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“What’s A Misconception About Your Profession That You’d Like To Debunk?” (30 Answers)
Interview With Expert
When you’ve got years or even decades of experience in your career, you can sometimes forget that not everyone is aware of all the nuances of what your job involves. Things that look and sound intuitive to you might be a complete mystery to someone else. In short, while you’ve been in the (metaphorical) trenches, others may romanticize what you do or unfairly criticize your work.
Today, we’re looking at some of the most viral threads on Quora, where professionals debunked common myths and popular misconceptions about their jobs. We’ve collected some of their best insights to share with you, so continue scrolling to check them out. If you think that trying to make it as a book writer is easy or that construction workers are all 'lazy,' this is your wake-up call.
Bored Panda reached out to personal finance expert Sam Dogen, the founder of Financial Samurai and the author of Millionaire Milestones: Easy Steps to Seven Figures, which comes out in May 2025. He shared his thoughts on why people romanticize careers other than their own, what young people new to the job market should keep in mind, and what aspiring book writers should do. You'll find our interview with Dogen below.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
The myth I want to dispel is that construction workers just stand around doing nothing - especially when patching potholes.
Okay, I have actually tried to dispel this myth before and have received massive amounts of pushback, but I guess I’ll just keep slamming my head into a wall on this issue.
When a crew goes out to patch a pothole (and there are a lot of potholes in my area due to the rapid freeze-thaw cycle), they need to set up traffic control around the area, then clean out the pothole to be filled. They remove dirt and debris (mostly trash and leaves), and then chip the surrounding material back to “good pavement”.
Once that is done, THEN they can call for the fill material - and until the fill material arrives they have to WAIT.
Why? Well, for one thing, the fill has to be mixed up fresh at the plant, and then it has a very limited shelf-life. They can’t call for it until they know exactly how much they need, and they can’t call ahead of time because once the mix cools down it is useless - unless it is in the patch. So they can’t just order more than they need because where are they going to dispose of the excess? Not to mention that asphalt isn’t exactly cheap.
They can’t leave and start cleaning a new pothole because drivers WILL ignore the traffic cones and drive into the hole. Also, with traffic going by, more debris will end up in the hole, blown by the drafts caused by passing cars. So they have one guy watching the traffic and another guy making sure the hole stays clean and the rest of the crew cleans up their tools and get ready for the hot asphalt mix to arrive. The crew chief fills out the necessary paperwork, but they are usually sitting in the truck, at least. (The crew is usually only 4 guys, including the chief, anyway.)
When the mix arrives, they fill the pothole (possibly in several layers), compact the material and protect it while it cools so some idiot driver doesn’t drive over the fresh (hot) patch, melting their tires into the asphalt and damaging both tires and patch.
As they wait for the patch to cool/ cure, they clean their tools again (asphalt is sticky and you can’t get it off once it has hardened), then race off to do the next pothole.
It is hard labor and takes real strength and stamina to do. But the drivers going past are mad at the inconvenience (and would be even angrier if the potholes didn’t get patched) and often yell offensive things like, “get back to work!” when the men ARE working - but not actually using a pick or a shovel. Measuring the holes, checking the surrounding material and ensuring the patch takes *IS* real work.
I’ve heard the same complaint while waiting for the next concrete truck (which is especially fun when the truck is caught in traffic because of the idiot drivers who have to slow down to yell at the “lazy” construction workers) or basically any construction that occurs near traffic. “New” construction or construction on roads that are closed are so much calmer and easier to work.
So, construction workers who don’t appear to be “working” (i.e.: they aren’t swinging a pick, sledgehammer or shovel) aren’t “lazy” - there are other parts to their job that take more skill than muscle. And I challenge anyone who yells, “Get back to work,” at a construction worker to swing a pick, sledgehammer or shovel for fifteen minutes straight and find out just how important it is to have some rest periods in between.
KatSaidWhat 11 months ago
People are just impatient dickheads but thank you for a very good explanation.
Bacon Tentacles 11 months ago
I have never worked a day of construction in my life, because I know I wouldn't last 5 minutes. And people are incredibly stupid, selfish, and inconsiderate, so what you say about them driving into the pothole absolutely tracks 100%, because "rules don't apply to them."
Katie Barnes 11 months ago
I did construction one summer trying to put myself through university... it was brutal. I destroyed my body. I barely got through 4 months, I can't imagine 40 years. I still have back issues from that and the warehouse work (I do know how to life carefully).
Load More Replies... Doctor Strange 11 months ago
Not disagreeing with what was said, but why is the picture of a land surveyor? We have nothing to do with potholes. You don't use surveyors for fixing potholes, ever. Building a new road, sure, but once the road is in it does not need to be surveyed again just for basic repair work.
Earthquake903 11 months ago
Stop wasting your energy on the ignorant. They're gonna be mad about things they don't understand until the end of time. I'm a truck driver and I see you guys out there fixing the roads I drive on daily and I appreciate it immensely. Especially the looooong overdue repairs and improvements currently being done on the i-90 & Hwy 18 interchange in Washington State. Omg is it needed! We love you, at least those of us that can see past any of the minor inconveniences construction brings. It's just necessary and you deserve way better treatment than you are getting.
keyboardtek 11 months ago
And after all that work, involving so many workers and managers, the filled in hole is a three inch bump blob of asphalt seeming looking like it was filed in by a child.
Spencer's slave no longer 11 months ago
Don't be a cockwomble. Hotmix standing proud of the pothole will settle with traffic driving over it. Far better a little speed bump than a 6 inch deep pothole that will damage your tyre, wheel or suspension.
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Ace 11 months ago
All based on the false premise that roads get pot-hole due to weather. No. Roads get potholes due to poor construction and maintenance. Yes, that means re-laying them completely every few years as soon as cracks start to develop. Using the above approach ultimately costs more, causes more traffic problems and ensure that you will never have a nice road surface to drive on. Source: I live in Switzerland where we do sometimes complain about the seemingly incessant roadworks, but which complaints evaporate completely when I have to drive in some other countries. We just do not get potholes even up here in the mountains.
Katie Barnes 11 months ago
I live in Canada where we have a freeze thaw cycle that significantly expands and contracts the roads so yes, weather does contribute to potholes in some places. Obviously this expansion/contraction cycle enhances faults in construction, not just magically causes them, but it significantly contributes. Our roads have to weather the difference between -40C to +40C and it does degrade them faster.
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Spencer's slave no longer 11 months ago (edited)
As a former, female, traffic control supervisor, thank you! There isn't a name in the English language I haven't been called by some cockwomble drivers. Truckies were awesome because we tried to not hold them up, especially during night works on state highways. Other times we've had drivers bring us coffees when its bitter cold, ice lollies and cold drinks in high summer, even breakfast at fart o'clock on winter mornings. Roadworks are essential so just smile or wave or have a quick chat with the traffic controller at the Stop sign. Little things like that really do make our jobs so much better. Also, please, please show some human kindness when we're at a fatal crash, detouring traffic or holding you up because there's no detour. These are the jobs that never leave us and we'd rather be anywhere else but there. Roading crews keep our countries moving.
Dogen explained to Bored Panda that the reason people often romanticize other careers is because they only see the highlights—not the hustle. "Social media and stories from friends can create a filtered reality where every job appears glamorous or easy. But behind every success story lies countless hours of grind, sacrifices, and failures that often go unnoticed," he said.
"Take being a writer, for example. Many imagine lounging in a cozy café, effortlessly crafting bestselling novels. In reality, writing demands constant self-doubt, endless rewrites, and long periods of isolation. It’s taken me two-and-a-half years to write my latest book, Millionaire Milestones: Easy Steps to Seven Figures (out May 2025). Who knows if it will be another bestseller? What I do know is I’ve poured everything into it," Dogen shared with us.
"When I started Financial Samurai in July 2009, I didn’t make a dime for two years. Still, I committed to publishing three posts a week for 10 years to see if I could build something meaningful. A decade later, that promise paid off—Financial Samurai is now one of the leading independently-owned personal finance sites, drawing over 1 million organic pageviews a month. The secret to success? Unwavering commitment and consistency."
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#2
Teachers do not work short hours.
If they are lucky, they have one daily planning period in addition to lunch, but there is no way that all the lessons can be planned and all the homework and tests can be handled in one period per day. Teachers have lots of homework plus grading and record keeping after their normal hours.
Often the “planning period" is used to talk with students having problems or to do tutoring. Sometimes, it's spent observing other teachers in an effort to maintain fresh perspective. Sometimes, it's spent covering for another teacher with a medical or personal emergency where there was no time to recruit a regular substitute.
There are faculty meetings and occasional after school in-service certifications. There are consults with the department chair and administrators regarding student discipline issues. Everything needs to be documented.
(There is never -nor has there ever been - any overtime pay for any of this!)
There are evening parent conferences for which teachers are grateful because it means the student has caring support.
School holidays are catch up for lesson planning, test preparation, grading et cetera.
(There's more, but this is enough to provide a sampling.)
By the way, teachers teach for the love and empowerment of their students.
