This came up on Twitter recently and I actually LOLed (I’m not directly in games anymore, but doing similar 3D graphics stuff, so this resonates)
I read a comment from a gamer saying a game “won’t be buggy” because “it’s a brand new engine” and this, I believe, is a perfect example of dramatic irony in the classic, theatrical sense of the term.
https://twitter.com/lizardengland/status/1668400491708010497
(edit: no Twitter previews anymore either boo bad Cecil, or bad Elon 
)
Management consultants are often described as “stealing your watch to tell you what time it is”. That’s utter nonsense. Mostly we just come up with pretty Powerpoint decks to provide you with an abstract framework for determining what time it is. We don’t even need to steal your watch!
Now that I’m full time on YouTube, it’s: “It’s not work. All you do is upload videos. I can’t believe you get paid for this.”
Reality: For each minute of published video content, there is on average, about an hour of work in various aspects of research, planning, scripting, preparation, recording, editing, production. Sometimes less, sometimes a lot more, but on average, an hour per minute, not including platform/channel management, communication, etc.
It’s work that in general, I love doing, more than anything else I have ever worked on in my life, I love my work, but it is still work.
Or their phone, or any printer, or home network issues, or smart home devices. I get it all the time from my family and friends.
I like riding dirt bikes. My current ride is a Husqvarna TX300. I’m a college graduate (Wesleyan, Summa). I’m 55 years old. My current riding buddies are an electrical engineer, a physical science PHD, a machinist, and the owner of a 50 employee landscaping company. We are not rednecks hell bent on destroying the landscape. Riding my bike well gives me a similar feeling to skiing deep powder. Don’t knock it unless you’ve tried it. Even the rednecks are doing because they enjoy it.
I’m retired. Many think retirees have nothing to do and we sit around at home watching Oprah and eating bon bons.
I’ve been busier than all get out.
My wife and I were getting in the car and discussion where we should go. On the radio, an advertisement for a catfish restaurant came on and right then and there that’s where we went. I don’t believe I’ve ever bought something I wasn’t already inclined to buy just because it was advertised, but I’ve certainly made decisions based on advertisements.
And the other thing is that in the real world, I have no doubt that not every user of math (eg physicists, chemists, engineers etc) memorize every formula. I’m also an instructional systems designer and in my world, facilitating training and performance standards, it’s basic bread and butter to apply critical thought to the need for closed-book vs open-book tests, as related to real-world job requirements.
I’ve read all of your responses and they are fascinating. It’s interesting how little we know of professions other than our own.
I spent many years as a radio air personality. (We do not like the term “disc jockey.”) I’ll admit, it’s a “fun” job, but it’s also hard work and the pay generally sucks. The things I would often hear:
“You have any easy job. You only work 4 hours a day.” No, I don’t. After I’m off the air, I write and produce commercials and promos, sometimes help the sales staff with sales calls, and do show prep for the next day. Nobody who hopes to succeed goes on the air and “wings it.” And I also worked six days a week and holidays back in the days before computer automation.
“You must be rich.” Howard Stern is rich. No one is rich on a local level. If I were rich, would I be driving a 13 year-old Honda Civic?
“You have an easy job. All you do it talk.” See my remarks about show preparation. I have to think fast, competently operate technical equipment, sound friendly and relatable no matter how I may feel. I may also be pressed into service as a news reporter if circumstances require it. And I also have to think of something clever to say about that song that I’ve already played 300 times. Telling me all I do is talk is like telling Frank Sinatra “All you have to do is sing,” or telling George Carlin “All you have to do is tell jokes.”
The one thing that really bugged me: “That so-called music wouldn’t get played if there wasn’t payola going on.” That’s personally and professionally insulting. I must have missed out because in 50 years, I was never offered anything by anyone to play any song, and wouldn’t have done so even if I had.
I’m a white guy who used to work in a museum here in the South and we had Civil War exhibits.
I switched careers a few years ago and now I work in human resources for a decent sized company.
I just recently bought this rolling knife sharpener because I saw an ad for, well actually a competing knife sharpener, on Facebook (Reviews of the less expensive competing product I saw the ad for basically boiled down to “You get what you pay for; it’s worth paying more for the HORL.”) I mean, I was in the market for a knife sharpener anyway after the professional sharpening service I used to use went out of business, but if it wasn’t for advertising I never would have known this style of sharpener even existed. And honestly it’s great; I’m glad I bought it.
