Lexigame Community
General Category => Whatever => Topic started by: ensiform on January 28, 2013, 05:00:24 AM
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Hello Chi-ers (Chiites? Chimaniacs? Chi-mpanzees?)
I often wonder what the people on these forums do for a living, and whether there is any slant toward careers that require verbal or writing mastery. (If anything, I think there may be a prepondernace of computer engineers.) So I'm asking: what does everyone do?
I'll start: I teach at a private elementary school (all subjects; in the US, generally before the 4th grade, kids stay in one room and take all main subjects from one teacher).
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I've a notion there are a fair few teachers (current and retired) and a fair few computer bods - engineers and programers, hereabouts.
I combine the two - I'm a high school Computing teacher in Edinburgh.
CB
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I'm a university lecturer in human resource management. I also write - I've written or co-written five books on the subject (currently working on a sixth).
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I am retired but spent the last 16 years of my working life as a Bid Manager, responding to tenders in the IT and business equipment industries, and previously as an Office Administrator, but always with words and word usage as a strong emphasis.
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I am a legal secretary and former IT tutor.
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Former librarian in a big city library. But always a reader, even if much of my reading could not be described as great literature. And always interested in words.
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Registered Nurse. One invariably absorbs many Latin root words with medical terminology.
I have had extended interests in music and astronomy as well.
Reading lots of books helped. I suspect most Chi members are readers.
ADA
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I'm an engineer for a conglomerate. I cover several fields of engineering. I specialize in projects that had been considered impossible. They seem to also like my writing; I have been "requested" to serve as ghost writer for several levels of management, and my writing has also made its way into several US and international regulations.
Hobbies include music and woodworking and sailing and gem cutting and making very bad puns.
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I forgot to mention cooking as a hobby.
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I am a retired (2 years) Psychology Professor. Specialized in neurophysiology and psychoactive drugs. Now I specialize in bridge and golf.
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Graduated with a degree in English and a Diploma in Education in the 1960s. I was a boring old English teacher for 40+ years before retiring to live in Thailand. I still do the odd spot of private tuition, just to keep my hand in, plus a spot of teacher training. Most of my time, however, seems to be given over to Chi!
I like listening to music, especially jazz, and watching films. I like all types of film, but I love the 'films noirs' of the 40s and 50s.
MK
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Almost didn't reply to this posting as all your present or previous occupations seem very much more exciting or demanding than mine! I worked for almost 30 years for the Halifax started as Manager's Secretary when it was a Building Society and ended up as counter supervisor. I eventually bailed out when I realised I couldn't sell things to people that they didn't want and I never met my targets. Hard giving up a final salary pension. Now work at the local hospital in the X-Ray department as a receptionist. :-C
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I'm with you, Hobbit. I figured there were far too many brainiacs for me to admit my lowly status. Then I thought, what the heck, may as well fess up. My partner and I, both retired, do Chi every morning over the breakfast table. What with his degrees in geology, environmental science and business management helped along with my legal background, we actually do okay. Then I log in to enter our results and am chuffed to receive a star (or more) for finding the correct big word(s). But when we also receive a rosette, we go leaping tall buildings in a single bound! But we'll never reach Alonzo status. Finding the computer's on switch is as technical as it gets in this household.
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No one's work status is "lowly." All work is noble if you take pride in it. But surely even those who disagree with the previous would not characterize a legal background as lowly!
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Thank you, ensiform, you are most kind. I am indeed proud of the work I did. But all you people on here are just amazing and I feel privileged to be in such awesome company. Cheers.
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No one's work status is "lowly." All work is noble if you take pride in it.
Indeed.
I'll never forget a conversation I had with a woman whom I had admired when she referred to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra members going on strike 'like common labourers'. I lost respect for her.
But surely even those who disagree with the previous would not characterize a legal background as lowly!
How can you tell the difference between a dead skunk and a dead lawyer in the middle of the road?