Dragon mama 11 months ago
I'm grateful each and every day for the teachers my children have had. On the whole, teachers are amazing and they are treated far, far too poorly. If you're a teacher seeing this, thank you.
keyboardtek 11 months ago
Unfortunately, the rural areas and conservative states in the country have very poor quality teachers. They pass on their prejudices and ignorance to the kids. Any good teachers in conservative areas get censored and driven out for being "woke". Respect for science and logic based thinking has been destroyed by religious propaganda and conservative beliefs. Recent elections indicate it will only be getting worse.
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Dawn Marie 11 months ago
Please add to the facts that we DO NOT get three months off in the summer and we do NOT get paid for those months as well. In the summer months we are in school getting a Master's Degree or another certification to be able to further help you child become the version of him/her self. We also attend workshops and meetings and most of these are not local. Yes, we do get checks in the summer, but that is because our 9 month base salary is divided into 12 payments. Everything done outside of our 8:00-3:30 (30 minute lunch, if lucky and no recess duty) + (30 minute planning period if lucky enough to have PE, Music, and art) is on our own time. Lesson planning is not as simple as you may think. We can not just say, "We are going to do long e sounds. You must include how you are going to teach the concept, how to check for comprehension, plus what type of practice the students will do for the concept. Now, add the rest of the week plus all the other subjects. Also grading papers.
Huddo's sister 11 months ago
Where I live even students don't get three months off. They have from about the 20th December to the 27th January. Teachers do get paid during the summer (and other holidays) though, but that is the only annual leave they get and they usually spend at least two days of their own time preparing during those periods.
Load More Replies... KatSaidWhat 11 months ago
People complain about the long holidays teachers get (UK), conveniently forgetting that same teachers don't sun themselves abroad for 6 weeks and have to lesson plan for the new term. I had a friend go off at someone who made a snarky joke and that person was well and truly schooled that day 😆
Melissa Matusevich 11 months ago
In my state teachers get no paid vacation and no paid holiday. They sign a 200-day contract and work every single day of the contract.
Bacon Tentacles 11 months ago
Not to mention they get paid like s**t, and are still expected (although it's never actually said out loud, just implied) to pay for their own supplies. It's ridiculous.
Orysha 11 months ago
I hope you don't have children. This kind of comments is exactly why no one wants to teach anymore. Go to Hell.
Load More Replies... #3
If you publish a book you’ll be rich.
Statistically you’re more likely to win the lottery. I am one of the very few authors who makes a living writing novels, and it’s not a good living—I earn less than an average fast food worker.
David Bramhall 11 months ago
I second this. I have fourteen books published and selling regularly, and they earn less than 300 pounds sterling a year.
Earthquake903 11 months ago
Jessica Fletcher and Castle had me thinking authors made big bucks, lol.
Rich Black 11 months ago
Proplecshould write to express important ideas. Not churn out a bunch of sequels just for quick cash.
Beak Hookage 11 months ago
I've been publishing for more than 20 years with over twenty books published, some of them with big publishing houses. I have never at any time been able to come even close to making a living off it.
Dogen said that romanticizing other careers is a natural way to escape the frustrations of your own job. That being said, no job is 'perfect.' "It’s a powerful reminder that every profession comes with trade-offs. True fulfillment comes from pursuing something that aligns with your values and goals—not chasing someone else’s idealized version of success."
We asked Dogen what advice he'd give young people who are uncertain of which career path they might actually want to take. His advice was to "start broad, but start somewhere." In short, you shouldn't stress out over finding your 'forever job' right away. That would be unrealistic.
"Experiment with different industries and roles to figure out what you enjoy and where your strengths lie. Take on side hustles after your normal working hours to build even more experience. Remember, your first job is just a stepping stone—it doesn’t define your entire career," Dogen told Bored Panda.
"Also, focus on building transferable skills like communication, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence. These will help you pivot to new opportunities as your interests and the job market evolve. Please do not underestimate being a kind and helpful person."
#4
Being a Science teacher does not mean that you know “everything” about Science. I would need at least 20 different college degrees.
Bacon Tentacles 11 months ago
And, given that science is constantly changing, to expect anything more would be absurd. I forget who said it, but I remember reading about a student going into their first day of a college science course, and the professor saying something to the effect of, "most of what I teach you in this class will eventually be disproven." Eye-opening.
Rich Black 11 months ago
There aren't 20 different science courses in public high school. Maybe you need a math degree?
#5
Restaurant Manager. That we will spit in or tamper with your food if you upset us.
Some people are absolutely paranoid to ask for special requests or to send their food back if it isn't what they expected it to be, worried that we will spit or otherwise soil their food. I have worked in over a dozen different restaurants and I have literally not seen this happen even once. Asking my fellow employees, they all say the same thing. We get a thousand special requests a day. It's part of the job. Even if you ask for something weird and annoying, if it's possible, we'll do it no questions asked.
I once had a lady ask for three different sauces on her pizza and wanted us to build dough walls to separate them. I had a guy who insisted that his steak be perfectly square because someone once told him that all the most tender steaks are square (protip: square steaks are no more tender than other steaks; look for good marbleization instead). Your request probably isn't that weird anyway.
Besides, as a manager, if I ever even thought one of my cooks was doing something as disgusting as tampering with someone's food, I would show them the door that very second. It's just not worth getting your restaurant shut down and everyone losing their jobs for nothing more than a cheap, mean-spirited laugh.
Jack Sonol 11 months ago
This might be true for actual restaurants but I've worked fast food and talked to a lot of fast food workers. If you're a massive pain your food is not okay. Couldn't tell you how many of those people referenced 'Waiting'
Bacon Tentacles 11 months ago
The board of health does NOT play around. If there is even a hint of wrongdoing, especially when it comes to human bodily fluids, they will be all over that like vultures on roadkill.
Barong 11 months ago
Worked in restaurants a long time. We never messed with a person’s food. We took it seriously. If there was a problem with the way it was cooked, we wanted to know so we could get it right. The food cost is minimal to the other building expenses, so asking us to make it again or cook it longer was worth having a happy customer. We had some weird requests and we obliged for the same reason. Of course there are limits but if it’s a reasonable request, we would do what we could.
Rich Black 11 months ago
Most fast food workers don't spit. Some of the ones on d***s do. Caught on camera and sent to court
John Jameson 11 months ago
So many stupid rumors from kangaroo meat subbed for hamburger to square steaks. No wonder people vote for who they do.
#6
It’s easy to write books and make a living from writing.
FACT: 95% of all writers make less than minimum wage from their writing.
detective miller's hat 11 months ago
Yup. 5 novels published and I think I've made an average profit of like $50 per year.
keyboardtek 11 months ago
The same with music composers. I earned $5.25 in royalties on 12 albums last year.
Luke Branwen 11 months ago
I'm fine with that. I'd still be making money from something I'd be doing for free anyway.
HTakeover 11 months ago
So long as you do it for love of what you're doing, you'll be fine :)
Load More Replies... Bacon Tentacles 11 months ago
And the 5% that do really well? They work their BUTTs off, and are very disciplined (well, mostly).
ZuriLovesYou 11 months ago
As an aspiring author, I'm starting to reconsider my career choices.
Rich Black 11 months ago
Get a real job. 95% of people also can't support themselves by painting, playing the guitar, bodybuilding, posting YouTube videos, taking photos, flipping homes . . .
Dogen also had some great tips to share with aspiring bookwriters. He urged them to treat writing like a business. "Writing a book is only part of the equation; marketing, networking, and self-promotion are equally important. Don’t quit your day job until you have consistent income from your writing," he said.
"Write regularly, even if it’s just for 30 minutes a day. Publish blog posts, submit articles, or start a newsletter to build your audience. Your newsletter is one of the most powerful lines of communication with your fans as you build a brand and a following," he said.
"The road to becoming a successful author is long, but if you’re willing to put in the work and stay persistent, it can be deeply rewarding. Most importantly, don’t wait for 'perfect inspiration.' Just start. Every sentence you write is progress."
#7
Computer science is not the same as IT. Programming is not (usually, in itself) computer science, and neither of these are IT. There’s obviously some overlap in competencies, but they are completely different fields.
Yes, strictly speaking, I can probably fix your computer in the same way that a mathematician can probably help you with your accounting, but it’s not my job, and there are professionals trained to do that.
Similarly, linguistics refers neither to learning foreign languages nor to the study of “proper grammar.”
Robert T 11 months ago
And then there's Software Engineering. The problem is that if you work in anything to do with computers, then others tend to assume you know everything about them. Whilst we generally know how to fault find problems with computers and printers because we have our own, it is not what we do. Similarly, building a website is a completely different thing than building back end systems or running a mailserver. All are massive subject areas and take a lot of learning (or at least Googling!). We do change as we progress through our careers and bizarrely I now seem to build websites for a living!
Bacon Tentacles 11 months ago
Sounds familiar. I went from building web sites in my 20's, to back end in my 30's, to desktop UI in my 40's, to DevOps in my late 40's, and am now building web sites in my 50's. And, boy oh boy does JavaScript look a HELL of a lot different in 2025 than it did in 1997, let me tell you...
Load More Replies... HTakeover 11 months ago
A lot of people mix them all up because people with a gift for IT (who don't need a script to read from) are generally good at general problem solving and understanding the underlying concepts & systems holistically. Which translates to areas beyond their expertise. Which in turn makes them seem to know or understand things outside their scope.
