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'What do you do?' Being defined by your job

TheCatWoman

I dread this question when meeting people for the first time, what do I say? I'm not working and haven't for a while due to all my health probems ganging up on me, so do I say that, (usually) do I say what my last job was, self employed hairdresser, what my current and over riding interests are gardening, cooking and history, so should I say I'm a gardener, a cook or an historian? Do they count as I'm not paid for any of them. Or should I say that I'm a human being rather than a human doing?

Why is it so important to NT's to know what work you do, what your profession is so as they can decided whether to talk to you or at you or walk away and ignore you? The only equivalent I can think of for ND's would be 'whats your special interest?'

What do you say when asked this question? 

Do you conform and say what your paid work is/was? 

How do you feel about having to play this game?

Does it put you off socialising?

Parents

  • The key to avoiding the over use of the dreaded "what do you do?", according to Chris Colin and Rob Baedeker, authors of "What to Talk About: On a Plane, at a Cocktail Party, in a Tiny Elevator with Your Boss’s Boss", is instead ...to ask an open-ended question such as:

    What are you most passionate about?
    What do you like to do?
    What’s the best thing that happened to you today?
    What are you most excited about right now?
    What are you working on?
    If money were no object, what would you do with your life?
    What do you do for fun?
    What’s something you’re really into right now?
    What’s the most interesting thing that’s happened to you lately?
    How do you feel your life has worked out so far?
    What was the best part of your week / weekend?
    What did you want to be when you grew up?
    What are you looking forward to right now?
    What’s the last picture you took on your phone?
    What is your favourite thing to spend money on?
    What’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said about you?
    What habit or improvement are you working on?
    What cheers you up?
    What’s your favourite word?
    What cause are you passionate about?
    What’s on your mind lately?
    What personal habit are you proudest of?
    How do you spend your days?
    What problem do you wish you could solve?
    What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned recently?
    What’s your favourite emoji?
    Whom in the world would you most like to share a meal with?

    Maybe someone would do the World a favour - by printing a t-shirt with such a list down the front ...to provide a suitable prompt for the uninspired folk as they approach people!

  • in reply to DormouseAtRest_25

    I don't use emojis, I can hardly see them and I dont' uderstand what they mean unless its really obvious like a smiley face. If I told someone the most interesting things I'd learned in a day I'd go on so much I'd bore the pants off them. I don't take photos either.

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  • in reply to DormouseAtRest_25

    I don't use emojis, I can hardly see them and I dont' uderstand what they mean unless its really obvious like a smiley face. If I told someone the most interesting things I'd learned in a day I'd go on so much I'd bore the pants off them. I don't take photos either.

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