going right in for the kill.
2007-02-21 14:40:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We live in a meritocracy, and what you do for money very often defines you to shallow people. I like to say "What do you do", and leave off the last three words. It gives people the option of discussing their passions rather than their occupations if the two are exclusive.
People are usually much more interesting than their jobs.
2007-02-20 18:26:33 · answer #5 · answered by Year of the Monkey 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's because most people are bad at using small talk. It's a generic conversation starter. They have to come up with idle chatter to not seem like they are antisocial or dull. It's like talking about the weather.
2007-02-20 18:26:14 · answer #6 · answered by CrowsFeet 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because since they don't know you, what else are they going to ask? It's a given that "what do you do for a living" is going to be one of the questions asked. It's just conversation.
2007-02-20 18:25:51 · answer #7 · answered by Juicy Girl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Can't really get to know someone without knowing how they fill their time.
And instead of "mortician", say "Make-up Taste Tester".....that would leave 'em holdin' their hiney!
2007-02-20 18:28:20 · answer #8 · answered by ~The Medieval Islander~ 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i suppose to get to know a person better....to find out things you can't necessarily tell by just looking at them....
unless they're wearing a nurses uniform or a haz mat suit...
2007-02-20 18:28:11 · answer #9 · answered by shell92107 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i usually tell em im a grave robber LOL
2007-02-20 18:28:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