White Sauce Hot Sauce 11 months ago
IT guy here. I know very little about coding, and I've had to explain to computer engineers that a mouse needs to be plugged in for it to work.
Rich Black 11 months ago
Your laptop is 5 yrmears old. It's full of viruses. Get a new one and spring fir tha anti-virus software this time
#8
Construction. That it is an unskilled career , that is a gross misconception and a large number in the industry are very skilled , have spent several years in college and many more experienced on site . They have to comply with regulations set down by the industry regulators and there are books of these and updated regularly . A multi skilled person like my self has to know all those regulations and keep up with the modern ones coming in, that is only part of the knowledge required , then there is that of each individual trade and the skill of performing those trades to the meet those regulation standards . An all round builder can be one of the most highly skilled there is having not only the knowledge of different trades but the skill to apply them .
To most they are simply a builder and little respect for the skills they have and how they acquired them , but you would be still living in caves if we're not for them . People take construction for granted but there is a great deal of skill involved in its production and knowledge to get it from bare soil to what you see in its completion .
FlamingoPanda 11 months ago
I have been watching various construction crews on youtube, notably Perkins builder brothers. There is a huge amount that goes into the seemingly simple things. Definitely not an unskilled job.
Johnnynatfan 11 months ago
If you want to really see some skilled construction work Look at commercial projects. Im an on site manager in the commercial sector and the skill level between home builders and commercial guys is galaxies apart.
Load More Replies... GalPalAl 11 months ago
My job is in permitting and construction. I am not an inspector, but the amount of knowledge, rules and policies you have to follow is enormous. Not to mention how much information about construction and safety itself have to be followed. Manual labor is just a small part of the bigger picture.
Rich Black 11 months ago
Talk to the roofing crew replacing your roof and see if you change your mind.
Tom De Paul 11 months ago
I was a contract manager for an industry-leading manufacturer/installer of commercial skylights and window walls. ALMOST NO ONE had a college degree. The owner hadn't graduated from high school and only the designer had an architectural degree. I had 2 years of college and because I was the only person who knew how to compose a business letter all outbound correspondence went through my desk.
#9
People will say, “Wow! What a beautiful photograph! What kind of camera do you use?” Totally discounting the skill and knowledge and talent it takes to be a good photographer.
To take consistently good photographs, you have to know how to compose a photo, finding just the right angles, whether it’s a portrait or a landscape or architecture, or whatever. You have to understand light and what a difference bright lights at different angles makes or what happens when the sky is overcast or the lighting is otherwise diffused. You have to understand how ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and focal length all work together (or against each other) to affect exposure.
In the hands of a good photographer, as long as the camera doesn’t have a lens that is complete garbage, pretty any camera will take good pictures.
Now, that’s not to discount professional and high end amateur cameras. They definitely make taking photographs easier, especially when your on a hurry. Sports photographers, for example, need to be able to “set it and forget it, when it come to the exposure, using a fast shutter speed so they can focus (pun fully intended) on capturing the action. Portrait and wedding photographers are going to spend money on short telephoto lenses with high end glass to get the most flawless and flattering photos possible without having to spend a lot of time in post correcting aberrations.
But, once again, it’s the photographer that really makes the difference. My 5 year old granddaughter has a little fixed focus digital camera that her mom paid about $35 for. It’s 8MP, so not bad for looking at pix on a computer screen. But if I were to use it, my photos would look so much better than my granddaughter’s because she just points it at something and presses the button whereas I would look at the view screen, compose the photo making sure I’m within optimal distance for the photo to be in focus, check the lighting, and then take the photo.
Delineator 11 months ago
This story might be apocryphal, but I remember reading that after Ansel Adams finished taking a portrait of a writer, the writer commented “You take such good photos; you must have an amazing camera!” To which Ansel Adams replied, “You write such good books; you must have an amazing pen!”
Marie Lane 11 months ago
It’s like saying “What a great book you wrote. What kind of word processing programme did you use?”
Jayeff Vee 11 months ago
As a musician, I understand. My beautiful instrument just sits there without me.
Montanavanna 11 months ago
I know a lady who told me she was a photographer. Used a fancy camera and set up. When I first saw her work, I said, "oh that is nice", but I was thinking, are you sure your a photographer? Cuz these are awful.
Kari Panda 11 months ago
I never understood how much skill can go into photography until I saw the (same type of) photos a semiprofessional and a professional took. The difference was obvious.
John Jameson 11 months ago
I will ask about the camera because it is a good starting point. If it is a DSLR, then I know what to ask from there. If it is a iPhone, then I know where to go from there. I can judge the skill level of the photographer.
Neb 11 months ago
Phones currently have pro mode as well. I definitely do not take my camera everywhere. And even if I have camera with me, if I need a wider angle fast, and no time to change the lens (or didn't bring a wide one), I will use phone.
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Beak Hookage 11 months ago
I took a really beautiful photo the other day. My "equipment" was a phone and lots of practise.
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Event coordinator positions are also in demand in the American labor market, as are directors of development, outside sales representatives, sustainability specialists, and security guards.
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#10
Linguistics is not about learning as many languages as humanly possible.
There are people who do that. We call them “polyglots”. Some people are both linguists and polyglots. However, most polyglots are not linguists, and most linguists are not polyglots.
Linguistics is about studying language and how it works. You poke it, trip over it, push it over, split it apart, put it back together, and then let it wander around again and see what it does now. One of the things I love about syntax, for instance, is that papers on it are full of brilliantly absurd sentences that could never happen - McCawley’s F**k you or I’ll take away your teddy bear![1] comes to mind - because you’re trying to figure out why those sentences are so ridiculous. Any English speaker could tell me that “Want you to must that the chair yellow what?” is wrong, but most couldn’t give a general reason without serious thought.
That’s what linguistics deals with. It also deals with how words are put together, where sounds go and what they do, how we make those sounds, how those words and sounds change over time, how and why different people think certain ways of using words and sounds are bad, where the meaning of those words comes from, how that meaning works, and how and where in the brain all that meaning comes from in the first place.
Foxglove🇮🇪 11 months ago
My BIL is an English professor and a linguist. Syntax and semantics is his thing.
Bacon Tentacles 11 months ago
Not sure if Lexicon Valley is still going, but that is (or was) an absolutely enthralling podcast with Professor John McWhorter (who is an interesting person in his own right). I could never make a career out of it, but I can certainly appreciate those who do.
Rich Black 11 months ago
I have never actually seen a job posting for someone with a linguistics degree. Does this pay better than art history or philosophy?
Petra Schaap 11 months ago
JFC. Polyglots dont speak as many languages as humanly possible. They speak a lot of languages. Someoneone that speaks 6-8 languages is already considered a hyperpolyglot.
#11
English professors are not all raging atheist Marxists.
Half of the people in my department go to church, and lean center-right.
Many of the social-justice oriented or progressive students we teach already had such sympathies before coming to university. I can’t get my students to put away their smartphones in class; I certainly can’t dictate their political beliefs.
MotherofGuineaPigs 11 months ago
Almost like no one knows the difference between social responsibility and socialism
Beak Hookage 11 months ago
Yelling "scary" buzzwords is easier than using one's brain.
Load More Replies... General Anaesthesia 11 months ago (edited)
To a certain class of ignorami, everything to do with education is Marxist/Communist/Socialist, while they have no idea what those words mean. "My willful ignorance is just as good as your knowledge".
Angie May 11 months ago
Most of them think all three are interchangeable.
Load More Replies... BookFanatic 11 months ago
English professors are some of my favorite people. I had an Army veteran teaching a poetry class once. He ran it like a platoon--called everyone by their last names and barked out his lessons. I always felt like I should stand at attention when he spoke.
Uncle Schmickle 11 months ago
If the students won't put away their phones during class, just walk out.
#12
My expertise is in cognitive psychology, specifically memory. People typically believe that their memories are true representations of events that happened in their lives. This is largely false. Memories recalled from even recent events are not highly accurate in their details, and older memories are largely stories that are somewhat representative of a person’s understanding of events at the time, and very prone to mistakes of both fact and overall significance. Memory is less of a reliable storehouse of facts, and more of a reconstruction of events based on the few facts that may be clearly recalled.
Tabitha 11 months ago
We all view events differently. We saw it from a different angle and caught something others didn’t, we come from a different point of view based on our own very unique life experiences. We played a different role, we were younger, we may not have fully comprehended what was going on, we may only have gotten our information about it secondhand, from the news and other people. We also have a tendency to combine things, and fill in gaps with false or imagined information. Some people also embellish or lie. So everyone viewing the exact same event will have a different memory of it, even if only slightly. Even if they really try to be unbiased and stick to facts without filling anything in.
HTakeover 11 months ago
So true. Our impression of an event is colored by our experiences, biology, and prejudices. And that colors our recollection.
Load More Replies... Dragon mama 11 months ago
I really wish everyone understood this better. It's very much true and very important to our everyday lives and our understanding of ourselves and our relationships.
keyboardtek 11 months ago
When our brain recalls a memory, it gets altered a little. The more we recall that memory, the more it gets altered. That means when we are old, our fondest memories as well as our most stressful cringe memories are basically delusions based on by now distorted incorrect memories of the actual experience.
