So What You Do Doesn't Matter?

mikebird

Banned
Work should be kept separate?

Social life was good as a student, being paid for more than simple chores...

Pizza Delivery involved taking my moped on the road by myself, learning the map in my pocket. No chef duties
Before orders, I'd sit in the front on a stool assembling boxes from flat cardboard. Nice. No more.
Groups of kids take their mopeds out and love it. Faster and louder than the old ones with the delivery box on the back.

When employed as an engineer, among friends and family, I developed a love for what I was doing, going on about it, (thinking back now) and what's wrong with that? I adore picking up new things and discovering, and telling everyone else (who don't) to tell my stories. I think it's boring for them.

Nobody talks about work? I had that drilled into me. But I'm interested in everyone else's! Socially, we think of... the beer... the news... hey... she's sexxyy! Hmmm. My work was all that mattered, for years! Maybe this is why I fail about being appealing at interview? I talk about me and what I've done.

This is killing me a bit. Being absorbed by your current activity is important. I thought all about it on the way home, and what to do the next day.

Equivalently, most people, and me, would get absorbed in their partner, and generally ignore the old friends, and ten marriage and kids, I think that takes you away from old relationships. Life changes.

In a pub, it might be silly to talk all about till operation, checkout. But I just like to know about anything someone does that I don't.

Big divide split? If my Dad was Prime Minister, I'd like to know about what he did. My Dad's last phase just before retirement worked for my brother, acquiring old tatty stainless steel catering equipment in trucks with workmates to bring to HQ to refurbish the kit, cleaning out pests, grime, oil, sandblasting, and fitting new parts.
I liked to hear about it, when I was... 13

Anyone's thoughts on the rules of what to discuss? This website! I like the variety! Or, are we all stuck with just depression, etc?

All just the title. Would Barack Obama chat about his job at dinner?

Certain people describe me as the one who does "computer stuff" and I know to keep that quiet.
Only talk at dinner if we all do the same thing? School? Or everyone has very different things on their mind? Keep it quiet? Or just watch TV together?
 

MBinMN

Well-known member
I am employed in the IT/telecommunications industry. To a layman I know their eyes would glaze over with boredom. I think people are interested in a general knowledge of what you do but not to go on in length. It's outside of work hours so people wish to forget about work for awhile and talk about personal life, hobbies, sports, shoot the general shit...that's where they are the most comfortable
 

laure15

Well-known member
If I'm an office assistant, should I talk about office assisting duties during dinner? I would bore lots of people for sure. I agree with MBin. People want to hear about exciting stuff that happen in your personal life, hobbies, interests, sports, etc. Too bad my hobbies are too embarassing to share, being kind of geeky. I don't watch TV that much anymore so can't talk about TV shows. However, I do keep up with the news and feel passionate about certain issues.
 

mikebird

Banned
I am employed in the IT/telecommunications industry. To a layman I know their eyes would glaze over with boredom. I think people are interested in a general knowledge of what you do but not to go on in length. It's outside of work hours so people wish to forget about work for awhile and talk about personal life, hobbies, sports, shoot the general shit...that's where they are the most comfortable

I loved everything in telcos; resellers, mediation, provisioning, rating, tariffing - all corporate. Real data - CDRs - pricing and sales - ISDN30 and now we have more. I ran an AS/400 server, ORACLE, UNIX, Geneva was the platform. Billing services by Experian. Why did I lose my job? Because my girlfriend left me because I bought our apartment. HR decided to put me on garden leave for a few months (suspended) and got rid of me. I moved to another local reseller. Then I joined a fresh startup company. Best office I'd been in. We combined some hifi seperates to make a great system for something to listen to.

In about 2 year, the company failed and was dissolved by our accountant. Not my fault. I built a great billing system. The main Director and Managers made some mistakes. We got money. Important to learn from.

I hate the mainstream "join us" and learn our wonderful culture...
 
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