# "I'm sorry I can't talk about what I do." **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 15, 2012, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579 "2012-01-15T06:25:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579/61 "2012-01-15T22:26:48Z")
I know a guy in CA who works for a NASA contractor. It’s probably not so secret now, but I was able to determine that he was involved with the artificial intelligence on one of the early Mars rovers. Mainly because after it was up there and roving, he’d let on to how his work was on it. But otherwise, discussing his work is a very short conversation. My work should be classified, but that concept doesn’t really come into play in publicly-held corporations. I work in bank security, and normally, I do not say precisely what I do or for whom, as people will otherwise be asking for “samples” of money, or bank wires, or how to break into an ATM. Generally I’ll just say that I do computer security. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579/62 "2012-01-15T23:29:27Z")
Capt. Ridley’s Shooting Party writes: \> How is there not much classified work at NASA? I didn’t say that there is no classified work at NASA. The point is though that it’s a very limited amount. Once again, look at what Justin\_Bailey wrote: \> I have two friends, one works for the CIA and one works for NASA. Per the \> contracts they signed, neither is allowed to say what they actually do. All they \> can legally tell people is “I work at NASA/the CIA.” I sincerely doubt either is \> doing spy stuff, it’s just a quirk of those organizations. The security at the CIA and at the NSA is very high. That is, everyone who might conceivably see classified material, including secretaries and janitors, has to have a top secret clearance. Even cafeteria workers have to have a lower level clearance to get into the building. On the other hand, the amount of classified work at NASA is much more limited. Even the majority of the most highly scientific jobs there don’t involve classified work. Only a fairly limited amount of NASA employees need any clearances. For that reason, I wondered if perhaps Justin\_Bailey had added an extra letter by mistake. Look, let’s wait until Justin\_Bailey answers my question. Did he mean NASA or did he mean NSA? ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579/63 "2012-01-16T00:18:26Z")
My husband’s cousin and his wife have both held many different positions in and involved with the government. They joke that they haven’t been able to ask “What did you do today?” for a good 10 years. I also just recently met someone who will say he’s a military intelligence officer, but obviously doesn’t discuss details. He’s mostly a paper-pusher. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579/64 "2012-01-16T03:59:19Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Can’t is often a substitute for “don’t choose to.” Don’t choose to leaves the door open for argument - can’t shuts it down. > > She’s probably a desktop support engineer who does want to come over to your house and eradicate that stubborn virus. Or a dermatologist who really does not want to see your rash right now. Or she does something most people find interesting and want to bug her about - driver for movie stars, can tell you want the features of the new iPhone are. So she could tell you in the most general sense, but you’d have a lot more questions she couldn’t say. I think that’s a good possibility. I know many people who work in law and health care who dodge the what do you do question because they don’t won’t people coming to them for free advice. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579/65 "2012-01-16T04:13:58Z")
When I was quite a bit younger, and quite a bit stupider, I gave Amway a shot. My sponsor’s group made a big deal out of not letting on that it was Amway until prospective recruits had attended the gee-whiz presentation. I went along with this, and since anyone you knew or met could be a prospective recruit, and any description of it would be giveaway, I wouldn’t tell people what my business was. To ice the cupcake, I was pretty darn clumsy at not telling people what my business was. No one guessed I was a spy. The ones who weren’t smart enough to ignore me figured I was a drug dealer. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579/66 "2012-01-16T04:14:26Z")
She’s a mime. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579/67 "2012-01-16T04:25:22Z")
“I can’t talk about what I do” - probably legit, barring obvious signs of mental abnormality. “I can’t talk about what I _did_” - especially WRT military service - almost always BS. ---
**Author:** ![kombatminipig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5ac83/32.png) [@kombatminipig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kombatminipig)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579/68 "2012-01-16T12:06:03Z")
I work with some sensitive information, some government stuff and some things coupled to NDAs with private customers. (I’d prefer not to mention exactly what I do, but that for my own personal privacy…though figuring out who I am IRL is really quite trivial). I have on the other hand no problem at all explaining what I do, in fact most of my work is open source. If prodded I’ll talk somebody’s ear off about whatever I work with which is public information…the stuff that isn’t is never asked about, because I never bother giving a hint that such information exists. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579/69 "2012-01-16T12:40:18Z")
I have friends who either work for government agencies or work for defense contractors. They cannot, under any circumstances, discuss exactly what their jobs entail. My guess is that whatever their work involves contains sensitive information, and I respect that. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579/70 "2012-01-16T13:33:45Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > When I was quite a bit younger, and quite a bit stupider, I gave Amway a shot. My sponsor’s group made a big deal out of not letting on that it was Amway until prospective recruits had attended the gee-whiz presentation. I went along with this, and since anyone you knew or met could be a prospective recruit, and any description of it would be giveaway, I wouldn’t tell people what my business was. To ice the cupcake, I was pretty darn clumsy at not telling people what my business was. > > No one guessed I was a spy. The ones who weren’t smart enough to ignore me figured I was a drug dealer. I once had an acquittance who tried to get a bunch of us to attend a meeting. I _think_ she referred to it as a business opportunity, but I don’t recall for sure. We all immediately started in on her: “it’s Amway, right”. Her - “I can’t say”. Us - “Sure, it’s Amway, or you’d just deny it.” Her - “Sigh… it’s Amway.” No one went, of course. I doubt her MLM career lasted long. Just how does one get people to come to a meeting when you won’t tell them what it’s about? ---