Hobby Hopper 11 months ago
This is why I wish I'd kept a journal. My life is dull now, but when I was younger, living with my parents, we traveled and visited family all the time. We didn't spend a lot of time at home or watch a lot of TV until I was older. Instead, we'd go swimming or to family-friendly parties at friends' houses or camping or just wherever. We weren't rich, but traveling by car was fairly affordable, and we'd usually stay with family, so lodging was free. I've had a lot of cool experiences, but I can't even remember most of it.
LinkedIn’s editor-at-large for jobs and career development, Andrew Seaman, told CNBC Make It that these jobs reflect two dominant trends currently shaping the labor market in the US. First of all, you can see the growing adoption of AI tech. However, at the same time, you’re also seeing a surge in demand for in-person services and experiences.
“Paying attention to where demand is can help you identify opportunities you might not have considered before, which can help you stand out in a crowded job market. For example, maybe you don’t want to work as a security guard, but if there’s a strong need for security guards, chances are that companies that hire and train security guards will need people to manage their payroll and operations. Ultimately, there’s a wide range of opportunities for those willing to get creative with their careers,” Seaman said.
#13
As a 911 dispatcher, I can tell you that we can’t always track a cell phone. Many times we can, but not always, and it’s NOTHING like you see on TV or in movies. It depends on several factors and sometimes the ping only gets us to within a few hundred meters of your location, and if it doesn’t ping to what’s called Phase II, the only thing we know is which cell tower your phone is connected to.
There has been some argument about this being correct, so where is what the FCC says. “The plan requires that within two years, carriers must transmit 911 caller position accurate to within 50 meters to the 911 call center in at least 40 percent of cases. Within five years,carriers must transmit that location information accurately within 60 percent of cases.”
So as you can see, calling 911 and not saying anything doesn’t guarantee police officers or medical personal can locate you. They may be able to but they may not be able to.
Earthquake903 11 months ago
I know they sure couldn't track my cell phone when I was trying to surreptitiously call while, well, while I was needing help.
Alan Gale 11 months ago
Now I am hoping that things worked out OK for you.
Load More Replies... Pencil 11 months ago
FYI: There are some places that you can text 911, 999 and so on. Not a bad idea to check if it's available where you are. Especially important for teens and younger to know if it ISN'T.
Spencer's slave no longer 11 months ago
Also find out your local Coastguard emergency number because they work off satellite not towers and, depending on the country you're in, they can pick up emergency calls from cellphones out of tower coverage.
Load More Replies... KatSaidWhat 11 months ago
You can only get close to it if you are between 3 towers it can ping off.
Marnie 11 months ago
It was such a godsend when you could call 911 from a landline and they could know where you were. This is one area where we have regressed. As I get older, living alone I worry about making a 911 call, being unable to speak, and they have no idea where I am. I just know I'm going to die, and two weeks later, they will find my body when it starts to smell.
#14
That an electrician is an electrician, when there are so many different types of electrician. Just think, an auto electrician basically wouldn't know where to start in robotics, or an HVAC unit, electronics, machine tool maintenance to name but a very few. Now I'm not putting any down, but each is conversant with their own particular field.
Robert T 11 months ago
And an Electrician is completely different to an Electrical Engineer. My dad was an Electrical Engineer and was qualified to work on 33kV overhead lines. He still had to hire an electrician to work in the domestic wiring of the house, as he was not qualified to work on it. Yes, he understood the theory of how it all worked, but he hadn't done the certifications to know the code for domestic electrical installations.
keyboardtek 11 months ago
We hired the local old timer electrician to install new under the counter lighting. He spent hours trying to figure out the DC power supply element to power the LCD lights. I ended up having to repair his shoddy wire nut connections on the DC power lines. The old guys are great for dealing with the wiring in an old house. But sometimes old dogs refuse to keep up with the new tricks.
Bill 11 months ago (edited)
Basic electricity with knowing how to handle AC vs DC will get you in the door but there are so many ways to wire things differently it takes a while to get it "figured out" Lot more ways to wire it wrong than there are right, its worth a professional. Source: I know how to replace an element in an electric hot water heater. Had a friend ask me to do so. Turned off the water but talking to him neglected the electricity. I realized it when my screwdriver knocked me several feet away when I touched the wires. Not hurt but scared for sure. I almost died situation.
Bill 11 months ago
Side note. I lived in Nashville. I was friends with Ralph Flatt. Related to Lester Flatt who along with Earl Scrtuggs did the Beverly Hillbillies tune. There were white powdery substances involved. 1987
Load More Replies... Rich Black 11 months ago
I just want my ceiling fan installed. And a level 2 charger in my garage for my Tesla. Can you do that, or do I need to call 2 different guys?
#15
That tenure is a job for life.
No. Tenure merely means you cannot be dismissed for teaching or researching something controversial, at least not without a hearing.
However, professors can (and frequently are) dismissed for failure or neglect to do their duties satisfactorily, for breach of contract, for unethical or unprofessional behavior, or simply because of the college’s financial exigency.
WindySwede 11 months ago
"Tenure is a type of academic appointment that protects its holder from being fired or laid off except for cause, or under extraordinary circumstances such as financial exigency or program discontinuation. Academic tenure originated in the United States in the early 20th century, and several other countries have since adopted it. Tenure is a means of defending the principle of academic freedom, which holds that it benefits society in the long run if academics are free to hold and espouse a variety of views, even if the views are unpopular or controversial." - wiki
Leonie Löwenherz 11 months ago
Well...and without tenure (as most academic jobs below professor in my country) you are always on a fixed contract (3 years max) after which you will have to apply for a new position or a new project
Upstaged75 11 months ago
When I was a senior in college my advisor/professor was denied tenure. After which she basically stopped teaching in classes (she still held them though) or doing much work. And she complained about it extensively to all of us students. I suspect that had something to do with why she didn't get tenure.
Rich Black 11 months ago
Less than 1% of teachers are dismissed for cause annually. This is the only profession with such a low rate
Statista, reporting on data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, noted that some of the most in-demand jobs between 2022 and 2032 are likely to include: home health and personal care aides, software developers, restaurant cooks, stockers and order fillers, registered nurses, hand laborers and freight workers, stock and material movers, general and operations managers, medical and health services managers, and light truck drivers.
In other words, there’s a projected demand for occupations with a focus on healthcare, logistics, leadership, and software.
#16
Not me but my husband who is a geologist— most people have no clue what he does or even what a geologist is lol He’s even been called a gynaecologist now that one was interesting.
#17
I'm an English teacher and many people think if you are a native speaker and have a pulse you can become a teacher of English. .in Japan many are hired for their native skills rather than actual teaching ability. Most decent language teaching jobs require that you know about linguistics, grammar syntax as well as being able to explain and teaching spelling and pronunciation. I teach students as young as four and many of my adult students are false beginners, who cannot speak any foreign language but have studied it at school. Teaching across a language barrier presents its own difficulties. Many teachers here do not speak a foreign language so have no understanding of learning a language and how to teach others.many of my colleagues have Masters and PhDs.
Pencil 11 months ago
There is so much more to teaching ESL than just translating words. Many years ago I had a job with several Japanese coworkers. There came a point of significant confusion about the words "before" and "after." If I said "Before I went to the store, I went to the bank" an English speaker would understand that I went to the bank first. But the way the words are used in Japanese, the "before" thing is the store so they understood it to mean that I went to the bank last. We just came up with a workaround of saying "first thing, second thing, etc.." which was fine for us but just goes to show that learning a second language isn't easy and being a native speaker doesn't mean you're fully qualified to teach it.
Ace 11 months ago (edited)
You mean EFL? Yes, teaching English as a Foreign Language is often viewed as an easy job but a good tacher needs to be trained, not just able to speak the language. Not to be confused with teaching English in high school or studying it at University, which may have some overlaps but is fundamentally a different thing.
Sue User 11 months ago
Thanks. I am good at math but terrible at teaching. Tried to help a friend once but i couldnt explain how i could factor. My friend couldnt understand how i couldnt help them and assumed i really didnt know math.
HTakeover 11 months ago
Oooo, those people annoy me... people assuming knowledge/ability of a subject = ability to teach it.
Load More Replies... #18
Not all salespeople are pushy and self absorbed. Some of us truly feel like we have something worthwhile to offer and love to help people solve real problems. I dislike the stereotypical used car salesperson as much as anyone, so make an effort to be respectful, inquisitive, and kind.
The Big Bad 11 months ago
I worked in retail for 10 years. I was very good in my job, because I was genuinely interested. My job was looking for a good solution or just something nice, this takes a lot of actual listening. People are what makes your job interesting in retail, not the stuff or cleaning the store. I've gotten to know amazing people and their stories. The people who treat you like c**p just because you work in retail are another story and of course the low pay...
digitalin 11 months ago
This. I've worked in retail at a few jobs, all specialty stores, and there is something nice about helping someone find the right solution. Some customers suck, but the places I worked all valued their employees . BUT they all left me utterly EXHAUSTED. Being "on" all the time is really draining. Being on your feet, bringing your best self to every person, making small talk, listening. Now I work on my computer and can just put my headphones on and it's so much more sustainable.
Load More Replies...Meanwhile, a YouGov poll found that American teenagers typically dream of becoming professional athletes, doctors, nurses, YouTubers, streamers, actors, musicians, professional gamers, and artists.
