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Old 02-13-2016, 08:31 PM
 
16,372 posts, read 30,145,135 times
Reputation: 25422

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Quote:
Originally Posted by AlaskaErik View Post
You should tell all those people who want free advice that because of your conviction for embezzlement the terms of your probation prohibit you from performing any accounting related services. That should send them scurrying.

I live in YOUR neighborhood. The last thing that I want is to have all of my neighbors scurrying away from me, especially since I tend to be the person in the area who keeps some of the older people in the neighborhood away from the scammers.
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Old 02-13-2016, 10:37 PM
 
Location: Wasilla, AK
7,448 posts, read 7,539,643 times
Reputation: 16456
Quote:
Originally Posted by jlawrence01 View Post
I live in YOUR neighborhood. The last thing that I want is to have all of my neighbors scurrying away from me, especially since I tend to be the person in the area who keeps some of the older people in the neighborhood away from the scammers.

If I ever see you, I won't scurry away. I also won't ask for any advice since I majored in accounting and used to be a tax accountant.
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Old 02-13-2016, 11:55 PM
 
18,658 posts, read 33,264,641 times
Reputation: 37077
I have a friend who has always worked at a prestigious public TV station and also is well known for her documentary films. When people ask "What do you do?" she is always uncomfortable, because people tend to really value her answer and feel ashamed that they're not doing something so... wonderful. She says she prefers to ask people, "What have you been thinking about lately?" whether or not they're working. The answers are much more interesting and you can't pigeonhole someone on their thoughts.

I once tried this with a blind date, and it turned out great. We had a lot to talk about and later agreed that, had we started off by saying what we did for a living, both of us would have negated the other because of the answers.
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Old 02-14-2016, 04:18 AM
 
Location: Los Angeles area
14,017 posts, read 20,859,849 times
Reputation: 32530
Quote:
Originally Posted by Garthur View Post
I've been retired long enough now that I'm a little irritated when some one asked what I did for a living. When I have to fill out an information form they always ask what I did before I retired. I don't understand the importance of this accept to categorize me is some weird way.

Do I identify with my career after I have been retired for 15 years? NO, I have developed a new identity has a retiree.
Why would this irritate you? I understand that you do not identify with your career, and that is fine, but people ask questions either because they are interested to know more about us or to make small talk because they don't know what else to say. As long as the questions are not about private/personal matters, what is the problem?

If someone asks if you have hemorhoids, that is out of line. If someone asks questions about your finances, that is out of line. If someone asks about your religious beliefs, that is out of line. But asking where you are from or what you did for a living or what part of town you live in is just part of normal conversation, since those things are not considered secrets and are not considered embarrassing.

(Well, there might be exceptions, of course. I actually know someone who was a bag man for the mafia. He drove around the country with huge amounts of cash, delivering the cash and picking up other deliveries. In his case, I can see making up a different story and/or being irritated at having to answer. Or if one is in the company of upper class people and one had worked a lifetime as a custodian, I can see it might be embarrassing to say that. By the way, nothing is wrong with being a custodian - it is an honest and necessary job - but I understand the possible sensitivity.)
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Old 02-14-2016, 04:53 AM
 
Location: Tucson for awhile longer
8,869 posts, read 16,271,410 times
Reputation: 29229
I've had many, many different kinds of jobs having worked for pay since I was 13. But through it all, I've been a writer. Usually, I get paid for that work, sometimes I don't, but I've been a writer since my teen-aged years and I will think of myself that way until I die. That's what it says on my passport and my tax returns ... Occupation: Writer. There's no retirement from that.
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Old 02-14-2016, 06:47 AM
 
Location: Metro Seattle Area - Born and Raised
4,843 posts, read 2,011,862 times
Reputation: 8544
I spent 13 on Active Duty in the Army and another 13 years in the Army Reserve. I'm now a retired Army Reservist and carry an I.D. card stating that I'm retired. So, "I" still self-dentify myself as a retired American Soldier since that career is so deeply engrained into me.

ALSO, I'm a retired law enforcement officer and served 21 years in a law enforcement profession. I also carry another I.D. card and badge identifying me as a retired LEO, in order to legally carry a concealed firearm, So again, I also self-identify with my former law enforcement position as well.

Do I still plan and prepare for a deployment into a war zone? No. Do I still prepare to conduct the duties of a law enforcement officer? No.

Both of my careers have made me the person I am today and I'm very proud of my past service to my country and community and will always identify with the soldier and law enforcement officer traits that are forged deep inside of me and will be there forever. IMHO, I do not see this as being a bad thing for retirees to self-identify with ones past/former careers, if that is something you, as an individual choices to do or proud of. If not, no big deal.
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Old 02-14-2016, 09:37 AM
 
Location: Chicago area
18,754 posts, read 11,742,800 times
Reputation: 64097
I'm trying to forget about my working days and my job did not and does not now define me. It was just a way to make money. Nothing more.

I have a nurse friend that is 70 and hasn't worked in the field for a decade or more. She renews her license because "it makes me feel good." She carries an ancient I.D. with her as if she's still working. She also thinks that because she was a nurse once upon a time that it gives her free reign to self diagnose and dictate to her doctors the care she needs and to the vet for her dog as well.

We are polar opposites about our jobs defining us, but she's gone to the other extreme. Some of her doctors have told her not to come back. She's very sick now and that stubborn determination is just crazy, and does her more harm then good.
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Old 02-14-2016, 01:02 PM
 
Location: SW US
2,838 posts, read 3,174,363 times
Reputation: 5353
Quote:
Originally Posted by Escort Rider View Post
Why would this irritate you? I understand that you do not identify with your career, and that is fine, but people ask questions either because they are interested to know more about us or to make small talk because they don't know what else to say. As long as the questions are not about private/personal matters, what is the problem?

If someone asks if you have hemorhoids, that is out of line. If someone asks questions about your finances, that is out of line. If someone asks about your religious beliefs, that is out of line. But asking where you are from or what you did for a living or what part of town you live in is just part of normal conversation, since those things are not considered secrets and are not considered embarrassing.
I had to retire on disability in my late 40's, over 20 years ago. The disability was caused by negligence on the part of my last employer, a university. Frankly, I prefer not to think of that career which ended so abruptly and way too soon. It irritates me when people ask, because I do not like to talk about that whole experience, and have tried hard to put it behind me.
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Old 02-14-2016, 04:19 PM
 
1,844 posts, read 2,418,101 times
Reputation: 4501
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlaskaErik View Post
You should tell all those people who want free advice that because of your conviction for embezzlement the terms of your probation prohibit you from performing any accounting related services. That should send them scurrying.

LOLOL!!! Priceless!!!
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Old 02-16-2016, 04:32 AM
 
Location: Los Angeles area
14,017 posts, read 20,859,849 times
Reputation: 32530
Quote:
Originally Posted by Windwalker2 View Post
I had to retire on disability in my late 40's, over 20 years ago. The disability was caused by negligence on the part of my last employer, a university. Frankly, I prefer not to think of that career which ended so abruptly and way too soon. It irritates me when people ask, because I do not like to talk about that whole experience, and have tried hard to put it behind me.
Very understandable, and I don't blame you. I think your case is one of the exceptions. But in the absence of unusual circumstances such as yours, I still think it's strange that people would be irritated to be asked what they used to do.
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