# A guessing game: What does Skald the Rhymer do for a living? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 6, 2006, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082 "2006-12-06T16:55:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082/1 "2006-12-06T16:55:21Z")
And no, “freelance writer” doesn’t count. I’m talking about the job that provides my health care, not the one that nourishes my spirit. The rules are simple. Basically we’re playing 20 Questions. I will answer any yes or no query related to the topic at hand, and we’ll see who’s first to figure out what I do to put beans on the table. One exception: I’d rather not discuss pay, except to say up front that it’s less than $50 K. Anybody want to play? ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082/2 "2006-12-06T17:00:43Z")
Do you work in an office environment, that is, your primary location and responsibilities are located indoors and related to the operations of a business? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082/3 "2006-12-06T17:06:55Z")
[QUOTE=Greenback] Do you work in an office environment, that is, your primary location and responsibilities are located indoors and related to the operations of a business? [/QUOTE] Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082/4 "2006-12-06T17:09:20Z")
are you a knowledge worker? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082/5 "2006-12-06T17:12:48Z")
[QUOTE=Winston Smith] are you a knowledge worker? [/QUOTE] You’ll have to define this term, please. I have a definition but it may not fit yours. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082/6 "2006-12-06T17:17:05Z")
IT, Consulting or management. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082/7 "2006-12-06T17:17:48Z")
Do you have a degree and it it directly related to your job? ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082/8 "2006-12-06T17:19:09Z")
Do you spend much of your day in one place (i.e., a desk)? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082/9 "2006-12-06T17:19:27Z")
Do you work in the private sector? ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082/10 "2006-12-06T17:23:47Z")
If the answer isn’t Evil Overlord or something to that effect, then my image of our beloved **Skald** is forever shattered. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082/11 "2006-12-06T17:25:00Z")
[QUOTE=Winston Smith] IT, Consulting or management. [/QUOTE] No. > [@](#): > > Do you work in the private sector? Yes. > [@](#): > > Do you have a degree Oui. > [@](#): > > and it it directly related to your job? Non. > [@](#): > > Do you spend much of your day in one place (i.e., a desk)? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082/12 "2006-12-06T17:27:07Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] If the answer isn’t Evil Overlord or something to that effect, then my image of our beloved **Skald** is forever shattered. [/QUOTE] That is not a question. Also, if I were Evil Overlord, Campbell Brown would be hosting the Today Show naked (and conducting interviews while jumping rope), while you would be employed in beating Ben Affleck with his own Oscar. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082/13 "2006-12-06T17:27:09Z")
Insurance. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082/14 "2006-12-06T17:30:16Z")
[QUOTE=An Arky] Insurance. [/QUOTE] [obtuse hat] Um…do you know what a “question” is? Or is that your guess? [/obtuse hat] ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082/15 "2006-12-06T17:38:03Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] That is not a question. Also, if I were Evil Overlord, Campbell Brown would be hosting the Today Show naked (and conducting interviews while jumping rope), while you would be employed in beating Ben Affleck with his own Oscar. [/QUOTE] Sorry, I consider myself properly chastised. Although beating Ben sounds intriguing… Back to the subject at hand, do you work directly with the public? ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082/16 "2006-12-06T17:45:45Z")
Do you primarily work with numbers in your job duties? ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082/17 "2006-12-06T17:47:07Z")
Is your job creative (i.e. art or advertising)? ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082/18 "2006-12-06T17:50:53Z")
Does your job primarily entail meeting the needs of clients? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082/19 "2006-12-06T17:59:26Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] Sorry, I consider myself properly chastised. Although beating Ben sounds intriguing… Back to the subject at hand, do you work directly with the public? [/QUOTE] You must define “directly” and rephrase your question. [QUOTE=Cabin\_Fever] Do you primarily work with numbers in your job duties? [/QUOTE] Nein. [QUOTE=Winston Smith] Is your job creative (i.e. art or advertising)? [/QUOTE] Nyet. [QUOTE=Spiff] Does your job primarily entail meeting the needs of clients? [/QUOTE] Si. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082/20 "2006-12-06T18:02:55Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] You must define “directly” and rephrase your question. [/QUOTE] Do your responsibilities primarily involve contact with outside customers/clients either by face to face contact or via telephone? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-guessing-game-what-does-skald-the-rhymer-do-for-a-living/383082.md?page=2)