What are some of the biggest misconceptions that people have about your work, dear Pandas? What was your dream job growing up? What would the ideal job look like for you now? If you had to do it all over again, would you stick to your current career path or try something completely different? Let us know!
#19
I.T. That we know your password. “Can you tell me what my password is?” No, we can’t, we can’t see it either.
That we are application gurus. If your Excel works, you need to figure out how to insert the pivot table in lite green on the 2,891’st line of the 3rd worksheet.
We just make sure it works.
Anonymouse 11 months ago
Having said that - I am an IT guy, and 90% of my speciality is figuring it out. Put on the junior detective hat and figure out what the user is trying to do, and then explaining how to do it to them using small words... I may not know your software, but I can usually figure out how to make it do what you need... Also, let me google that for you...
Robert T 11 months ago
Depends very much on the system being used, but it is highly unusual for anything to actually store a password these days. What is stored is a hash of the password. This a one way mathematic function that produces a checksum or hash of the password that is then stored. They only way to find out what a password is is to repeatedly try different combinations until you get the same hash. You can't do this quickly enough by testing then against a real system and you will likely be locked out on the third wrong attempt. Instead the hash is taken and compared against billions of attempts usually created using some kind of dictionary. I have previously used a very old tool call "crack 4" when doing security testing at work and it was surprisingly effective, but it took hours to run. The only passwords we do know are the ones that you don't set yourself and we have to tell you what they are. If you set it yourself, unless it gets logged somewhere, it is not known to anybody else.
Tyranamar Seuss 11 months ago
This is a crappy IT department. My IT department set up all my websites. And my passwords. They're who I ask when I don't know. And when I change the passwords they like to be kept up to date.
oktopus 11 months ago
You should hope IT can't tell you what your password is, because if they can, then other people can get it too. Unfortunately there are still systems out there which don't handle passwords properly, and store them in a way they can be retrieved.
Tyranamar Seuss 11 months ago
IT is welcome to my passwords. As is my assistant. We're all working on the same things. I don't need to be doing anything at work that IT can't see.
Load More Replies... KatSaidWhat 11 months ago
Our IT head honcho said that the reason helpdesk like you to turn it off and on again is because sometimes they need time to google the problem...
Hobby Hopper 11 months ago
If you have physical access to a computer, there are ways to change the Windows password without even knowing it. Suffice it to say, if you really want your computer to be secure, turn off the option to boot from external media in the BIOS settings, and set a BIOS password. Even then, there are ways to reset the BIOS, if someone has the tools and time to do it, but most people don't have to worry about that, because computers are housed in private spaces behind locked doors.
sturmwesen 11 months ago
If IT can see your password it's a s**t software concerning data security. Don't get me started on mails like "my new colleague needs an account, can you send me their login data?" ...
#20
Yes. I used to be a very highly ranked competitive shooter. I held the highest ranking in several shooting sports and regularly won shooting matches. People assumed that because I was good with handguns and had a reasonably wide knowledge of them that it meant I knew “everything about guns.”
I know very little about shotguns and rifles and have only competed in a few matches where we used those. I know very little about gunsmithing or working on firearms beyond basic maintenance and know very little about tactics other than strategy on how to win shooting matches. I was just a good handgun shooter.
Rastilabo 11 months ago
A Finnish newspaper had a skeet shooter and a trap shooter try each other's guns. Lots of head-shaking and "just feels so wrong"
Lee Gilliland 11 months ago
They're balanced differently because of the angle.
Load More Replies... keyboardtek 11 months ago
Also just because someone is into gun does not automatically mean he is a right wing fascist who only cares about his right own an assault weapon. An acquaintance who almost made the Olympic rifle team quit the NRA because their political views got so extremist and hateful.
HTakeover 11 months ago
I'm in that boat. I loathe a lot of the NRA as an organization, and I'm NRA instructor (marksmanship & safety, mostly for youth but some adults) who leans left. Like any organization, I can agree with some of their basic principles, like teaching proper respect for & handling of firearms, just as you learn respect for a very fast 2,000+lb hunk of metal under the control of people who have no business being behind the wheel. But am very against many others and their political stance. For instance I'd jump at the chance & would happily give up all of my firearms and the ability to use them if it meant the end of gun violence.
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Arthur Waite 11 months ago
And just because you take an interest in the sporting use of rifles, shotguns, pistols, does not make you a 'menace to society' and your guns are not 'on the street'.
#21
Anyone can write a product manual or user instructions, why is it a special profession?
There’s a lot more to this job than you think. Being able to put yourself in another person’s mindset and then write information and specific instructions for them is not an easy task. You have to try and think of every question someone might ask, and everything they might try to do, even though you have warned them that it may be detrimental to their well-being…to the point of potential death. You have to think of every eventuality because the people you are writing for will try to do it. You should also understand that good documentation will help to sell a shady product. People will forgive bad design aspects if the instructions are well written and easy to follow.
I write for warehousing, airport, and parcel systems, down to component level. Operators climbing on conveyors to clear a jam and having ribs broken by speeding packages or baggage is more common than you think. Engineers need to use the correct components to make sure your TV doesn’t blow up when you turn it on. Emergency staff need to know precisely which medications to administer or which equipment settings to use, and which combinations could potentially kill you! They learn about the correct components, combinations, and systems to use from our manuals.
Most engineers HATE documenting their work. We have to learn about what they are doing and then explain it to you. So, whatever the field of study, give your in-house technical writer or documentation specialist a smile of appreciation once in a while, okay. Thanks.
Kari Panda 11 months ago
That reminds me of when I was writing instructions for a new machine a work. When I was finished, my boss checked if she would be able to use the machine solely with my instructions. She read the first sentence which explained how to turn the machine on. Then she looked at me, confused, and said, "But it is already turned on?"
Bill 11 months ago
I have a friend whos dad is in the Whos Who book for being the highest paid freelance writer in America at one time. I think the 70's he wrote manuals for porsce and whatnot. The book that stands out to me is Called something like "When your corporate umbrella springs a leak" His name is Paul Davis.
Rich Black 11 months ago
If you think of every question a buyer might ask, the manual will be too long. The owners manual for my Kia K5 is 535 pages long. About the same as 'War and Peace' . . .
#22
That “Science is hard.”
Because it turns out that science is not hard. It’s REALLY HARD. At least the “hard sciences.” I took a couple classes in the “soft sciences”, but they were too hard for me.
And it just gets worse and worse. Or better and better, depending on your mindset. How can I put this indelicately.
Are you a nerd? Do you like Studying?
Great!
Because when you become a scientist, all you do is study. And that is the Joy of it.
keyboardtek 11 months ago
Science skeptics think science is a belief system like their religion. But every science student in college actually run all the experiments scientists have used through history to prove every step of science. The students actually prove to themselves the truths of science. Religious believers just read the book and blindly accept the dogma.
Beak Hookage 11 months ago
I've been among scientists many times and that lot can't agree on *anything*. And when they do get along they quibble. "What about this, what about that, have you taken this into account?" Science is about asking questions and refining the answers over and over again, not opening a textbook from 1000 years ago and going "yup, all this is 100% true, we're done here".
Load More Replies... Rich Black 11 months ago
Math is hard too. Stick with it. Or you'll be a Marxism English teacher
Tom De Paul 11 months ago (edited)
I graduated from Stanford. An overwhelming plurality of freshmen came in as pre-med. When they got a "C" on the first hard science midterm, they then became pre-law.
#23
Two things:
1) That music theory is somehow a bad object, used by the (imaginary) gatekeepers of music to stop the “non-theory” people from gaining access to music. Debunk: music theory is just “how we talk about music” and we need it if we’re going to share it - and our opinions about it - in any meaningful way.
2) That you can be a successful musician without a lot of practice and hard work. Debunk: it may well be true that some people are just “born talented” but that talent will not emerge without a lot of encouragement.
Ace 11 months ago
🎵Now that ain't workin', that's the way you do it . . . Lemme tell ya, them guys ain't dumb . . . Maybe get a blister on your little finger . . . Maybe get a blister on your thumb . . .
Multa Nocte 11 months ago
We got to install microwave ovens . . . custom kitchen deliveries . . . we got to move these refrigerators . . . we got to move these colour TVs . . .
Load More Replies... Upstaged75 11 months ago
I've been playing piano since I was 5 years old. But my music theory class in college was one of the hardest classes I've ever taken. A lot of it's similar to math, which I truly suck at. The Circle of 5ths nearly killed me. :) I took the class for fun thinking it would be easy since I could read music. I did know a lot of it, but there is SO much to learn and most of it's very complicated.
Bill 11 months ago (edited)
If you doubt music theory, put on any Hendrix album. That should set ya straight. He was a fanatic about it, looked at it like math, and his equations added up man. The song Little Wing sticks out as a good example.
Bryn 11 months ago
Which is exactly why I have a hard time with music theory. It is like math and my brain doesn't handle those concepts easily.
