# Mind your own damn business **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 23, 2006, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200 "2006-01-23T03:05:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hoodoo\_Ulove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/58956e/32.png) [@Hoodoo\_Ulove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoodoo_Ulove)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2006, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200/21 "2006-01-23T16:25:30Z")
> [@Daithi Lacha](#): > > Out of curiosity, is it that \*you’re \* important, or your _job_ is important? Out of curiosity, is it that \*you’re \* idiotic, or your _question_ is idiotic? ---
**Author:** ![velvetjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@velvetjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvetjones)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2006, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200/22 "2006-01-23T16:25:40Z")
> [@you with the face](#): > > Try being a veterinarian and dealing with the “Why didn’t you go to med school?” question. > > “Because I’d much rather stick my arm up a cow’s ass.” Good answer. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2006, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200/23 "2006-01-23T16:31:24Z")
> [@Hoodoo Ulove](#): > > Out of curiosity, is it that \*you’re \* idiotic, or your _question_ is idiotic? Probably both, but I was just wondering if Antigen’s value is from who he (she? forgive me, please) is, or from the function that is performed. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2006, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200/24 "2006-01-23T16:37:31Z")
> [@Daithi Lacha](#): > > Out of curiosity, is it that \*you’re \* important, or your _job_ is important? I mean that the job is important. It’s a job that’s as important to patient care as medicine or nursing or pharmacology. And yet most people who I talk to about it seem disappointed that I’m not pursuing a medical degree. I like what I do, dammit! ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2006, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200/25 "2006-01-23T16:45:39Z")
I read it as “my role in this facility” is important, shortened to “I’m important”. I don’t think they are full of themselves, it’s just that they realize that they provide a vital service and want the person bothering them to take a second, soak in the realization, and let them be. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200/26 "2006-01-23T16:47:36Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > I mean that the job is important. It’s a job that’s as important to patient care as medicine or nursing or pharmacology. And yet most people who I talk to about it seem disappointed that I’m not pursuing a medical degree. I like what I do, dammit! I can appreciate that; I always hear compliments followed by, “… so why are you doing _this_ with your life?!?” This being a Data Entry Supervisor, as opposed to something with my Art Degree. I wasn’t trying to be a jerk with my question, really. ---
**Author:** ![Hoodoo\_Ulove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/58956e/32.png) [@Hoodoo\_Ulove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoodoo_Ulove)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2006, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200/27 "2006-01-23T16:52:30Z")
> [@Daithi Lacha](#): > > I wasn’t trying to be a jerk with my question, really. I wasn’t trying either, but I think I succeeded. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2006, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200/28 "2006-01-23T17:06:56Z")
> [@Hoodoo Ulove](#): > > I wasn’t trying either, but I think I succeeded. Sorry. Group hug! _sniff_ ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200/29 "2006-01-23T17:14:14Z")
> [@Zabali\_Clawbane](#): > > **threemae** is **antigen** ’s spouse/relative? 😕 Why are you addressing **threemae** as **antigen** , **kiz**? 😕😕😕 I believe **threemae** ’s quote is being seconded rather than being the addressee. ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200/30 "2006-01-23T20:50:13Z")
> [@Homebrew](#): > > I believe **threemae** ’s quote is being seconded rather than being the addressee. That’s how I read it, too. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2006, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200/31 "2006-01-23T22:45:11Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > I had a long chat last week with the woman at work who keeps pronouncing my name wrong, even though I’ve been there almost two years now. The chat started out innocently enough. She’s a nurse, and was very interested to hear all about my medical technology internship in the hospital. I started telling her about how I got to see surgery, and autopsies, how the blood bank was stressful but exhilerating, and how bacteriology stinks but is still tons of fun. My voice was excited, I was smiling; it’s ovbious that I’m enjoying myself in the labs. I’m goddamn elated about what I’m doing, even if it’s difficult. 1. You opened yourself up to her very much. 2. She was interested in what you had to say. 3. She realized that you were in a GOOD mood. 4. She realized that you were quite valuable in the position you were in. And she overestimated your openess and candor when she asked a naive question even with an innocent innuendo that you could/should do better. She pratically patted you on the back, and you mistook it as a jab to your position. Cut her some slack already. I’m kinda in the same boat as you…I should have been in JPL, but I’m doing social service work instead…I just tell them, “I like what I’m doing, and I FEEL great contributing to society in this particular manner.” ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2006, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200/32 "2006-01-23T23:44:17Z")
