• SirSamuel@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    Not the weirdest, but I didn’t realize this until it was pointed out.

    The fascination with work, and how one’s employment or career is tied to personal identity. It’s a basic conversation starter, “What do you do for work?” Not “What do you enjoy doing?” or “Do you have any hobbies?” or “Where do you go to relax?” Nope.

    What to you do for work.

    It’s a weird question that is tied up in judgement and classism. And it’s so normal here

    • Rekorse@sh.itjust.works
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      3 months ago

      Trevor Noah has a section about this in a recent standup. Something likei if you ask a European what they do they answer with hobbies, americans answer with their job title.

      • Kira@lemmy.today
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        3 months ago

        Just my experience from germany but when people ask what you do, you usually say what Job you have and where the Company is.

    • r0ertel@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      I’ve found this only to be true in white collar professions. Hanging out with blue collar people, your job rarely comes up, but it’s one of the first questions with white collar people.

      • Revan343@lemmy.ca
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        3 months ago

        It’s definitely true with blue collar workers in Alberta, or at least it was when I still socialized (guess when I stopped)

      • SirSamuel@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        I grew up blue collar and am still a tradesman. I technically live in the Midwest, but lots of Appalachian people. Of course my social circles include a vast swathe of socio-economic levels so you might still be right.

        I’ll have to watch closer to see if there’s a pattern

        I’d say your definitely correct when it comes to people with “low skill” or high turnover type jobs. If they work at dollar general or McDicks they don’t talk about work much. Also, there’s no such thing as a low skill job, and we all know who was essential and who could stay home for a few months