# What do you do... really? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 16, 2006, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750 "2006-02-16T04:02:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750/1 "2006-02-16T04:02:09Z")
First of all, long-time lurker and new member here. I’ve pretty much grown up on the internet and I have to say I have yet to come across a community of such bright, helpful, and humorous people anywhere, either in cyberspace or real space. Y’all are really a stellar group of individuals. (and yes, I’m from the south and say y’all. That doesn’t mean I’m not sophisticated!) Now that that’s out of the way, I want to know what you do for a living - BUT - without using any pre-defined/pre-existing titles such as “Engineer” or “Sewage Quality Inspector”. I want to know what you do in terms of your contribution to society. So for example, I’m an unemployed writer so mine would go something like: I sit in my studio apartment fervently typing up stories that I want to give to the world so that it may share in my feelings of rapture and agony. OK, it doesn’t have to be so poetic. But you get the point. I don’t want to set a limit on length but let’s say the briefer the better. So what do you do REALLY? ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750/2 "2006-02-16T04:06:44Z")
I’m a surrogate husband only without the love or affection. ---
**Author:** ![Bike\_Rider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Bike\_Rider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bike_Rider)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750/3 "2006-02-16T04:16:39Z")
I play with numbers and schmooze with other numbers people so I can help an investment bank invest their huge pile of cash and turn it into a, ummm, “huger” pile of cash. > [@Rigamarole](#): > > OK, it doesn’t have to be so poetic. Hope that wasn’t too poetic. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750/4 "2006-02-16T04:19:17Z")
I’m a Contract Management Specialist. I make sure sure that insurance companies pay us according to the terms of our contract with them. ---
**Author:** ![Strinka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strinka/32/512_2.png) [@Strinka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strinka)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750/5 "2006-02-16T04:20:40Z")
I sit in classes and try to pay attention. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750/6 "2006-02-16T04:21:04Z")
> [@Bike Rider](#): > > I play with numbers and schmooze with other numbers people so I can help an investment bank invest their huge pile of cash and turn it into a, ummm, “huger” pile of cash. > Hope that wasn’t too poetic. I help protect Australia’s borders (and by extension, Australia’s people) from undesireables. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750/7 "2006-02-16T04:23:31Z")
I’m a lawyer. I make sure rich people exchange money, lots of money, with other rich people. Legally. And then everyone get richer. Except for moi because I work for the feds. Damn… ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750/8 "2006-02-16T04:23:31Z")
I didn’t mean to quote **Bike Rider** then. ---
**Author:** ![Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gut)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750/9 "2006-02-16T04:28:23Z")
I have play dates scheduled for me. Then I hang out and chat with people and play with markers and stamps. It’s a lot like being in kindergarten 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bike\_Rider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Bike\_Rider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bike_Rider)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750/10 "2006-02-16T04:30:07Z")
> [@1920s Style "Death Ray"](#): > > I didn’t mean to quote **Bike Rider** then. Thanks for the clarification. I was wondering if I was missing something due to lack of sleep. I promise I’ll try to be desirable if and when I try to enter Australia. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750/11 "2006-02-16T04:32:08Z")
I go to class and try not to fall asleep or goof off. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750/12 "2006-02-16T04:33:59Z")
I’m commissioned to do historical research and reports. It’s great being paid for something I love. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750/13 "2006-02-16T04:40:18Z")
I go to places and/or talk to people, then type words in order to explain why the people or events or places in question are interesting. Sometimes I have to take photos to go along with those explanations, but the pictures themselves are not generally all that interesting. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750/14 "2006-02-16T04:44:20Z")
I save people. From criminals, from burning buildings, from medical emergencies, and from themselves sometimes. for a hobby, I read things to people who then (usually) applaud wildly. ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750/15 "2006-02-16T04:50:21Z")
I draw metal boxes for computers on the computer. …and listen to music. …and play a lot of Minesweeper and golf. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750/16 "2006-02-16T05:01:28Z")
Right at this moment, I seem to spend most of my time telling jobseekers they are almost, but not quite, good enough to work for us. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750/17 "2006-02-16T05:30:41Z")
I program robots that make a mess when they work, and set things on fire when they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750/18 "2006-02-16T05:46:48Z")
I am disabled and so that means I am forcabily retired. I am an example of what happens to people who are stuck with a small fixed income and no options. Do not become disabled without a lot of money. There is no amount of money that equals a loss of health. _I used to get to fly, now all I can do is look up._ ---
**Author:** ![shamrock227](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@shamrock227](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shamrock227)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750/19 "2006-02-16T05:47:09Z")
Pick up your phone. Hear that diatone? I made it do that. Be nice to me - I can make it go away, too :eek: ---
**Author:** ![rwhbyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@rwhbyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rwhbyu)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750/20 "2006-02-16T05:53:03Z")
I sit in the lobby and make sure the building does not burn down… and make sure the network does not go down(usually involves SDMB). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-really/344750.md?page=2)