There are skid marks near the skunk! :laugh:
At least in this country, there are many who regard lawyers as quite lowly — but above politicians who are mostly lawyers.
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I must agree with previous comments that there is no such thing as a lowly profession. It is what you make of it, and what it allows you to make of yourself in your time off.
Over the years I have come to a different perspective regarding the legal profession, and I must disagree with previous comments. I have known more than my share of "ambulance chasers" and have had some extreme fun at their expense (they have not returned to our pub), but I must say that the "ambulance chasers" do not represent the entire legal profession. There is no substitute for having a good lawyer when you need one.
There are lowly individuals in every profession, but that does not make the profession lowly.
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I did not say I was a lawyer. But thank you for all your comments which I'll happily pass on to learned friends and associates on the Bench.
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I am working in a library, but I like the information technology best. For me the students should involve themselves with these fields because the coming days are all about the technology and most of the companies will be dependent upon the technology.
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I worked as a Manager in Child Protection for over 20 years, then my husband and I bought a motel, so now I am a Motel Proprietor in Townsville (in Queensland, Australia). You should all come and stay if you are ever up this way!
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I've been a paramedic for about 30 years and now in the throes of retirement (hence, so much time to play Chi!). It has been a job that has given me enormous satisfaction and sense of purpose and identity. My challenge now is to maintain purpose and identity and I'm sure many who have retired/are retiring will feel that same challenge. Other interests beside work (and even family) are imperative when we get to this stage. I find voluntary work is very rewarding. Incidentally, I don't know what research shows for your prospective countries but in Australia Ambulance Paramedic has, consistently over many years, been voted by the public to be the most trusted and respected profession. Interested to know what that might be where you all come from?
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voted by the public to be the most trusted and respected profession. Interested to know what that might be where you all come from?
In general I think the public appreciates the work of those who help to save lives, but who are not necessarily well-paid for it. Ambulance drivers, fire brigades, and, in coastal areas, members of the lifeboat crews. Good luck to all of them.
MK
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Nurses top the polls in the UK, with doctors a close second or sometimes top. Though paramedics don't seem to get a separate billing - I'm sure they'd be up there. The only profession to score lower than politicians are car salespeople... Re the earlier comments - lawyers are mid-table, with priests. It's a funny old country.
As for my profession, I'm a higher education / careers adviser in a sixth form at the moment. Have been various other things but mostly linked to education or people in some way. And, I read!! and love cryptic crosswords, word puzzles, playing with words generally.
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I'm a retired radiologist.
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I worked as a Manager in Child Protection for over 20 years, then my husband and I bought a motel, so now I am a Motel Proprietor in Townsville (in Queensland, Australia). You should all come and stay if you are ever up this way!
I was actually in Townsville in 1991 where I bought my Cattleman's hat that I still have and wear. Wonderful memories of Australia.
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Is that like a Jackaroo hat? About 20 years ago an Australian vendor came to town with these awesome hats. They are absolutely waterproof. By that I mean you can carry water in them. Mine has served me well.
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The iconic Australian hat is called an akubra and is made of rabbit fur. (Sorry, rabbit lovers, but we have way too many of them here.)
Your super-waterproof version, a non-amos, may be made of oilskin, like the equally iconic Australian coat, the drizabone.
Actually, I think they are both trademarks and need capital letters, so I don't suppose they'll be turning up as common words anytime soon.
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Quite so, blackrockrose. Both Akubra and Drizabone are trade marks. And what wonderful wearables they are. Unfortunately, the other iconic Ozzie wearable, UGG boots, has had a somewhat harrowing time with its trade mark, losing a famous dispute against the Americans in the mid 2000s. But, up here in the Blue Mountains of Australia, we have a roadside shed which claims it is the longest established seller of ugg boots in the world (1933).
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This is a leather hat, heavily impregnated with some water repelling substance (maybe silicone?).
When I wore it to Plymouth, UK, on a business trip, they had great difficulty believing that some people prefer not to be rained upon. I thought they were joking, but I came to realize they were not.
