# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/81 "2012-12-27T15:21:00Z")
> [@Arrendajo](#): > > What are you going to do when your parents are dead? Inherit. ---
**Author:** ![minionkat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@minionkat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minionkat)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/82 "2012-12-27T15:32:42Z")
> [@Arrendajo](#): > > What are you going to do when your parents are dead? Become Batman. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/83 "2012-12-27T16:33:00Z")
If you’re serious about a career in social sciences, list three positions in that field you’d be interested in obtaining. To save us all time, I’ll just say that if you can’t name three positions, you’re not interested in a career in social sciences. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/84 "2012-12-27T23:37:44Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I am Russian, Jewish and part of “Jewish intelligentsia”. I know lots of people who can be described that way. Not one of them lives with his parents all his life. Don’t blame that on the culture. I came to USA in 1984 – among the few who came in early 80s. When did you come to US? ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/85 "2012-12-27T23:39:23Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Second, I said nothing about being grateful. I simply mentioned the fact that although the work those blue-collar workers (or blue color workers as you put it; spelling again) do is beneath a PhD such as yourself, they at least contribute something to society. Why should I contribute to this society? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/86 "2012-12-27T23:41:38Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > I came to USA in 1984 – among the few who came in early 80s. When did you come to US? 1. None of the kids in the families that came at that time that I know live with their parents past the age of college graduation at maximum. Not one. I left home and lived on my own at 18-19. And yes, I am close to my parents, and yes, they try to control me/help me when they think (incorrectly, usually) that they know better than me what’s good for me. But I am my own person and I decide what’s best for me and have been doing so since the age of 19 - 30+ years. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/87 "2012-12-27T23:43:09Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > Why should I contribute to this society? You don’t. You have to contribute to yourself. As in earn your money. Not whine that the society is not socialist enough to give you a living. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/88 "2012-12-27T23:46:38Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > You _want_ to be unemployed, so you get more than $500 a month spending money? > Or do you want to go back to school for a social sciences degree? I am ambivalent. I do not know. > [@chiroptera](#): > > It seems like you are approaching middle age, have long-term depression which is not being adequately treated, have always lived with your parents, never had a “real” job, have no friends and spent a shit load of time and money getting a PhD in a field that you’re not actually interested in. That’s the case. My assets consist of $60,000 student debt. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/89 "2012-12-27T23:48:24Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > 1. None of the kids in the families that came at that time that I know live with their parents past the age of college graduation at maximum. Not one. I left home and lived on my own at 18-19. And yes, I am close to my parents, and yes, they try to control me/help me when they think (incorrectly, usually) that they know better than me what’s good for me. But I am my own person and I decide what’s best for me and have been doing so since the age of 19 - 30+ years. Thank you. For a long time in 2006 – 2012 I mostly talked on Russian language forums. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/90 "2012-12-27T23:52:14Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > Thank you. For a long time in 2006 – 2012 I mostly talked on Russian language forums. Maybe that’s the problem. Although I obviously can speak Russian fluently, I can’t type it, I would have to hunt and peck, and have never once visited Russian language forums. Yes, in Russia/Europe kids often stay with their parents for a long time into adulthood, but it’s because of the economy/housing pressures etc. You’re not in Russia. You’re in the free world. Be free while it is still around. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/91 "2012-12-27T23:58:10Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Maybe that’s the problem. Although I obviously can speak Russian fluently, I can’t type it, I would have to hunt and peck, and have never once visited Russian language forums. Yes, in Russia/Europe kids often stay with their parents for a long time into adulthood, but it’s because of the economy/housing pressures etc. You’re not in Russia. You’re in the free world. Be free while it is still around. I type Russian via Apronus(?) Russian Keyboard. Actually the tradition is much wider then Jewish and Russian cultures – in most of Asia children with their parents for a long time into adulthood. Both the children and parents have benefits which they can not dispose. I have good living conditions and a lot of pocket money. But I hate mathematics, and I want to be in social sciences. ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/92 "2012-12-28T00:04:37Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > But I hate mathematics, and I want to be in social sciences. What do you want to do with social sciences? What are, for examples, three jobs in the social sciences area that you think you would enjoy doing? ---
**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 28, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/93 "2012-12-28T00:07:24Z")
It’s not typical Jewish here in the US to live with your folks. Go see a career counselor. They may be able to tell you what jobs today you’re qualified to do and which you easily switch to. My older sister completely changed fields from engineering to epidemiology (getting a PhD) around your age. My cousin was 40 with 3 kids and left behind her phd in psych to get an MD. If you want it, do it. Get real career advice and make a plan. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/94 "2012-12-28T04:12:34Z")
Come on guys. The guy clearly doesn’t want help. He’s just here to kill time at his crappy intern job. He’s not engaging in a hypothetical and is just picking at posts to snipe at. It isn’t even trolling because that would require more effort than he’s capable of. Seriously though. PhD and can’t find a job? Lives comfortably off the support of his parents and yet has massive amounts of student loan debts? Lived in American since… 1980 (which according to the timeline given means he’s been in America since he was 8-13) and isn’t fluent? Too many holes, too many issues. Just let him wallow in his alleged misery. You can’t help everyone especially those who can’t be bothered to help themselves. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/95 "2012-12-28T04:19:24Z")
> [@pancakes3](#): > > Come on guys. The guy clearly doesn’t want help. He’s just here to kill time at his crappy intern job. He’s not engaging in a hypothetical and is just picking at posts to snipe at. It isn’t even trolling because that would require more effort than he’s capable of. > > Seriously though. PhD and can’t find a job? Lives comfortably off the support of his parents and yet has massive amounts of student loan debts? Lived in American since… 1980 (which according to the timeline given means he’s been in America since he was 8-13) and isn’t fluent? Too many holes, too many issues. Just let him wallow in his alleged misery. You can’t help everyone especially those who can’t be bothered to help themselves. Yes, I’ve also come to this conclusion. He doesn’t really want help. He may need help, but until he chooses to articulate what it is he needs, I’m done here. I do with **CCitizen** the best, though. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/96 "2012-12-28T06:03:54Z")
I was going to be an orthopedic surgeon, but quit it all in my 40s and became an art teacher. I’m making less money, making less of an impression on women, making payments on a crappier car, but I’m also making myself deliriously happy. So I guess the big question is: Do you want to be happy? Looking at the decisions you’ve made so far, I’d say maybe not. ANYone would be depressed in your situation. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/97 "2012-12-28T06:33:08Z")
> [@pancakes3](#): > > He’s not engaging in a hypothetical and is just picking at posts to snipe at. It isn’t even trolling because that would require more effort than he’s capable of. Just talking about these issues helps me. Even if my situation can not be improved. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/98 "2012-12-28T06:36:30Z")
> [@digs](#): > > So I guess the big question is: Do you want to be happy? Looking at the decisions you’ve made so far, I’d say maybe not. ANYone would be depressed in your situation. Perhaps I do not want to risk losing what I have. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/99 "2012-12-28T07:01:14Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > 2 l8 4 that > > In other words, how can I discard all of the work I did over so many years? I do not know where to start. > > I am very much into Social Sciences. So look into Social Sciences jobs that need a good knowledge of Math. You any good at Stats? Most Social Scientists (Sociologists, Economists, Political Analysts) don’t really understand the first word about the stats they use day in and day out - which distributions to use when, how to design a poll or other kind of test, etc. And see a doc about the depression. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077/100 "2012-12-28T07:41:53Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > Perhaps I do not want to risk losing what I have. Goose eggs aren’t much to be proud of. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-u-succeed-on-a-job-u-hated/645077.md?page=6)