# Could U succeed on a job U hated? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 25, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077 "2012-12-25T00:22:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/41 "2012-12-25T20:17:05Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > And frankly, you’re not exactly the ideal stalker target (38-43 year old PhD in math and/or statistics who still lives with mom). Lol ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/42 "2012-12-25T20:21:35Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Which is why no one knows that I am actually a fifteen-year-old girl living in Hoboken. > > (damn) z=|(43-15)/5|=5.6; P – value=2.4425e-015 I am very unlikely to be 15, and I am a man ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/43 "2012-12-25T20:34:38Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > Does that mean all these years have been wasted? No, it means you do not use the act you’ve already put in money/time to justify not changing paths. That money/time is gone no matter what. Choosing a new path should not be vetoed because you’ve already spent the time on something else. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/44 "2012-12-26T03:01:02Z")
> [@Harvey\_Ferguson](#): > > This guy sounds like a well known troll that posts on a Canadian sports forum that I read. Same guy I wonder? Accusations of trolling is not allowed in this forum. If you wish to call someone names, take it to the BBQ Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/45 "2012-12-26T03:06:50Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > z=|(43-15)/5|=5.6; P – value=2.4425e-015 Hmm…what does that “ **C** ” in **CCitizen** stand for? “Cyborg”? ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/46 "2012-12-26T03:12:39Z")
What are you going to do when your parents are dead? ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/47 "2012-12-26T05:21:14Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Accusations of trolling is not allowed in this forum. If you wish to call someone names, take it to the BBQ Pit. Thank you – I am sensitive to flames and insults. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/48 "2012-12-26T05:22:19Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Hmm…what does that “ **C** ” in **CCitizen** stand for? “Cyborg”? California. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/49 "2012-12-26T05:30:11Z")
You have a PhD in Math and interested in social studies. You know, math is a pretty useful tool that most people don’t understand very well. You are, shall we say “fluent” in math versus most people that don’t “speak” math. Did you ever consider something like using statistical models for social studies? Nate Silver and 538 might be a role model. You can use math as a tool to work on the stuff that interests you. Armchair doper analysis, but seems like the depression is the bigger issue. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/50 "2012-12-26T05:31:19Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > California. Congratulations. I understand the California passports are particularly stylish. **Idle Thoughts** , don’t suppose there’s a “rubbing it in our faces” exception to that rule? ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_Ferguson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/97f17d/32.png) [@Harvey\_Ferguson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_Ferguson)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/51 "2012-12-26T14:18:34Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Accusations of trolling is not allowed in this forum. If you wish to call someone names, take it to the BBQ Pit. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/52 "2012-12-26T14:52:12Z")
What do the Jewish intelligensia _usually_ do in such circumstances? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/53 "2012-12-26T14:59:02Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > What do the Jewish intelligensia _usually_ do in such circumstances? I wish I knew what that was and how I get a membership form. Was it like Hogwarts and I would’ve just gotten a letter? Bummer. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/54 "2012-12-26T15:27:34Z")
No idea about the so-called “Jewish intelligensia” but I thought the stereotypical Jewish mother wants to see her son succeed on his own, so that she can brag about his achievements to all her friends. Also, get married and provide her with grandchildren. (Although really that’s true about all mothers, not just the stereotypical Jewish ones.) Not remain into his late 30s or early 40s financially and emotionally dependent upon her. That’s nothing to brag about. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/55 "2012-12-26T15:47:50Z")
Skipping past all the angst and possible shadow-dancing, I think the answer to the question is an unqualified yes - millions of people succeed every day in jobs they hate. It may be the greatest tragedy of our time. Choose a career by the current salary projections or some other lame convenience, and spend 10-40 years doing something you loathe. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/56 "2012-12-26T15:55:35Z")
Actually, doing a job you loathe isn’t a problem as long as you manage to find fulfillment somewhere else. If your job sucks but pays well enough, perhaps it frees you to spend time on your hobby or other passion on the weekends, or to volunteer during your holidays. ---
**Author:** ![Diamonds02](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Diamonds02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diamonds02)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/57 "2012-12-26T16:32:15Z")
Yes, that job was U Haul. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/58 "2012-12-26T17:06:18Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > Skipping past all the angst and possible shadow-dancing, I think the answer to the question is an unqualified yes - millions of people succeed every day in jobs they hate. > > It may be the greatest tragedy of our time. Choose a career by the current salary projections or some other lame convenience, and spend 10-40 years doing something you loathe. I dislike math so much I am not even sure I **want to** suceed in it. I am not sure I **can** succeed. But I just pretend to work and do some assignments in order to keep getting pocket money. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/59 "2012-12-26T17:08:07Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > No idea about the so-called “Jewish intelligensia” but I thought the stereotypical Jewish mother wants to see her son succeed on his own, so that she can brag about his achievements to all her friends. My parents hope that I can become a high paid professional. But can I? Should I? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/60 "2012-12-26T17:16:09Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > My parents hope that I can become a high paid professional. But can I? Should I? If you’re already fortysomething and still living at home, they’ve probably given up on you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077.md?page=4)