I saw many families casually strolling along the promenade, people throwing frisbees for their dogs, young couples snogging, all oblivious to the fact that it was pouring rain and they must have been soaked to the bone. To each his own.
- A
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I'm 22 and I'm a stay at home mum and I feel inferior reading everyone's comments.
Look at you all, achieving things with your lives.
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I'm 22 and I'm a stay at home mum and I feel inferior reading everyone's comments.
Look at you all, achieving things with your lives.
I think that is wonderful!!! I think it a shame so many children are being raised by day care people who simply cannot have a parent's love for all their charges. (I know many parents don't have a choice.) I certainly don't think you should feel inferior!
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You shouldn't feel inferior, IM. Parenthood is a pretty important job. You're a pretty decent Chi player, too! It's also great to see a young person playing the game. I sometimes think it's just oldies!
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I'm 22 and I'm a stay at home mum and I feel inferior reading everyone's comments.
Look at you all, achieving things with your lives.
One, parenthood is an achievement in itself - as long as you take it seriously and work hard at raising kids who are good people.
Two, I personally never accomplished anything worth talking about until I was about 35, and that's only true if you think being a private elementary school teacher is worth talking about.
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It's also great to see a young person playing the game. I sometimes think it's just oldies!
I resemble that remark!
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IM, I must join the throng disagreeing with you. I, too, believe you have one of the most important jobs, ever.
All too often this job is underappreciated.
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Iron Maiden, your young life is merely on hold for a while. It probably is very frustrating now to
read of everyone's achievements, but most of us are way older than you.
You know the time will come when your children are older when you can/will resume a career
if you want to. It will happen.
In the last couple of decades we have had huge numbers of middle-aged women start nursing
at university. The other university students complained about how these nurses did not join
in student activities, and "they only go to their lectures or the library, and lots of them
have grey hair."
Of course these women had families and responsible lives outside, so couldn't just mess around
at uni having fun as well, even if they had wanted to. It is a different way of doing university.
'Iron Maiden' is your chosen name. This suggest you really have the grit to do something later.
I wonder how many other young people are playing Chihuahua, where age and experience are
definitely an advantage. ADA
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Omigosh IM, stay at home mum is a tough job!
I'm sure you have seen that internet joke where a man comes home to find his house and family in the most chaotic of circumstances. He finds his wife lying in bed reading a novel and when he questions her, she responds that all the things she does everyday - well today she didn't.
I went back to university in my 50th year. I completed a Bachelor of Health Science in Occupational Therapy, and now I am doing post graduate research. Raising my daughters who are in their mid- late 20s now, was a whole heap harder!
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I'm 22 and I'm a stay at home mum and I feel inferior reading everyone's comments.
Look at you all, achieving things with your lives.
You are doing one of the most important and significant jobs on the planet. And one I did too, when my two were small. Then I went back to work (and indeed, started a whole new career) once they were at school. You have many many years ahead of you to do many more things - but don't downplay what you are doing now - value it, and enjoy it. They are never small again (mum of a 17yo and 20yo).
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Iron Maiden, your young life is merely on hold for a while.
No! I vigorously disagree with this statement. IM, your life is NOT on hold. This IS your life, and what you are doing is wonderful and important. I left a satisfying job as a computer programmer to be a stay-at-home mom for the two Rogue daughters and never, ever felt that my life was on hold or that what I was doing was in any way inferior to what anyone else was doing. I did not resume work for pay until the younger Rogue daughter was out of high school. This left me free to be a chaperone at every opportunity and to drop what I was doing at any moment if something went awry at school. I never regretted one second of it. And although Rogue Father had encouraged me to go back to work when the Rogue daughters were both in grade school, he later told me that he was glad that I hadn't. He had come to realize that adolescents could also benefit from parental supervision and availability. There is no better "daycare provider" than one's own loving parent, paid or not.