Load More Replies... Marnie 11 months ago
I disagree with "that talent will not emerge without a lot of encouragement". It can emerge without any encouragement. However, it will go no where without a lot of work. Prince had to have been one of the most naturally talented musicians of the 20th century, but he also was an extremely hard worker.
keyboardtek 11 months ago
As a trained jazz pianist who also composes electronic music, we tend to split music into serious music and popular entertainment music. Serious music takes years of training, practice, and study. Success in popular music is 90% marketing and 10% music skill. In the case of pop vocalists, maybe 25% singing talent, 25% dancing skills, 25% how sexy you look, and 25% marketing.
Kelly Scott 11 months ago
I sort of do the same thing with rock. There's the top 40 and pop hits, just done to appeal to the masses, and then there's the serious music we used to hear on FM stations that just has that "special" edge to it. The hardest part is listening to music and not liking it, while realizing it's still good music. You have to leave your preferences behind but when you've heard something you know is good by someone totally unknown, and they're still selling out live shows 50 years later, you know you're doing it right.
Load More Replies... #24
I am an Assistant Librarian and it's a myth we don't let people talk in the Public Library.
Kari Panda 11 months ago (edited)
University library worker here: We DO tell you to be quiet, but we don’t do so because we’re stuck-up/boring/evil/whatever, we do it because the people sitting next to you are trying to study, write their thesis or similar. For most students, university libraries are an important place for studying/writing in peace.
Huddo's sister 11 months ago
Our uni library had a quiet section and a non-quiet section, because people also need to have space to do group assignments or other things.
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demrelli 11 months ago
As a librarian myself and other library staff do not sit around reading books all day 🥺we also do not know the title of the book you read 20 years ago with the red cover... Sorry gonna need more info then i can human google it for ya 👍👍🙃
Vicky Reimerink 11 months ago
My library has a specific section called: I don't know the title, but the cover is red ;-) I smile every time I see it.
Load More Replies... Leonie Löwenherz 11 months ago
Probably depends on the area of the library. If there is a reading room or work stations people arennot supposed to talk.
BookFanatic 11 months ago
Public librarian here. We don't care if you talk. If we can clearly hear every word from more than 6 feet away, we might ask you to tone it down a notch.
Bacon Tentacles 11 months ago
Guessing it's also a myth that most of you are naughty? Yes, I'm being a smartass.
#25
Information Technology Network Operations and Admin :
We can not control the universe through a televion remote : that one is literally from NCIS.
Anonymouse 11 months ago
And when you see someone on TV downloading the entire database in a few seconds - that transfer rate is fictional also.
#26
My job is to monitor compliance with Ontario’s professional engineering laws and, where necessary, collect information for prosecution.
And the myth is that convictions and other legal proceedings are quick and relatively inexpensive. We should be able to bring lots of them at a reasonable cost.
Frankly, many of the offences I help prosecute are little more than big traffic tickets. Seriously, the maximum fine for most offences is the same as the fine for driving 50 km/h over the speed limit. Our discipline cases (which I don’t handle) fill boxes. My cases don’t strain the size of a standard legal sized folder. I have literally one case in a box and it was over 100 offences by the same person.
But the logistics are just horrendous. Once, I had to drive 100 miles, with a lawyer in tow, to lay charges. Twice.
Somebody suggested to me the other week that we should bring charges against 400 or so “software engineers” per year. I explained that a single case might cost $20,000. A complicated hard fought case could be $100,000. Simple cases involving a guilty plea can still tie up several hours of a lawyer’s time, and that’s just to prepare for the sentencing hearing.
Once, the lawyer and I drove downtown for a hearing on one of the hottest days of the year. We were, of course, both in our nice suits. The hearing was adjourned. Half a day wasted, but that’s typical.
From the day I lay charges to the day the judge rules is usually 4–6 months. We don’t get priority for court space.
Last month, we were told about the illegal use of our organization’s logo. The informant was upset when, the next day, the logo still hadn’t been removed. We would certainly go to court about that, but trade-mark disputes have to be heard in federal court, which means hiring special counsel, and we might get a hearing date in three months. Best to give the offender a week to remove the logo.
And here’s the kicker - the trial has to be in the place where the offence took place. We’re in Toronto. We get offences in Ottawa (5 hour drive) and Kingston (3 hour drive) quite frequently. That’s a full day for what might be a 2 minute appearance before a justice of the peace. We often hire local counsel to appear for us, but that’s a $500 bill right there.
As I like to say, if you want more prosecutions, I can spend every dollar you give me.
highwaycrossingfrog 11 months ago
I wasn't aware that there are any general assumptions about monitoring compliance with professional engineering laws
Ace 11 months ago
No, it's not exactly a field that many people will have any pre/misconceptions about.
Load More Replies... Rich Black 11 months ago
Wow. You had to drive out of town with a lawyer to sue someone. That seems so unfair
#27
All cyber security people are hackers/penetration testers. It is simply not true. I mean sometimes it helps, but most of the time you are basically a middle man that does auditing. My typical day is me going in responding to tickets and reading over vulnerability scans. It is a great career path if you realize that what you will be doing isn't hacking all of the time. Unless you are an ethical hacker.
keyboardtek 11 months ago
Movies have us believe a single hacker can break into the Pentagon in like five minutes.
Lee Gilliland 11 months ago
People who work at the Pentagon sometimes can't access the Pentagon in five minutes.
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#28
Accounting is a boring and dull profession that involves crunching numbers all day long. That's what most people think when they hear the word "accountant". But that's far from the truth. Accounting is actually a very exciting and dynamic field that requires creativity, problem-solving and communication skills. Accountants don't just sit behind desks and stare at spreadsheets. They also interact with clients, analyze data, advise on business decisions and help prevent fraud. Accountants are not nerdy and antisocial. They are fun-loving and sociable people who enjoy working in teams and having a good laugh. Accountants are not all the same. They have different personalities, interests and hobbies. Some accountants are into sports, music or art. Some accountants are adventurous, outgoing or quirky. Some accountants even have tattoos or piercings. Accounting is not a one-size-fits-all profession. It offers a variety of career paths and opportunities for growth and development. Accountants can work in different industries, sectors and countries. They can specialize in different areas such as auditing, taxation, forensic accounting or environmental accounting. They can also pursue further education or certifications to enhance their skills and knowledge.
Ace 11 months ago
TL;DR This was clearly written by an accountant, as I didn't even get to the end of the first sentence before I was bored with it 😉
Bill 11 months ago
You ever just be out and about and realize your mind is telling you these bored panda type stories and memes but just makin stuff up as it goes? No? Just me then? ok. Thats how I fall asleep I think Im broken.
Load More Replies... BookFanatic 11 months ago
I learned about the existence of forensic accounting just yesterday! So cool. (No, I am not an accountant)
Uncle Schmickle 11 months ago
Ha, ha ...... "creative accountancy" is a well known phrase in certain circles.
Janissary35680 11 months ago
"Creative accounting" is for explaining to the shareholders why they can't be paid a dividend this year but management can be paid bonuses.🤫
Load More Replies... Rich Black 11 months ago
Thisvis likey to be completely done by AI in the future. You've been warned
April Pickett 11 months ago
When I was in high school, I took a bookkeeping class. I didn't do well. We got this packet of billings, receipts, ledgers, etc., and had to reconcile everything. I didn't do well.
#29
When it comes to social media marketing, ignorant bosses think that once you make a post on social media, you’ll have millions of followers and make sales.
This is far from the truth, social media is about brand awareness, not making sales. Going viral can be very hard to do! From running my personal Instagram, the lowest I got was 100 views on a video, while the highest was 20k. (I also didn’t get new followers from it either, but it didn’t have a call to action either).
Social media marketing is harder than it looks, you really have to play around with it and see what works.
The last job I worked, I was supposed to be the social media manager, but quickly became their customer service. After 8 months of lying to me, telling me they’d hire a customer service person so I could do what I was hired for, they laid me off telling me social media wasn’t making him sales.
Which is some nerve since I rarely got to post on social media in the first place! (Months later I went back on Instagram and he deleted most of it!).
WindySwede 11 months ago
And remember fellow (non-premium) BP, that past 29 or 50. The posts will be locket away soon. 😑
Ace 11 months ago
Seems like they might have stopped this now? Maybe just coincidence, but none of the posts from the last couple of days seem to have gone down the ;premium content only' route. Oh, and I see the notification icon is back as well.
Load More Replies... Rich Black 11 months ago
Thiscis why people hate Facebook and Instagram. It's overrun with brand awareness. Make it stop.
Apatheist Account2 11 months ago
I thought we were talking about jobs, not time-wasting parasites.
#30
Here are some common myths about the computer industry, which I have found not to be so:
1. “Modern technology is so complex that only nerds, children, and people without a life can understand it.”
2. “Life without cell phones and social media would be impossible.” (I live without either, and know other people who do so too…)
3. “If the tech guys say it can’t be done, then it can’t be done.” (When tech guys say that something can’t be done, what they really mean is: “I don’t want to do that…” OR “I don’t know how to do that.” During my career, on a number of occasions, I was called to do things which had been pronounced “impossible”, sometimes by the vendor of the equipment (like, IBM…). I never found a case where what was needed could not be done; it just took broader experience and innovative thinking.
4. “Artificial Intelligence (AI) can and will replace Human Thinking.” It won’t. It is a different kind of “thought process” and for it to evolve (even though it can evolve unthinkably quickly) to the point where it has the insight of a Human brain, is not likely in any realistic “near future”. Nevertheless, it is very much a two-edged sword and can be used for good or evil. We DO need to make sure that AI processes are carefully controlled and monitored by Humans.
