So we know how in the course of meeting folks (off-line, i mean), the inevitable “So, what do you do?” question arises, and part of bein a living dragon is that this question can be a real stumper, and in fact was for long long years, until we started developing — strategies. (Little strategies sidebar here, which’s concerned with my personal opinion that developing strategy means uh-oh we seems to be involved in some kinda war…)
So as not to trade on the suspense aspect, the strategies were: (1) Respond with: “Nothing you would recognize as doing something.” (2) Change the subject. (3) Respond with: ” I’m a living dragon, what do you do?”
The point of this blab is not the strategy thing though, the point is about whaddawemeanby DO?
On account of, as we all notice (whether we know it or not), the answer we recieve to the what do-you-do-question is not often a here’s what I do answer, it is a here’s what I am answer. Ferinstance, I’m a marine biologist/telemarketer/salesrep kinda answers.
So hmm, how come? Partly because we assume this’s a how do you make money question, right? But maybe what we are really asking each other is something more like How are you different from me? What can you do that I havent learned yet and could you maybe teach me how?
Hmm am reminded of a 4-year-old’s answer to “What do you want to be, when you grow up?”
*Frown* transmits youngster, “What’s wrong with this?”
May 21, 2008 at 1:39 pm |
one of the major reasons I’m living dragon is the opportunity to ‘do’ in new ways—more a not-doing sooooo–here’s the wild words quote of the day on the 20th ” The whole idea of the military strikes me as completely absurd. What sense does it make to go off somewhere thousands of miles away to a scorching desert, to kill a lot of people who have never done anything to me, when I can sit in the air-conditioned comfort of my own home and take out a few people who really matter?” E. L. Greggory, wicked wit
May 21, 2008 at 2:55 pm |
Hey, there. “I like the “doin the do.” And “doin myself.” One of the favorites. So you’re doin a blog thingie, looks like. I don’t seem to be having any trouble leaving a comment. At least not yet!
May 21, 2008 at 10:49 pm |
Ooh – this one’s a subject that I like to rant on. It’s an easy question for me to answer now, what with the real job and all (but really, am I being honest when I answer with a paying job?)
I am wondering when, in your usual discourse with new folks, does the “What do you do?” question come up? I don’t really notice the question now but when living at the yurt, I noticed it because I was baffled and at how to answer the question when “what do you do?” means “How do you make money?” and by association “What value do you have in society and by association to me?” (or at least, “Are we in the same clan?”)
So anyway, what I noticed was that in my interactions with people (when not being the computer-fixit-guy), it was almost always the first question I got after “What is your name?” I make the assumption it is about money or at least about the value of the work I do (if I answered “Inventor” or “researcher” that paid little I think that would put me on par with well-paid scientists)
Mostly, though, I think that’s just the routine for our discourse not unlike (from what I’ve read) people in China asking “Have you eaten yet?”or many people asking “how’s it going?” of dogs having butt-sniffs.
Interesting entry – I need to think up some more creative answers than my job title, I think.
May 22, 2008 at 6:18 pm |
Aloha…………..when I lived in a teepee, and folks asked “what do you do?” I would reply, “I live in a teepee” and that would be the end of the conversation…..I think now, I would respond, “I like to do, whatever needs to be done.” And doing ‘nothing’ or being peaceful in the middle of the chaos, is a task that has been given to those of us, who recognize the need for Calm…..thats all for now, folks……..malama pono
May 23, 2008 at 12:18 am |
yeah Kite – after hearing your voice and views a couple of times on Quirky Nomads, I wondered when more of what you have to say would make it into the world for me to hear.
and here you are – thanks so much.
I like the idea of “what do you do?” being a queestion about how are you diferent from me and what can you teach me, what can I show you????
As for me – I am a sister, mother, aunt, traveler, spinner, knitter — I work to pay for those parts that cost money, but what I do at work is not what I DO.
Barbara~Phoenix
May 25, 2008 at 12:56 pm |
Saw this quote this morning and was reminded of this entry:
“Humans think they are smarter than dolphins because we build cars and buildings and start wars etc…and all that dolphins do is swim in the water, eat fish and play around. Dolphins believe that they are smarter for exactly the same reasons.”
— Douglas Adams
May 30, 2008 at 5:38 am |
hmm, seems like most jobtitle answers to “whaddaya do?” are various disguises for “I do what I’m told”….which, a’course, was the famous apologia for most of the nuremburgtrial defendants….
( a little sidebar here about hierarchy — military minds seem to hew inflexibly to the line that “when it really matters” (ie, blood & guts), the chain of command model is the only reliable method….. for those who have a hard time imagining other models, i suggest the book Kara Kush by Shah.)
May 30, 2008 at 10:14 am |
Ok – now we tie back to the recent sweeping entry and my recent do’s and don’ts entry. I haven’t read Kara Kush (I should one of these days) but I’m wondering if the model there is similar to the difference between parenting when authority is questioned and when it isn’t. For example, if, instead of obeying orders because you’re told, you’re doing what needs to be done because you share the same motivations as your ’superiors’ and you are in agreement as to what needs to be done and how it will be done. Not “Take that hill” because the Sergeant said to (“because I said so”) but take it because we all know and agree that and is the next logical step towards what we’re trying to do.
I wonder if the “because I said so” model of culture is responsible for tolerance of so much of the general BS and the taking of news as gospel. And as a side note it seems that “My country right or wrong” sounds an awful lot like “My country because they said so”
June 4, 2008 at 7:15 pm |
yeah, and why is it the bigimportantness to train offspring to obey voicecommands? seems this’s hooked to yr boston adventurestory on talkinstick, you sayin hmmm i wouldnt want paul to do this… so! even though we are well aware that mostly as children we learn by example/osmosis, etc — oh yeah and the famous do as i say and not as i do and all that business…. it’s some kinda “oh i’m not perfect enough to be a parent, so listen to all this voice command stuff” — know what i mean?
June 5, 2008 at 1:20 am |
I see yr point. The theory I have that is as yet untested and likely unprovable anyway is that “do as I say, not as I do” could actually work if a kid actually respects the sayer? I thought my parents were full of crap when they said I shouldn’t go to Boston and didn’t respect them (and knew that arguing would end with ‘because I said so’) And then the accident was in part due to my realizing “oh crap, I’m late, better rush home!” Of course in my head my theory is proven by the fact that if my parents were really respectable they would’ve relented and let me go anyway – ha!
Seriously, I think the word ‘command’ may be a bad choice. My first thought, after all, was to say that really the only urgent “voice commands” to be obeyed were matters of immediate urgence (“Watch out for that tree!”). Getting the point across that there is danger is an important skill that either requires unquestioned authority or respect. Or, I suppose, barring that, peeing in yr tofu to say that it’s rotten and will poison you if you eat it is another way of doing it. Too bad I wasn’t tuned in to that message.