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I stayed at home to look after my son and only embarked on part time work once he was in his early teens. I don't regret my decision for one minute. Iron Maiden you have achieved the role of being a mother at a young age - be proud of yourself! It is the most important "job" you will ever have!
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There is no better "daycare provider" than one's own loving parent, paid or not.
Quite so.
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Wow thank you for the replies
You're a nice bunch :)
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An additional thought: when I was a lot younger, I thought I'd accomplish all sorts of great things (I think a lot of young people think that), but as I got older I realised even the 'big' things done at work — things which earn awards and recognition — will be forgotten relatively quickly. Very, very few of us will leave a mark in the history books of the future; our most lasting legacy will be with our children and grandchildren.
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I recently attended the funeral of an 90year old grandmother. By worldly standards a most ordinary, unexceptional lady. A stay-at-home mum, a stay-at-home grandma, never went out to work. The eulogies that flowed for this lady were remarkable. Always there for her three daughters, all of whom have grown to be fine people and wonderful, but quiet contributors to life. The most moving eulogy was from her 23yo graddaughter who remembered a granny who was always there for her, her door ever open to her and her friends, as indeed it had been for he daughters' friends (I was one of those). What struck me in all of this was that this wonderful 'ordinary' lady was, in all her quiet ordinariness, a most special, indeed extraordinary, lady. We can have a tendency to measure success in terms of our impact on the wider society, our fame, our business acumen, our sporting prowess, our celebrity etc., but I have discovered that most of the world comprises 'ordinary' people doing very special things in a quiet but ultimately deeply meaningful manner. I applaud you Iron Maiden. You have chosen a most excellent course.
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But Iron Maiden might be a terrible mother! (Not saying you are - hope you'll understand what I mean. It's just getting a bit evangelical.) The way I see it, whether you're a president or a mother doesn't make you a better or worse person. You just spend your time differently! It's thinking it does that makes people feel inferior - easy to do when success seems to be judged by what we have rather than who we are. We all make choices, and it's up to us to make the best of them. We can all contribute to the world in a small or big, loud or quiet way, especially if whatever we do, we do it with kindness and sincerity... Someone (Churchill?) once said something along the lines of, what matters is not how you make a living, but how you make a life. Believe in what you do and be happy!
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But Iron Maiden might be a terrible mother! (Not saying you are - hope you'll understand what I mean. It's just getting a bit evangelical.) The way I see it, whether you're a president or a mother doesn't make you a better or worse person. You just spend your time differently! It's thinking it does that makes people feel inferior - easy to do when success seems to be judged by what we have rather than who we are. We all make choices, and it's up to us to make the best of them. We can all contribute to the world in a small or big, loud or quiet way, especially if whatever we do, we do it with kindness and sincerity... Someone (Churchill?) once said something along the lines of, what matters is not how you make a living, but how you make a life. Believe in what you do and be happy!
I agree with all this (see my original reply which put a conditional on my endorsement of motherhood), and I'm always on the lookout for the excessive veneration of motherhood, but I haven't seen it getting "evangelical." I've seen a lot of comments like "it's an important job," which is true.
I heard a comedian say something recently that I have always thought myself: Why do people applaud and say congratulations when you get pregnant? Becoming a parent doesn't suddenly make you a wiser or more loving person (as you can tragically read in the news nearly any day). "Hooray! You had sex and didn't use birth control! You're deserving of congratulations!" People ought to applaud when you show patience and love in the face of stress, when you sacrifice and work hard and take the difficult rather than the easy way to help your child learn empathy and selflessness, and when your child grows up to be a decent human being and a contributing member of society.
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Hear hear!
The evangelical thing - well, there seemed to be an assumption that this was a wonderful thing, and it isn't always, for child or mother. The importance of raising children - absolutely.
I suppose I was thinking in general terms too, as other people have said things about their jobs being "lowly." It reminded me of a bit in the Desiderata about not comparing yourself to others, as you'll likely end up either smug or miserable (yes, I paraphrase!) In my view, it's what you do that counts, and if you do the best you can under the circumstances you're in, that's surely good enough.