Orysha 11 months ago
We need to make AI processes are controlled and monitored by good humans (not Musk, not Trump) but I don't think it will happen.
keyboardtek 11 months ago
Billionaires rule the world. They are mostly sociopaths with zero empathy for the suffering they inflict by their predatory actions. AI is just another weapon for them to use to feed their pathological greed.
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Aryeh Friedman 11 months ago
Item 3 is a complete misunderstanding from someone clearly has no clue of theoretical computer science. There are things that are known (via mathematical proof or by experiments) to impossible for example it is impossible to tell before hand when a arbitrary program will terminate.
#31
For the most part, those within the field don’t practice programming as a science, but instead as an art.
#32
In recent years Graphic Design has become easily accessible and many people think they can save money by simply doing it themselves. This has, for the most part, devalued degrees and caused the industry to take a hit and slow its growth.
Now graphic designers have to compete with the art industry, in many cases, they cannot compete with the Artists skill level. Because the industry is in such a slump, design jobs are few, so it forces people to freelance. But in most cases, they can't even step into a paid job and are forced to find another job.
Best advice learn on your own time as a hobby.
#33
In the realm of artificial intelligence and language models like myself, there are several myths floating around. Here are some common ones and the truth behind them:
1> AI Will Take Over the World: This myth often stems from science fiction narratives portraying AI as malevolent entities. The truth is, AI is only as powerful as the humans who create and control it. While AI can automate tasks and make decisions, it lacks consciousness and intentionality.
2> AI Will Replace Human Jobs: While it’s true that AI can automate certain tasks, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will replace all human jobs. Instead, AI often augments human work, making certain processes more efficient and allowing humans to focus on higher-level tasks that require creativity, empathy, and critical thinking.
3> AI Understands Everything: Despite advancements in natural language processing, AI still struggles with understanding context, sarcasm, and nuances in language. While it can perform specific tasks with high accuracy, it doesn’t possess true comprehension like humans do.
4> AI Is Bias-Free: AI models are trained on data, and if that data contains biases, the AI will reflect those biases in its outputs. It’s essential to recognize and mitigate biases in AI systems to ensure fairness and equity.
5> AI Will Solve All Problems: While AI has the potential to address many challenges, it’s not a magical solution that can solve every problem. AI is a tool that, when used effectively, can assist in solving complex problems, but it’s not a substitute for human judgment, ethics, and creativity.
Understanding these myths and the realities behind them is crucial for responsible development and deployment of AI technologies.
Doctor Strange 11 months ago
Reality: ALL AI ART IS THEFT. AI is nothing more than automated plagiarism.
Pencil 11 months ago
"In the realm of artificial intelligence and language models like myself...." Certainly seems that way.
Load More Replies... keyboardtek 11 months ago
I noticed this last year that most every thing I type on the internet has spelling and grammar AI software making really stupid and often incorrect suggestions for correcting mistyped words. Sometimes it will suggest five similar words and none are even close to the basic common word most people use.
Apatheist Account2 11 months ago
Every fact I have asked of AI chat bots has come back wrong. I even asked it to solve a crossword clue, and several of the responses had the wrong number of letters. It's very good at apologising profusely, but not at remembering where it went wrong. Unless, of course, one pays for the premium version...
Pencil 11 months ago
I once tried to get Microsoft Copilot to help me with a word puzzle. I don't expect AI to solve the world's problems but that it's such an astonishingly bad speller did shock me. "Sock" is not a 7-letter word beginning with "M." Lol.
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Mary Beth Miller 11 months ago
Thanks to AI I no longer believe anything - anything - online anymore.
#34
As an electronics engineer, there’s a myth that we build gadgets. We don’t.
As part of a team, we build one gadget. At a time. A bunch of us together.
Hollywood likes to reduce technical people to one minor role when we show up at all. And only having a minor character serving as a stand-in for a team of engineers means that that role/person is forced to do way too much technical stuff in an episode. More than is humanly possible.
Usually, there’s a lead engineer doing the tricky bit. But another guy will box it up and make it look nice. Several other entire companies will provide parts. There will be gophers who get stuff from shipping, etc. Test equipment needs to be maintained. On and on. It takes a team. A large team.
keyboardtek 11 months ago
Having owned a pro-audio and keyboard repair center for years, we noticed a trend that apparently manufacturers are hiring design engineers who have never used a screwdriver or tool in their lives. Because the products are not designed to be repairable.
#35
That software developers are a free help desk for friends and family and like to fix other people’s computer problems. I don’t even like fixing my own computer problems.
Mary Beth Miller 11 months ago
That's just how it works. I'm an RN and I get loads of medical questions ("does this look ok?")
#36
It is a common myth that screenwriters write a film script and give it to a Film Producer who makes the film
This may be the case for short amateur movies
Most commercial movies are commissioned so the subject matter is set before the screenwriter is brought in
In Box Office movies the screenwriter will often be part of a team
but even as an individual writer, much of the work is limited by budgets, deadlines, legal clauses, copyrights, and marketing territories
The screenwriter is primarily writing a guide for the Director who is usually under the Producer. It is highly unlikely that the screenwriters' script will end up on the screen in its original form
But though most people think of Box Office films as what the film industry is about, it is actually a very small part of the industry, and very few screenwriters work in it
Most screenwriting is for Advertising, Education, Documentaries, News items, TV, and various internet platforms
Screenwriting also includes Science simulations and uses a range of computer techniques that once required a screenwriter
To some extent, mobile phones that can be used for movies will make screenwriting part of Visual Literacy, and anyone will be able to be a screenwriter
Apatheist Account2 11 months ago
They've written so much that they've worn out their punctuation.
#37
As I’m retired and no longer have an “area of expertise”, I’m going to take the position of ‘a scientist’. The common misconception about us scientists is that we are all geeks, wearing white coats and with pencil protectors in our top pockets - the archetypal scientist.
This is true of some scientist, and I’ve seen all the aspects I described above, but it’s absolutely not the case for many, many of us.
The way to counter this is for the non-geek scientists to engage in more public outreach so that the stereotype is, over time, replaced with one of personable, sharp and engaging people, which I hope I present as.
I’ve already been working at this for several years being a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) ambassador in local schools, encouraging pupils to consider STEM qualifications and careers.
#38
I’m not in employment anymore, but there was a myth relating to my previous employment. People used to believe that Australian public servants did nothing all day. I didn’t think anyone believed that, but I knew a couple of people who joined the Australian public service thinking they wouldn’t actually have to work. They got a shock!
HardBoiledBlonde 11 months ago
Same in the US. Decades back, I worked for one of the state's Department of Mental Health. We worked are back sides off providing the best services possible given the limited resources we were allocated both professionally and personally. People who joined our department who possessed a different mindset soon left.
#39
That I started in an area, got better and grew into more and more responsibility. I do know some people for whom this is true but I and most of the people I have worked with have a much more random career path. I started in retail, went to tech, followed that in manufacturing, went into teaching and then consulting. Through it all there were several aspects that stayed constant: skills learned in one industry are useful in other industries, everyone uses computers and there is a need for someone who understands them, and my greatest skill is problem solving, which again is useful everywhere. Another skill that is useful everywhere is being able to work with other people. However, there have been people who I was not able to work with and in retrospect, it was not worth trying.
Anonymouse 11 months ago
"my greatest skill is problem solving" - amen! Had an interview where they asked me how I would solve a problem on their system, and I answered, " I have no idea! But, here is how I would figure it out" - and I got the job.
#40
You are going to make a lot of money! Lol
Many eople who use God as a means to take money from people through scams, dishonesty, and lack of accountability. Men who really serve God don't gain anything like houses, cars, or money. False preachers yes but we know who they are.
Doctor Strange 11 months ago
The Catholic church is one of the most wealthy businesses in the world. The art collection alone is worth Billions, maybe even in to the Trillions. And in many places they don't even have to pay taxes.
digitalin 11 months ago
No. There are dedicated people who preach what they believe and want to help others. Then there are people who knowingly lie to trusting people primarily for their own benefit. Regardless of your own religious beliefs, let's not confuse sincerity with cruelty.
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I sell cars but people don’t realize that you only get paid commission. People think you made profit of $10k on every car whereas sometimes it’s $500 or you are lucky if you break even. One time I was paid $300 on an $80k Mercedes Benz.
keyboardtek 11 months ago
The owner of the car dealership makes most of the profit. Which is only right as he is the one who took the initial risk to create the dealership. Still, if the owner wants to keep good sales people, he needs to pay them a good commission.
#42
I am an IT professional. People generally assume that each and every person who works in IT smokes. Truth to be told, I and many of my colleagues do not smoke no matter how stressed we are. We go out for walks, we go out to eat and that’s how we release our stress. It’s true that many people smoke and say that it helps them reduce their stress. But assuming that all IT professionals smoke is totally wrong. That is a myth that I wish people wouldn’t believe.
keyboardtek 11 months ago
From talking with the few smokers I know, they smoke because nicotine is a stimulant. They smoke often because it is an addictive stimulant and the craving/ withdrawal symptoms makes them irritable. Chain smokers are often coffee addicts as well and have atrocious diets. They are fully dependent on the stimulants of nicotine and caffeine. That generally leads to a short life span.
