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I didn't read all 9 pages of responses, so if the conversation has digressed my apologies, but my response is to the original question about being asked "what do you do".
Although the same has been said in the first page or two of replies several times, let me add to the chorus that this seems to be a fairly common ice-breaker question to me. I've lived pretty much in most major demographically defined areas of the USA(North, South, East Coast, West Coast, West, etc...) and this seems like a pretty common thing to ask someone.
It's like the cliche' of "what's your major" in college when you really don't have anything else in common to chat about yet
In the past, when I explained in great detail to a new neighbor my line of work, I've witnessed the results. About two years ago I shared with a neighbor my line of work upon meeting them. They guy acted friendly enough but then went in his home and forgot his front window was wide open. I heard him yell out to his wife. "You're not going to believe this hun, there is a (Fing) cop living next to us, just great, a (Fing) pig next door." It did not hurt my feeling, but I admit, it strained the relationship I had with this neghbor and a few others, due to him rumor mongering. I have thick skin and actually got a kick out of it, but it did create problems. This neighbor worked in a respectable medical field and was highly educated. Again, I am not a "cop" but do work in a Law Enforcement capacity. I decided to keep my line of work to myself from then on just to make things easier and less messy. It is my choice and one I live by. If you ask me, you will get a very generic and vague answer, if you press from there, you might end up thinking I'm a bit rude or secretive and that is fine with me.
Well, sounds like this guy is a (Fing) jerk :-/
I guess you could always say "I work in law enforcement, though I'm NOT a cop..."
Everyone everywhere asks this question. When you're hanging out with someone you have no idea about, it's an easy question to get conversation started.
I don't ask b/c of 'status' or whatever. I just figure if someone spends most of their day doing something, it may be important or interesting to them and they will talk about it. Then you can usually easily seg to some other topic. Plus, I find people's work fascinating and I've learned a lot by asking that question.
I was brought up that asking that would be a very nosey and inappropriate question. Funny b/c again this gets back to when people here (or anywhere) think they have the "best" manners and that others are rude, it isn't that others are rude, it's just different "norms." So to me, when people in the South asked this I initially thought those specific people were very rude. Then I realized that it must not be considered rude in the South!
I don't ever ask it though. I just can't bring myself to do it. It was so engrained on me that a personal question like that is terribly rude. I will answer when asked, but I just can't ask it.
I was brought up that asking that would be a very nosey and inappropriate question. Funny b/c again this gets back to when people here (or anywhere) think they have the "best" manners and that others are rude, it isn't that others are rude, it's just different "norms." So to me, when people in the South asked this I initially thought those specific people were very rude. Then I realized that it must not be considered rude in the South!
I don't ever ask it though. I just can't bring myself to do it. It was so engrained on me that a personal question like that is terribly rude. I will answer when asked, but I just can't ask it.
I have had over 6 private messages from those who claim to have been born and raised here telling me the same thing. They said a true southern born person would never be so forward and ask such personal questions of a person they just met. I guess this thread is more ban wagon playing then anything? I don't know, but many here presented their feelings, just not on this thread.
Nope, just "raised". Your parents "raise" you, they don't "raise you up".
I have heard that it is correct to say that you rear your children. However, in these parts, we raise our children. It is pretty easy to tell when they ain't been raised proper!
Carolina Cowboy... If a new neighbor came and introduced theirself
to you what would you use as a conversation starter??
Maybe, in lieu of the old salt mine inquisition, something less invasive:
"How old are you?"
"How much do you weigh? What are you doing about that?"
"How 'bout that Obama/McCain?"
"Your kids always been that homely?"
"Ever considered implants?"
"How often do you handle the snakes at church?"
"Ever been probed by the aliens? I have. Have you?"
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