Now I might google for the comedian. Enough serious thinking for one night!
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Ah such big words you all hurt my brain.
Haahahaha Ensiform even I was confused at how random people would react to my being pregnant.
It’s like congratulations you clever thing, would you like a medal, the human race has only been procreating for the past 650 thousand billion years.
Becoming pregnant is easy enough, giving birth is well, an experience... and yeah so what, it might automatically grant you the title of 'biological mother' but that doesn't make you a real mother, the true test is yet to begin LOL.
Maudland – if you find out the comedian’s name please share LOL.
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I agree with many of the other posts...Motherhood and Fatherhood is a very important and hard job...Having raised two children by myself and i woudlnt swap it for anything in the world...Iron Maiden happens to be one of my children and i am so proud of her....she is a loving caring, mother and daughter and that is all i wish for...that they be happy and decent people.....You should never feel inferior....It doesnt matter what u do ie (jobs etc) its how u do it and yes if u do it to the best of your ability with what u have...then thats a great job!!!
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By the way...ive never commented in here before and now i feel a bit unsure LOL......Hi to all the players!!
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I think Maudland's post brought a touch of 'sanity' into the conversation. What struck me was that many people had posted their occupations with barely a comment being made, then suddenly there was an outpouring of congratulations for someone who stays at home with her kids.
I totally agree that successfully raising your children to be responsible members of society is an extremely important 'job' but it's hardly brain surgery and no more worthy of plaudits than any other occupation mentioned in the thread. Maudland also made the valid point that there's no way for us to know if Iron Maiden is even making a good job of it!
The job maketh not the person.
P.S. Welcome, SAW07. Come and join in more often!
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Er....... refer to my last post please... I don't expect any special treatment for having unprotected sex and pushing a child out of my vagina nor should anyone else.
Maybe I'm living my life in reverse, child first, career later....I no longer care about myself because my kid comes first.
Gosh Saw you're a wonderful mum :)
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May I just add Ensiform is my favourite forumite on Chihuahua. Because they don't give a crap what anyone else thinks.
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and he/she makes me 'tee - hee'
cmon younger chihuahua players feel free to upstage me god im so immature
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Hello Saw07 ~waves~
Don't worry, IronMaiden, I'm 7 or 8 years older than you and my inner 12 year old comes
out on a regular basis ;D (though not necessarily in this forum!!)
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hehe thank you Gaye Christine
omg i love south african accents
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May I just add Ensiform is my favourite forumite on Chihuahua. Because they don't give a crap what anyone else thinks.
Not always a good thing ... But each to her own.
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Each to *their* own.
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Like I was nervous enough about writing in the Chi forum don't need some Bully havin a go at me.
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eek *jokes* i've stalked the forums long enough I do respect u all.
lol sorry Pat.
Please don't hurt me.
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eek *jokes* i've stalked the forums long enough I do respect u all.
lol sorry Pat.
Please don't hurt me.
I don't know who your bully is, Iron Maiden, but as you've apologized to me I assume you were referring to me, although I haven't a clue why.
As to the 'each to her own' comment, if you've been reading forum postings you'll have seen that I don't like to use a plural pronoun when referring to a singular person. Each to 'their' own might be acceptable in common parlance but I prefer not to use it. 'Each to her own' is correct.
Anyway, welcome to the forum. Unfortunately postings are occasionally made that upset someone but I'm sure that's never the deliberate intention. We all have different points of view so there are bound to be disagreements from time to time, but that's what makes it more interesting,
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Right I think there's a couple of generation gaps between us.
DW
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But I loved how worked up u got
tee hee
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Actually I didn't get worked up at all, but I'm pleased to have given you some enjoyment.
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ah cheap thrills
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Pat I would like to call a truce
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there's no pleasing you.
You bitter old lady.
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I guess you changed your mind about the truce then.