> [@you with the face](#): > > Try being a veterinarian and dealing with the “Why didn’t you go to med school?” question. > > “Because I’d much rather stick my arm up a cow’s ass.” But you don’t _have_ to be a vet to do that, right? Right? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200/33 "2006-01-24T01:09:29Z")
> [@Yeticus Rex](#): > > And she overestimated your openess and candor when she asked a naive question even with an innocent innuendo that you could/should do better. > She pratically patted you on the back, and you mistook it as a jab to your position. > Cut her some slack already. Ok, I guess I overreacted to her question. I know she probably didn’t mean it badly; I was just feeling defensive. It’s just that I got that sort of thing so often when I first started this program, mostly because it was “a step back” to a career program after I’d just gotten my Bachelor’s degree. Months of “Why aren’t you trying for your Master’s degree? Why not med school?” I thought I was _done_ explaining myself. It’s so damn frustrating to have people telling you that you can do better, and trying to talk you into changing your mind about what you’re doing. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200/34 "2006-01-24T01:41:41Z")
> [@you with the face](#): > > Try being a veterinarian and dealing with the “Why didn’t you go to med school?” question. > > “Because I’d much rather stick my arm up a cow’s ass.” Actually, that sounds like a fine alternative to my next little task. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200/35 "2006-01-24T01:52:41Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > But you don’t _have_ to be a vet to do that, right? Right? 😃 Nope. [Not if you’re prepared.](http://www.kvvet.com/KVVet/productr.asp?pf%5Fid=80425&gift=False&0=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D198%26Tree%3D%2CComplete%20Catalog&1=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D125%26Tree%3D0%2CLivestock&2=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D156%26menu%5Fid%3D%26Tree%3D1%2CDisposable%20Boots%20%26%20Gloves&HSLB=False&mscssid=FE2C3B32CE43402D8A9A9568AAE183B1) ---
**Author:** ![ladybug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@ladybug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladybug)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200/36 "2006-01-24T01:58:45Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > It’s so damn frustrating to have people telling you that you can do better, and trying to talk you into changing your mind about what you’re doing. But you said that you like what you’re doing, right? That’s all that matters. One of my uncles constantly criticizes me for working as a legal journalist rather than practicing law at a big, prestigious firm. I tell him that I wouldn’t be happy in a firm – I’ve seen many lawyers my age who are burned out after two or three years. Besides, I tell him, I love to write. His answer is always, “Who cares? Do you know how much money you’d make?” At that point I usually just bite my tongue and visualize his head exploding. There will always be people out there who ask questions about your career choice. Many of them are well-meaning or curious (I suspect this is the case with your coworker). Others are money-hungry social climbers like my uncle. But regardless of their motivation, don’t let it get you down. It’s much better to have a job that you enjoy than to take unsatisfying work just to fulfill someone else’s expectations. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200/37 "2006-01-24T02:03:13Z")
Wait, wait, wait… A _nurse_ can’t pronounce “antigen”? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200/38 "2006-01-24T02:07:03Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Wait, wait, wait… > > A _nurse_ can’t pronounce “antigen”? Tell me about it. 🙂 Actually, my name is Jen, but she calls me Jane. I just can’t figure that one out. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200/39 "2006-01-24T03:09:25Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > But you don’t _have_ to be a vet to do that, right? Right? 😃 “Because I’d much rather stick my arm up a cow’s ass” is my stock answer for everything now. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200/40 "2006-01-24T03:13:02Z")
And because I hit “submit” too soon, I forgot the rest of what I was gonna say. Oh well. :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-your-own-damn-business/341200.md?page=3)