**Author:** ![KinkiNipponTourist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9bcb4/32.png) [@KinkiNipponTourist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KinkiNipponTourist)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579/71 "2012-01-16T14:13:34Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > I grew up in Huntsville, AL, where NASA and Defense Contractors are the dominant industry–especially twenty years ago. If your parent worked in an office, there was a good chance they couldn’t really talk about what they did. There, saying “I can’t talk about what I do” wouldn’t have seemed coy or like stealth bragging, just a simple statement of fact. Everyone was aware that those jobs were most likely boring. Hrm, I was born in Hunstville, AL, at Redstone. Next time someone asks where I was born, I’m going to say, “Sorry, I can’t tell you.” MUCH more exciting than “Uh, Huntsville, AL.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579/72 "2012-01-16T14:18:49Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Just how does one get people to come to a meeting when you won’t tell them what it’s about? An old schoolfriend invited us to a ‘party’. When we arrived, beers in hand, instead of a party we were sat down and politely watched a super-hyped-up presentation from Vegas on video, which meant nothing to us, and then the rest of the evening was him trying to recruit us to sell Herbalife. None of us saw or spoke to him again for twenty years. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579/73 "2012-01-16T14:25:13Z")
I’ve known a fair number of people who couldn’t give specifics of their jobs, largely because they were privy to technical or some other information that could have significant consequences if that information became public prematurely. For example, I used to work with a lawyer who specialized in high-value commercial real estate transactions. If he discussed his work on even somewhat specific terms, people could figure out what was going on. Citizens groups might use this information to mount a protest to block the deal outright, or one of the parties to the deal or some other commercial enterprise could use this information to their unfair advantage. By keeping his yap shut, the lawyer was doing what he needed to do to make sure that didn’t happen. Military spouses also have to be mindful of security. I’ve known some military spouses who had to be as closed-lipped as their husbands. If Airman is deployed, for example, I won’t say where he is or when he’s expected home. I will tell you that he is deployed and that he’s expected home in a few months, but that’s about it. Part of this is a holdover from my own days in the Navy, and part of this is because I really don’t want to be hassled. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579/74 "2012-01-16T14:25:41Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I once had an acquittance who tried to get a bunch of us to attend a meeting. I _think_ she referred to it as a business opportunity, but I don’t recall for sure. “Business opportunity” is the standard description. > [@](#): > > Just how does one get people to come to a meeting when you won’t tell them what it’s about? Some folks will give you the benefit of the doubt because they know you, and don’t suspect you would take them to an Amway meeting. Of course, those who have been fooled before are more wary. Then there are the slick talkers, sell-ice-to-the-Eskimos type, who are adept at persuading people to come. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579/75 "2012-01-16T18:11:30Z")
I wonder how many of those persuaded people got up and left when they discovered it was Amway. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579/76 "2012-01-16T18:15:14Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I wonder how many of those persuaded people got up and left when they discovered it was Amway. Not sure how many, but I did see some leave. They weren’t happy. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579/77 "2012-01-16T22:38:17Z")
One of the few legitimate uses for the Amway brand name: [here](http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff100/fv00014.htm) ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579/78 "2012-01-17T01:49:59Z")
Some of my projects are confidential, as in military or other gov’t agency confidential. They’re not super secret squirrel TOP SECRET or anything, but sometimes I truly am not allowed to talk about what I do. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579/79 "2012-01-17T14:49:12Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I once had an acquittance who tried to get a bunch of us to attend a meeting. I _think_ she referred to it as a business opportunity, but I don’t recall for sure. > > We all immediately started in on her: “it’s Amway, right”. > Her - “I can’t say”. > Us - “Sure, it’s Amway, or you’d just deny it.” > Her - “Sigh… it’s Amway.” > > No one went, of course. I doubt her MLM career lasted long. > > Just how does one get people to come to a meeting when you won’t tell them what it’s about? Some years ago I contacted an actual professional recruiter, who had previously landed me a legit engineering job, because I was looking for new employment opportunities. He asked me to meet him in person to discuss an opportunity he just happened to have. Me: “Is it engineering?” Him: “Not exactly, but we’re recruiting a lot of engineers to do this.” Yes, it sounded fishy, but the guy was a professional recruiter. I agreed to meet with him and was extremely pissed off when it turned out to be an Amway presentation. As to the OP, even if I’ve signed NDCs I can at least say I’m an engineer at Company X. I just can’t say what projects I’m working on. I would think anyone could at least identify their general field of employment, be it engineer, secretary, doctor, or just government contract. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579/80 "2012-01-17T15:45:32Z")
> [@Spectralist](#): > > Maybe they signed an NDA and aren’t sure whether they can even say what they do so just err on the side of caution. > > Or maybe they just don’t like talking about it and figure that’s the best way of avoiding follow up questions. In my experience “I don’t want to talk about it” either makes people even more nosy or offends them for some reason. Or their job might be classified in some manner and they literally are not supposed to talk about it. I’ve had jobs like that in the past. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-talk-about-what-i-do/609579.md?page=5)