Can I just point out that this isn't an instant messaging forum, so you can't expect people to reply instantly to your requests. Also you should be aware that unwarranted personal insults don't tend to go down very well at all, not just with the person at whom they're directed, but with anyone on the forum.
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Truce?
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OK, let's leave it at that.
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OK :)
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I think Maudland's post brought a touch of 'sanity' into the conversation. What struck me was that many people had posted their occupations with barely a comment being made, then suddenly there was an outpouring of congratulations for someone who stays at home with her kids.
I don't think the outpouring was congratulations for staying at home, but affirmation that staying at home isn't grounds for feeling inferior.
Maybe I'm living my life in reverse, child first, career later....I no longer care about myself because my kid comes first.
I think child first, career later makes more sense ..... 'cause I've never understood waiting to have children after one is forty (esp. women) — dealing with teenagers and menopause at the same time??
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I think there was a bit of both - but increasingly that this was somehow a superior position, when I would say it's neither inferior nor superior. Just different. But did get lots more reaction than any other comment.
And to repeat - kindness, and sincerity...please.
There's a sitcom waiting to happen with menopausal mum and teenagers - or have I missed it? First there was 'Modern Family,' now -? Looking forward to forumites' title suggestions!
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May I just add Ensiform is my favourite forumite on Chihuahua. Because they don't give a crap what anyone else thinks.
I now have exactly one fan. Hooray!
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'Each to her own' is correct.
No. It's not any more correct than "each to their own." The former is just what you say because you were brought up that way. You find a singular "they" used in the works of Shakespeare and Thackeray and Jane Austen and Mark Twain and GB Shaw. Perhaps your schoolmasters and mistresses thought they knew better than those scribblers, but I doubt they did.
But let's not flog that tired horse again! They're already dead!
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Just one more flog? "Each to their own" is quite correct. the Oxford dictionary states: their - poss. pron. - as a third person singular indefinite, meaning 'his or her' - e.g. has anyone lost their keys?
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Waves back go Gaye Christine :D
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'Each to her own' is correct.
No. It's not any more correct than "each to their own."
I simply said 'each to her own' is correct. It is. In view of the argument in the other thread I was careful not to say that 'each to their own' is incorrect; I simply stated my preference. Please read the post properly before criticizing.
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I simply said 'each to her own' is correct. It is. In view of the argument in the other thread I was careful not to say that 'each to their own' is incorrect; I simply stated my preference.
"I simply said 'each to her own' is correct" is not at all equivalent to "I simply stated my preference."
Please read the post properly before criticizing.
Never! It's more fun this way. >:D
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Please read the post properly before criticizing.
Never! It's more fun this way. >:D
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Note to Alan - please could we have a new smiley showing a major eye-roll ;D
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Presactly my thought, Gaye! Curmudgeon Corner would be an idea for a new thread! >:D
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Now we would be fighting for top spot in that thread!
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Oh my! Haven't been on here since October and then 'walk' into such an entertaining thread!
Hello all my old friends 'waves'....
Going back to the original topic - I always worked in Childcare until I had a complete change of career when I moved back down south from Scotland 4 and a half years ago and became a contracts administrator for a waste management company!!
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Hard to imagine what skills you carried over from the old job to the new - wait, waste management? Do diapers/nappies count? :D
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Lol @ Birdy! Thanks hun, I can see the link there! However I work for Shanks - largest independant Waste Management co in UK. We deal with multi million pound contracts but I might start a new line in thinking for them regarding the disposal of said nappies etc!!
How have you been?
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Have been good - busy, so popping in to the forum more often than being able to play Chihuahua - and when I do, it's for such a short time that I don't even bother signing in but play as Anonymous.
Glad to see you back!
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Thanks hun, I'm a bit the same as you, sooooo busy, hard to spend time actually doing the puzzles. Will be trying though as need to keep the old brain cells active! Lol!!
Thanks for the 'welcome back'
Jane >:D