Asking questions is a very normal way for people to communicate. We learn new information, gain knowledge, and even get to know each other better when we ask relevant questions. Get-to-know questions are probably the most popular ones, because as humans, we tend to be rather curious about others around us. These questions may vary from personal tastes to some family and background questions and even questions about your job and career.
And while things that are profession-related might seem like good questions to ask if you want to strike up a conversation with a new acquaintance, this is not entirely true. Having little to no information about a certain profession is nothing criminal, but sometimes this leads to stereotypes and really ignorant questions or comments.
Whatever career path you have chosen in your life, you have most certainly at one point heard really weird things from people that made you wonder how they ever thought those were appropriate questions to ask. At other times, instead of asking a question, someone might ask for a professional favor that, in reality, has nothing to do with your occupation.
If you want to avoid stupid questions to ask people regarding their jobs, don’t operate on assumptions or repeat things from an unverified source. The best questions are probably the ones where you ask the other person to give you some additional information about what they do before you proceed with more specific inquiries.
Has anyone ever asked you stupid questions about your profession? How do you deal with such questions and weird requests for services? Share your experience in the comments.
#1
"Oh, you're a paramedic? I have this thing on my toe, will you check it?"
krispyd replied: "Ask for $5 look at it for two seconds and tell them to go to the hospital/doctor."
Report
34points
#2
"Oh, you're a linguist? How many languages do you speak?"
"The correct thing to ask a linguist is, 'Tell me something interesting about languages/what you've been studying' - and then prepare yourself for a 30-minute monologue on something that is of no interest to anyone other than linguists but will make the linguist very happy that someone is showing an interest in their work."
Report
32points
#3
"Oh, you're a law student? What would happen if (insert hypothetical legal scenario.)"
Prepare for disappointment, because the answer to almost every legal question is "it depends".
Report
30points
#4
"You're in the Air Force? So you fly planes?
Nah I fly a desk."
WaffleCorp replied: "Ah yes, the Chair Force."
Report
28points
#5
"Oh, you're a graphic designer? Can you make a logo for me really quickly? It's for my cousin's birthday."
Report
26points
#6
“Oh, you’re a midwife? I need someone to pull a lamb from my laboring ewe.” "
This actually happened to me."
Report
25points
#7
"Oh, you're employed by our company as a robotic process automation engineer, does that means we're all going to be replaced by robots?"
"I've come up with the perfect response to this: "No, just you.'"
Report
23points
#8
"You are an illustrator? I have an idea for a children's book. We should collaborate!"
Report
23points
#10
"Oh, you're an artist? Can you draw me, I'll pay you with exposure."
jonathanquirk replied: "Sorry, you don't look that pretty."
Report
22points
#11
"Oh, you test video games? So I got stuck on this part of 'Barbie's Horse Adventures.'"
Report
22points
#12
"Oh, you studied psychology? Then I'll have to watch what I'm thinking, as you can read my mind."
Report
21points
#13
"Oh, you’re an astronomer? Why is my outlook as Pisces so negative this month? I heard all the planets are going to be lined up what does that mean for my horoscope?"
Report
20points
#15
“Oh, you’re a chemical engineer? Do you know how to make a bomb?”
"Heard this from everyone from my parents to colleagues in summer jobs."
Report
19points
#16
"Oh, you're a math guy, can you multiply these two really big numbers or figure out square roots in your head?"
"No, I can't. I am a mathematician, not a calculator."
Report
18points
#19
"I work in a gas station. I'm frequently asked to check tire pressure/fluids/brakes, fix the gas pumps, diagnose car issues and give advice about cars in general. And of course, they get angry when I'm unable to help."
Report
16points