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People talk about what they value. People ask about work because in America the culture values work. It is not a matter of finding out if you do better than someone else. It simply is what Amerian culture values and we talk about what we value.
France values culture. It makes sense they would ask about that.
I think the OP is about as off base as one can get.
I don't mind if someone asks me what i do for a living, i don't want to answer 50 questions about it though because I leave my job behind when I'm off. Here is where I draw the line, when people ask how much I make, now that is rude and it's none of their business and that will end the conversation immediately.
I actually think it is quite silly that you think a question like that is rude. Perhaps someone is asking to start or continue the conversation or maybe they would like to get into the same profession and you could possibly point them in the right direction or guide them.
If you like France so much because they don't ask this question go back there then you are not annoyed or being treated in such a rude way and Americans don't have to lose sleep over being so rude and annoying to you.
It can be rude and gauging...For example in Orange County, CA I swear people followed a script when first meeting:
Person #1: Hi ____
Person #2: Hey ____
Person #1: Nice day we are having..what are you doing with it?
Person #2: Yeah were headed to the beach
Person #1: Cool, what do you do for a living that allows you to hit the beach on a Friday?
Person #2: I'm a douchebag
Person #1: What neighborhood do you live in?
Person #2: Blah blah
Person #1: Ohh I hear those schools are getting better there. Are you renting there?
Person #2: Blah blah
Person #1: What kind of car do you drive?
Person #2: Blah blah
Person #1: Cool you're in my kind of tax bracket, let's get the kids together one of these days.
Person #2: Let me check with the wife to see if she can verify your property records then we will see.
It can be rude and gauging...For example in Orange County, CA I swear people followed a script when first meeting:
Person #1: Hi ____
Person #2: Hey ____
Person #1: Nice day we are having..what are you doing with it?
Person #2: Yeah were headed to the beach
Person #1: Cool, what do you do for a living that allows you to hit the beach on a Friday?
Person #2: I'm a douchebag
Person #1: What neighborhood do you live in?
Person #2: Blah blah
Person #1: Ohh I hear those schools are getting better there. Are you renting there?
Person #2: Blah blah
Person #1: What kind of car do you drive?
Person #2: Blah blah
Person #1: Cool you're in my kind of tax bracket, let's get the kids together one of these days.
I actually think it is quite silly that you think a question like that is rude. Perhaps someone is asking to start or continue the conversation or maybe they would like to get into the same profession and you could possibly point them in the right direction or guide them. """
Oh brother! .."point them in the right direction and guide them"
"""If you like France so much because they don't ask this question go back there then you are not annoyed or being treated in such a rude way and Americans don't have to lose sleep over being so rude and annoying to you.
When Im on a sales call I always ask what the potential client does for a living. Different people buy for dcifferent reasons. If they say an engineer ( lot of em around here) I will take the time to explain all componants and how they work. A cop or a salesman would be bored if I did that. Their 2 main concerns are " how much and when can ya do it"
Perfect example of erroneously judging people by their occupations!!!!
Have you ever been out at a gathering with people you meet for the first time and everyone is getting along well and then someone asks "hey what do you do for a living??"
I find that to be rude. I read that in France you could go to a dinner party every other night with several couples for a year and NO ONE would dare ask what you do for a living. They would ask questions like what book did you read last, Or have you visited the Louve museum or some sort of museum or discuss the arts.
But why do we Americans have the tendency to do this?? I hired someone to do some work for me and that was one of the questions he asked me--I was immediately turned off. My reply was do you base your fee upon occupation??? He was silent. Very evident he didnt like that response. Its as if alot of Americans feel entitled to know what you do for a living as a way to size you up.
So then he says wow I never met someone so secretive about their occupation--Are you a top government official on an assignment. At that point I terminated his contract and taught him a very good lesson in professionalism. You are here to do a job, not attempt to pass judgement or size up your client.
What are your thoughts?? Anyone else find this question rude and annoying??
Because discussions about a person's occupation are very interesting. Everyone reads books, goes to museums, etc... but not everyone trains horses, or builds houses, or is in the military, works in a science lab, or stock shelves at a grocery store. Some of the funnies stories I have heard came from people and the strange adventures they had while they were at work.
Even that can be funny; relating stories about goofy interviews or a dysfunctional employment office employee. I have told an interesting thirty minute story about getting laid off and all the crap that led up to it and the crazy stuff after it.
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What do you do for a living--How Rude!!
