“What's A Misconception About Your Profession That You're Tired Of Hearing?” (30 Answers)

I’m a support worker for adults with complex learning and physical disabilities have been for 7 years now - no u don’t just “wipe bums for a living”.

I keep them alive and happy, giving them a quality of life filled with as much independence and choice as they can have. I treat them with dignity and respect while yes at times supporting them with personal care because guess what? They can’t do it! So someone has to, it’s such a tiny part of my job and the least bit interesting.

Hardly anyone hears about the love and patience, acceptance and humility the people I support teach me and give me every day.

“Teachers are brainwashing and indoctrinating our kids!”

Bruh I can barely get these adorable little b@stards to bring a damn pencil to class 🤣 I’m flattered you think I have that much power but I can assure you I do not.

I'm a long time caregiver to mother who lives with dementia. For some reason, people don't consider it "work". That includes doctors. I'm on call 24/7. I can't leave for long periods of time. My own health went to s**t. Geriatric care costs are astronomical. Yet, all people hear is "You're not working." .

Janitor/custodian. Any service job, really.

No, not everybody who works those jobs is dumb with no prospects/ambitions. Things happen in life, be it health issues, personal/family issues. I never understood how someone seeing another person working a job like that can look down on them and treat them like dirt.

A separate pet peeve is "i dont feel like putting this item back where it belongs" or "ill just make this mess and not clean it up" because it's "somebody else's job" or "im just letting them *earn* their paycheck!". No, you're an a*****e.

To end this on a positive note though, as someone who's had a lot of these types of jobs, being polite, saying "thank you" and being respectful to any service/retail/restaurant worker(or, anyone really) are simple things that don't take much effort and can brighten up someone's day.

Unemployed disabled. We want to work, but nobody will let us. Then they turn around and call us lazy parasites.

Tech support. We didn't start out angry..

1. Turn it off, then turn it on again. No, we're not lazy that really does solve a majority of problems. And no, shutting off your monitor is not shutting down your computer.

2. When we ask you if it's plugged in, follow the cord all the way from your computer to the wall.

3. If the computer gives you a message with an error code, WRITE IT DOWN OR TAKE A SCREENSHOT.

4. Describe the problem, but only what is necessary. I don't care why you were emailing your aunt. I do care about the message that popped up when you clicked Send.

5. If I come to look at your computer, get out of the way. No, I cannot fix anything if you are sitting in your chair in front of your computer.

6. Printer problem? Take it out back and shoot it. I would rather work on anything else before printer problems.

Vegetable farmer. We get so many applicants wanting to "connect to the soil", yet have never touched a shovel before. So many people don't seem to understand that farming is manual labor with long hours and hardship every day. And It's all just to limp by. We aren't making much money.

I'm a handyman. None of those things that happen in those human mating ritual documentaries that you watch on the internet have ever happened to me.

As an electrician, the misconception that it’s not a skilled profession is frustrating. It requires rigorous training and adherence to safety standards.

Construction. No, I’m not looking to build your deck for a cheeseburger and a six pack of beer.

I’m a librarian, and people think we just read books all day. In reality, we manage databases, assist with research, and conduct community programs.

I'm an attorney.

A lot of people - maybe most people - have this bizarre idea that a court case turns on who has the better attorney.

As if we're wizards, hurling eldritch beams of light at one another until one of our minds snap and the empty husk slumps to the floor. The judge whispers a fey enchantment, his fingers curling in an unknown, arcane sign, and the victor is bathed in emerald light.

A bad attorney can absolutely sink your case, but once you reach a level of basic competence, the facts of the case are almost exclusively what drive victory or defeat.

I can make clever arguments all day, but if you beat the s**t out of an orphan to steal his Pokemon cards, my twisted magicks will not avail you.

Men working in kindergarten are p***philes. Good luck getting a male role model for your spawn before 5th grade. At least in Germany.

Software engineer here. No, we can't just "hack into anything" and no, we can't fix your printer. We're not tech support. We live in a world of code, not hardware.

As a veterinarian, I’m most certainly *not* in this for the money…
I also don’t magically know what is wrong with your dog/cat just by waving my magic stethoscope.

Hair stylist, if "anyone" could cut hair why did you all have terrible haircuts during Covid? You have to take into account the head shape, hair texture, cowlicks, deviation in hair color.
It's not easy and it's really hard on your body.

Musician: "you're lucky to be born with talent". I worked my whole life practicing every single day, invested so much money in great teachers and great gear to be able to do what I do for a living.

"Why do you need a dictionary? I thought you were a translator.".

Call center customer service agent (telecom). For the last 12 years I've had to hold the hand of thousands of customers through the phone. It's not an easy job. I have to remember the specs of all the new cellular devices, all the codes for our ancient DOS base AS400 system and above all that, I have to deal with people who have issues breathing and speaking at the same time. It's exhausting, at the end of the day my body is awake and ready but my mind is mush, oh and I do it in 2 languages.

Fire Sprinkler Designer here: Fire Sprinkler water IS NOT clean and clear like the movies depict...That water more than likely has been in those pipes for decades and is filled with corrosion and cutting oil. As soon as a sprinkler goes off, you are getting doused with black tar water...