When I worked in IT, I was asked to fix personal computers, printers, etc., as others have already stated.
But when I became an IT manager, suddenly I became an expert in knowing what brand and/or model of PC or printer to purchase. Also, I became an expert in setting up home networks.
I like shooting guns, and have lots of guns & ammo. Which means a lot of people think I’m a right-wing nut job.
Professor (in Computer Science). People assume that we all make huge piles of money. People in industry sometimes don’t want to hire us since they “can’t match the salary you’re used to.” when a basic salary in industry would be at least twice what I was getting.
Too many people hear a few stories about a few profs who make a lot. Usually due to grants, an endowed chair or whatever. The average mook doesn’t make all that much. And nowadays colleges go for part time adjunct people who have to work at 2 or 3 places to make ends meet. Some people make so little they qualify for public assistance.
Remember: anecdotes are not data.
Another industry vs. academic thing is they want to hire the students I just taught a fraction of what I know but not a prof since the student’s knowledge is “more up to date”. Whaaaat??? I couldn’t even convince students to use version control software and you want them over a prof?
Students of course want us to cater to them since “We pay your salaries.” Nope. At one place the school paid less than $30k of our budget (for half a secretary and some supplies). The rest of the department budget came from grants. Grants we worked hard to get, had to do reports, meet with people, give presentations, etc. And the school took a hefty cut of each grant as “overhead” waaay past the $30k they gave us.
Then of course there’s they “you only teach a few hours a week and have summers off” stupidity.
“Oh, so you’re an artist? That’s all done on computers now, isn’t it?”
I just smile and mutter “Not at all” as I walk away.
All my art is analog (although I’d kill for a pen with an “Undo” button).
.
Back when I was teaching Design, I’d get that. And I’d reply “Actually, what you’re paying for is to learn some pretty high-end skills, so you can get an awesome job and have a comfortable life. So you’d better stop arguing and pay attention to my next tutorial.”
It’s a fairly reasonable assumption, actually.
Want to rile an EMT or paramedic? Call him or her an “ambulance driver!”
This isn’t just from our being persnickety or egotistical. A lot of people assume that the main role of EMS is just to drive hell-bent-for-leather to the hospital, and these are the same ones who, at the scene of an emergency, pressure us to throw the patient on the gurney and speed away.
In fact many patients have a far better chance with 5 or 25 minutes worth of - you know, actual medical care before we become a fast taxi cab.
(Don’t even get me started on transporting patients in cardiac arrest!)
“I never read the ads,” he said defiantly.
I grinned. “Our ultimate triumph is wrapped up in that statement,” I said.
“I solemnly promise,” O’Shea said, “that as soon as I get back to my hotel room I’ll send my clothes right down the incinerator chute—”“Luggage too?” I asked. “Starrzelius luggage?”
He looked startled for a moment and then regained his calm. “Starrzelius luggage too,” he said. “And then I’ll pick up the phone and order a complete set of Universal luggage and apparel. And you can’t stop me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of stopping you, Jack! It means more business for Starrzelius. Tell you what you’re going to do: you’ll get your complete set of Universal luggage and apparel. You’ll use the luggage and wear the apparel for a while with a vague, submerged discontent. It’s going to work on your libido, because our ads for Starrzelius—even though you say you don’t read them—have convinced you that it isn’t quite virile to trade with any other firm. Your self-esteem will suffer; deep down you’ll know that you’re not wearing the best. Your subconscious won’t stand up under much of that. You’ll find yourself ‘losing’ bits of Universal apparel. You’ll find yourself ‘accidentally’ putting your foot through the cuff of your Universal pants. You’ll find yourself overpacking the Universal luggage and damning it for not being roomier. You’ll walk into stores and in a fit of momentary amnesia regarding this conversation you’ll buy Starrzelius, bless you.”
The Space Merchants by Pohl and Kornbluth
I neighbor of ours recently returned a package that had been delivered to his house on accident. He did so with the comment, “My wife said we should keep the stuff because you can afford to lose it.”
My friend, we live in a manufactured home community. What about that screams “frivolously wealthy”? I’m not saying we’re doing badly, but we’re not rolling in it like the rest of my husband’s family. We’re still paying off student loans, and at the moment, due to my son’s medical needs, I think we’re gonna have to table buying a house anytime soon.
No. Way.
What a shitty comment. Ugh I would have furious. Sorry you have to deal with that.