Does your job affect the way people treat you?

[stan_deezy]

I really enjoy the time I spend on iboats, although it hasn't been much recently due to personal issues. It struck me recently that there may be a very good reason why I prefer iboats to the other forums I've been on......................
My job in the UK involves Highway Patrol and most of the forums I've been on are UK-based car owner sites. The interesting thing is that when people discover what I do for a living most of my posts go unanswered or get abusive responses. In a couple of cases it's been best just to leave the forum concerned and do the odd search for an answer to the technical questions I might have.

Anybody else here ever found that if they reveal what their job is then people's attitudes to them change? Not just on the internet but in "real" life?

cheers for any responses......... d

 

[ricksrster]

Re: Does your job affect the way people treat you?

Everyone has to make a living. if it wasn't for you flat foots the streets with be over run with the bad guys.

 

[stan_deezy]

Re: Does your job affect the way people treat you?

Yeah I think the thing is they all think I'm out to nick them when they talk about how fast their car can go......... :'(
They seem to forget that we're human too, allegedly d

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Does your job affect the way people treat you?

Sorta that way with me Stan, but the opposite. Once they find out I repair things, all they want is me to do is repair things for them. Instead of a friendly relationship, it becomes a business relationship.

This problem has created problems at the lake I dock at. Anymore when someone has a problem, they come to my slip. It seems they forget that I too go to the lake to relax and get away from work. I like helping people out, but when it takes away all your own free time, the fun and enjoyment is gone. My wife and I are planning to go to a different lake next season for that reason.

Your Okay in my book Stan as well as other LEO's.8)

 

[stan_deezy]

Re: Does your job affect the way people treat you?

Thanks for that SS, I appreciate the kind comments. I guess it takes all sorts of folks to make the world go around and I get fed up sometimes with the way people automatically assume you're out to get them. The irony is that the vast majority of my job isn't about enforcement, it's about helping people (the genius in my other post is an obvious exception!).

I can appreciate how you must feel too. It's really hard when you get a reputation for being good at what you do because then everyone wants a piece of you without respecting your own free time. Add to that the problem of changing the relationship from friend to customer and it is a recipe for disaster.

Thanks again for the comments, nice to be made welcome (always the same at iboats d )

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Does your job affect the way people treat you?

I try not to fear anyones profession except maybe that of a codes inspector,,,,,,,,just kidding of course8)

 

[aspeck]

Re: Does your job affect the way people treat you?

Yep, people find out that I am a pastor and the swearing around me slows down considerably. Most people will give me a little respect, but some will try to ask difficult and meaningless questions about the Bible or my spiritual perspective in an attempt to stump me, etc. Oh, and it is real funny when they try to hide their drink. And some will try to give me adult mags, etc. It is humorous to watch the different responses of different people.

 

[i386]

Re: Does your job affect the way people treat you?

Yes.

People want to ask me computer questions or tell them where the "deals" are as if I have some secret source for cheap hardware. Oh, I've been burned countless time by "hey, quick question..." I don't mind helping people out, but people forget that I'm a person sometimes and not a human google. Sometimes I do my shopping across the state line just so I won't run into folks. It's also made me very cautious about asking neighbors for help with things. For example, one of my neighbors is a welding teacher. He said to me one day "yea, when people find out you have a welder.....". Needless to say, I'll not be getting him involved in my trailer project.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Does your job affect the way people treat you?

My wife is a teacher, and we can't go shopping, to a movie, to the dog park, to the fair, etc, without running into at least a couple of those little kids and their parents. As she is well respected and has a following within the community, (people ask to have their kid in her class) she is frequently asked a "quick question" about how little Johnny is doing. I get to stand there smiling with my finger working a hemoroid. Note to parents, if you were involved in your childs education you wouldn't have any "quick questions". This is extremely annoying for me personally. I don't give a rats arse about some kid I don't know. It is something I never say, but it bugs the sheet out of me.

A question shows someones appreciation of your opinion or skills, but when poorly timed shows a disrespect for your time. I don't bring my work home, ever. If I didn't tell my wife what I did, I don't think she would know what I sell. But if someone wants to stop me and talk boats, there is always plenty of time.. d

 

[tommays]

Re: Does your job affect the way people treat you?

