4 thoughts on “Don’t ask me what I do, ask me what excites me”

1. Your post reminded me of one of the first things I learned when I became active in the Civil Rights Movement in the late 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. I refrained from asking the what-do-you-do? question when being introduced to minority folk. At that time (maybe still today?) minorities” jobs didn’t reflect their education or training or desires. Our sensitivities develop in our learning experiences (or maybe just years). Our antennae need to be set at all times.

   1. What sorts of questions did you ask them instead, Grammie?

2. This! Yes! It’s always bothered me that our default greeting in Western civilization is “what do you do?” I ask people to tell me about themselves. Or “what are you into?” If they choose to tell me about their job, so be it. But that’s their choice. I’ve given them the choice to answer how they feel best, not how society has dictated. Great post!

   1. Thanks Anthony, I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s one of my pet peeves, too (as you can see by the fact that I wrote this article :]).