...My dad, may he rest in peace, taught me many wonderful things. And one of the things he taught me was never ask a guy what you do for a living. He said If you think about it, when you ask a guy, what do you do you do for a living, you're saying how may I gauge the rest of your utterances. are you smarter than I am? Are you richer than I am, poorer than I am? So you ask a guy what do you do for a living, it's the same thing as asking a guy, let me know what your politics are before I listen to you s
David Mamet reflects on a valuable lesson from his late father regarding the question of one's profession. He emphasizes that asking someone about their job can create an implicit hierarchy, where the questioner unconsciously assesses the other person's intelligence or wealth based on their response. This inquiry can lead to biases that influence how one communicates and interacts with others.
Mamet suggests that such questions can limit genuine engagement, as they imply a judgment based on external measures of worth. Instead of allowing people to express themselves freely, the question restricts the conversation to preconceived notions influenced by social status or financial success.
