Not What I Do
Tagged as: Jul 05Do you ever think that so much of the time, conversations with other people consist of talking about what you do? Whether that means talking about what is going on in school, your current job situation, events that you’ve gone to, and so on, it’s always rather based on past experience.
And do people read into it and see who you really are? Well probably sometimes they do. Nevertheless, it’s very likely that only your closer friends can actually talk about other things.
When you talk to someone and you have to tell them what you do for a living, you know it’s not going to be a mind-blowing conversation. Especially if it’s because you broached the subject after running out of other things to say. It’s even worse if you have to talk about the weather.
Great observation! You always have to go through your “history” with people first. I travel quite a bit for work and depending on the mood, I sometimes end up speaking with the person next to me on a flight. I generally don’t ask them what they do for a living or I try not to. Usually I’ll ask if they are traveling for business or personal reasons.
I rarely get into what I do into any detail. Like you say, it’s not going to be a mind-blowing conversation. The few people who start talking about their work LOVE their work and identify with it. Which I think is a different thing and a wonderful thing. I tend to ask about family or books they’ve read, things like that.
I’ve met many interesting people in my travels and yeah, not asking about what they do gives me a much better picture of who they are.
@Ms. Q
Your ideas about trying to avoid the topic seem like good ones. If one is unaware, it is so easy to fall into the same old trap!
thanks for talking to me about real stuff tonight. i really appreciate your listening ear. not your laughing mouth! hahahaaha.. you’re great, derekson! thanks!!
you don’t call me back! how sad =P
hows the weather over there? where do you live again?
@tiff
Well I’m glad that I’m not a total waste to talk to. I must admit that I likely laugh at more than I should. But I must also admit that sometimes things are just funny.
@kelly
I suppose that’s true, but you also don’t answer the first time that I call!
@daniel
Haha it’s a little hot actually. Why don’t you just ask what I do for a living?