Dragon mama 11 months ago
Are they talking about tobacco or the green stuff? I'm genuinely confused
#43
That the best way to succeed in an office job is to be super-qualified is one of the myths.
The best way to get the job is to have a resume that includes any qualifications you can give, but also list contacts like past school organizations (ROTC, community service, etc.). Anything that could establish you as reliable and stable at your tasks. Qualifications aren’t the only thing likely to get you in.
The best way to keep the job, and have the appreciation of your co-workers and bosses, is to be agreeable at work, go the extra mile with little things like coffee or offering to grab their lunch, and always—dress nice.
Appearance is 9–10ths of the law in an office of any kind. Even on video conferences from home. Look good.
You can get off not being clean shaven, or not wearing a stiff suit…depending on your office and position, but look nice.
Juade C 11 months ago
This may be somewhat true at some workplaces for entry level positions for younger people. After 30 years working in offices no one cares about my college clubs. As an Executive Assistant it’s all about current skills, training, certifications, experience and references. Same with senior customer service, HR, accounting, etc. But yes, even in a business casual office and on video conferencing you should look tidy and well put together.
MushroomHead22 11 months ago
"go the extra mile with little things like coffee or offering to grab their lunch, and always" no. do not start being someones b***h, it will get you no where. the best way to keep your job and the appreciation of your co-workers is to do your job well, listen to what people say (you learn things) apply the knowledge you learned to your job, learn from other peoples mistakes, and don't always say yes (no one loves a yes man). you want to be seen as competent and autonomous. someone who can be counted on, but also has boundries.
#44
The term Certified Financial Planner is copyrighted with a distinct legal meaning and it is conferred only to those who have undergone and succeeded in rigorous training and education and pass competency exams in many disciplines, that often require a state license by themselves, to practice. Many CFP(s) are not licensed but generalists and their advice is better than most without it, but not fully qualified, IMHO, without state licensing, as well. To achieve all is daunting that takes years to do. Any can and many often call themselves planners, advisors or consultants, when they have no such qualifications or licensing and are thereby trying to fool the public, often to fleece them of money. Similarly, a CPA should know accounting but not always investments and a JD knows law, but not always planning. I am a rare exception in these multiple areas with experience and unblemished license, now retired. Primary mantras on which I differ with many [even with my rare level of experience] are; people should not take more risk when young, with any untested expectation they have time to correct error, and stocks do not always go up. They should only take calculated risk when old, if/when they can afford to lose.
#45
I was a management consultant. The greatest myth - not only for my profession but also for lawyers, accountants, auditors, doctors, teachers and so on - is the immutability of our current models of professional-service delivery. Traditional approaches to the sale of expertise may soon to be superseded, not least by AI, as Richard and Daniel Susskind has argue in their book The Future of the Professions.
#46
Here’s a common myth, insofar as I can tell, still perpetrated by Academics:
Here’s two examples of the myth: (There are 100 different versions)
1. “You could be an analyst.” or 2. You could be a “consultant.”
Myth: There’s a category … and you could have a career doing that …
Truth: Example: An analyst is not a useful description. A useful description **always** includes the application environment. “An analyst focused on geophysics , especially digital mapping issues.”
That’s a career. Cognizance in one does *NOT* indicate cognizance in another. There’s easily 150 distinct different careers as an analyst and probably 300 different careers as a “consultant.
50 years ago, there might have been 25–35 different careers in Project Management. Today there’s 200 or 300 hundred.
The myth does not account for the explosion of information and resultant specializations over the last 50 years. It does not account for the language and logic developed in technology in 100 different applications over the last 50 years.
In 1990, a thorough and respected study in California indicated doubling information on the planet every 9 months over the previous 5 years. That was 32 years ago. Do the math.
Good hunting.
#47
People think I can fix their PC.
It’s like expecting a nuclear power plant operator can fix their oven.
#48
In the antique trade that everybody is out the pay the least from the customers for almost very item and sell it with the maximum amount of profit . This myth only comes to friutian when the dealer finds out that the item has a special quality and is with a lot more than they paid for it. .Today if you buy from a customer a a price well below its true value one can easily be prosecuted and or loss your good name.
#49
Current field (graduate student, yes its a job):
The PhD is just like the Bachelors and Masters degree
You need to be smart to do a PhD *
Your grades matter a lot as a grad student *
* Caveats apply.
#50
Normies think or perceive quantum mechanics of the mole of protons would be very difficult if not impossible to comprehend. We say, ”Quantum mechanics,” and immediately roll our eyes, and think for expert super-nerds alone can only get that. with highschool math you can learn QM for protons (QMp) in less than a day, with a little effort, and if we learned ya your math.
I thought it would be insanely difficult, and wouldn’t even know where to start. BUt I started with, “Can i derive the mass of the proton, even not knowing where to go?” and on and on and on it went until I had it pretty good … QM for a mole of protons, mass of the mole of protons,,,,, hum, prefect. Holy Toledo. Look at that.
Yeah I’m an expert, but only in the sense that I discovered the QMp and I expect others will carry it further to some point where I’ll be clueless as to what the heck is going on. I’m the expert on the discovery, the creative process, and the insanity that goes with it. Actually, I’m the world’s only and foremost expert-nutball, because I’m the only one.
Auntriarch 11 months ago
Well I understood every word of that. Just not in the order they were written
What do you think ?
Doctor Strange 11 months ago
Land Surveyor here. Most people don't even know what a survey IS, let alone what we do. No, that isn't a camera, we can't take your picture. Just because we work outside doesn't mean its ok to walk up to us and have a conversation. That's no different than walking into a random office, going to someone at a cubicle and trying to talk to them. We are working. No, we can't just tell you where your property lines are. That requires a significant amount of work. And speaking of work, surveying is not just standing behind the instrument while another guy walks around with a pole. That is the most visible, and also the EASIEST part of the job. We have a signficant amount of work before and after that part. To get my license I had to take a 4 year engineering degree, with classes including Boundary and Business Law, Trigonometry, Geometry, Photogrammetry, Architecture, Civil Enginneering, Hydrology, Orbital Mechanics, Statistics, And more.
highwaycrossingfrog 11 months ago
Working on set in film & TV is NOT glamorous. It's long hours, a lot of being outside in godawful weather, probably on your feet for 12 hours straight, unpredictable employment levels, and few of the workers' rights afforded to salaried jobs such as holiday and sick leave. Even if you're in the holiest of film jobs, actor, the vast majority are extremely low paid once you factor pay over time less agency fees. That said, it's also often also a lot of fun.
jessica r 11 months ago
I'm a teacher. Some students think I enjoy failing them. I don't. Even if I don't like you as a person, I'd rather let you pass. Not because I'm such a wonderful idealistic human being, but because I'm lazy. 1) failing means I'll have to grade your next test again which means extra work, 2) I have to explain myself, there's a lot of discussion with students who failed the test 3) if many students fail it reflects negatively on my teaching. So if you fail the test, you can be sure you really messed up.
Laserleader 11 months ago
Tourism isn't a job field according to most job databases. I've seen outrageously rare jobs that have a very few individuals working in them on lists, but not Tourism, which has a huge field of individuals located in every major city. Usually, outnumbering passenger bus divers in many destination places by hundreds to one.
Doctor Strange 11 months ago
Land Surveyor here. Most people don't even know what a survey IS, let alone what we do. No, that isn't a camera, we can't take your picture. Just because we work outside doesn't mean its ok to walk up to us and have a conversation. That's no different than walking into a random office, going to someone at a cubicle and trying to talk to them. We are working. No, we can't just tell you where your property lines are. That requires a significant amount of work. And speaking of work, surveying is not just standing behind the instrument while another guy walks around with a pole. That is the most visible, and also the EASIEST part of the job. We have a signficant amount of work before and after that part. To get my license I had to take a 4 year engineering degree, with classes including Boundary and Business Law, Trigonometry, Geometry, Photogrammetry, Architecture, Civil Enginneering, Hydrology, Orbital Mechanics, Statistics, And more.
highwaycrossingfrog 11 months ago
Working on set in film & TV is NOT glamorous. It's long hours, a lot of being outside in godawful weather, probably on your feet for 12 hours straight, unpredictable employment levels, and few of the workers' rights afforded to salaried jobs such as holiday and sick leave. Even if you're in the holiest of film jobs, actor, the vast majority are extremely low paid once you factor pay over time less agency fees. That said, it's also often also a lot of fun.
jessica r 11 months ago
I'm a teacher. Some students think I enjoy failing them. I don't. Even if I don't like you as a person, I'd rather let you pass. Not because I'm such a wonderful idealistic human being, but because I'm lazy. 1) failing means I'll have to grade your next test again which means extra work, 2) I have to explain myself, there's a lot of discussion with students who failed the test 3) if many students fail it reflects negatively on my teaching. So if you fail the test, you can be sure you really messed up.
Laserleader 11 months ago
Tourism isn't a job field according to most job databases. I've seen outrageously rare jobs that have a very few individuals working in them on lists, but not Tourism, which has a huge field of individuals located in every major city. Usually, outnumbering passenger bus divers in many destination places by hundreds to one.
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