I have to agree with SS its stinks when people get friendly because you repir things for a liveing


Tommays

 

[QC]

Re: Does your job affect the way people treat you?

Somebody here once read on my profile that I was a salesman and posted that this "qualifies you as one of the most uninformed people on this forum". Does that count?

 

[stan_deezy]

Re: Does your job affect the way people treat you?

Definitely strange the way people treat you when they learn what you do for a living. When I was in the Coastguard I actually got..........erm, searching for the right word here.........fed up with people telling me I was some sort of hero. I often tried to tell people it was a job just like any other and some days were good and some were bad but that it really was just like any other job. No-one really believed me!
This job I'm in now has even had an affect on the way my neighbours view me which is just crazy: I'm still the same person, just a different uniform!

Having said all that I still find it difficult not to run away when I see a cop d

 

[xtraham]

Re: Does your job affect the way people treat you?

OH! yeah, friends, I have an auto truck repair shop and a charter boat, "I'll hook ya up next time man" or here take this 10 bucks I don't expect it for free.......

*bricks

 

[JasonB]

Re: Does your job affect the way people treat you?

Yup. I'm often in the same position as i386 since I am a Network Admin/Engineer. It's not as bad as it used to be. I got my oldre brother interested in tinkering with computers and he does it as a side hobby. I just send them to him.

The flip side is that most of my friends/family know that i am on call 24-7 much of the time so it makes scheduling stuff a pain.

 

[i386]

Re: Does your job affect the way people treat you?

I'll add this though...

It is nice to have a marketable skill. I have a lot of respect and admiration for anyone that has one. I've found that often they do too. It's good to be able to trade services with other people/businesses. I don't worry much about not having a job because I know I don't have to depend on someone else to employ me. So even though I ranted a bit in my earlier post I wouldn't change a thing. And don't get me wrong, I don't mind helping those that are willing to help themselves. I just find those folks few and far between.

 

[danpemby]

Re: Does your job affect the way people treat you?

I am the Tech services Director for a software company. As soon as it comes up i get "Why does my AOL do X?" I want to say somethings that I never do but I really don't know, I don't use AOL. Kinda frustrating at times but Its a job and I work from home so.. Can't complain.

 

[Twidget]

Re: Does your job affect the way people treat you?

Stan, it may be they found out about your sister in law. 8)

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Does your job affect the way people treat you?

I can relate to just about every coment.The part i hate is when ever any thing goes wrong when your out every one looks to you to fix it and not at your convenience but now.If you dont do it now your the bad guy.:devil::devil:

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Does your job affect the way people treat you?

Well Stan I know the feeling. I quit law enforcement work about this time last year after 9 years. % of those I was with the Sherrifs Office with a take home car. I was never off. Living in a rural area kids are "allowed" to ride 4 wheelers/dirt bikes/go carts around on the road as long as they are not bothering anyone and they quit by dark. Thats the accepted rule. My kiddo gets old enough to do the same so I let her. Now I'm a bad cop because I can't even make my own kids obey the law. What the farkinnugen!!!!!! So after a little of this I changed to a PD about 12 miles away. Lots of my problems went away but people were still stopping every other day wanting to know what I would do in their situation. Hello, does it say K Brown Atty At Law on my front door? Go away already, I'm off. Ya, I know what your going through.

 

[crunch]

Re: Does your job affect the way people treat you?

I suspect this is endemic with any job, whether you work for McD's or are a Doctor.

I got to meet 2 out of the 4 new neighbors while I was filling a 10 yd. dumpster with the old carpet and rotten wood skirting from our new digs this weekend.

Both wanted to know what we did for bucks and when I told them I was a contractor specializing in "mobile homes", the first wanted me to tell him if his home was level... I said sure, make an appointment and I'll check... price is 100 bucks for a double.

Second wanted to know what he could do about a leaking roof on a 1970'ish double.... told him what I did to the last one that age (3x12 pitch comp. roof... all new from old flat metal up) and he got excited.... wanted to know if I'd give him pointers... said sure, I can design and build it for him, to Oregon code.... shouldn't cost more than 15 grand... glassie smiles all around.

What is it with people? Like I spent 20 years learning this sh*t, and 3 thousand bucks a year to give free advice?... and free work just 'cause I'm a nice guy?

Be real, I'm not a nice guy. 8)