just a tip for everyone, when you meet someone don't go for the extremely overused "what do you do?"

ask what they like to do in their free time, or something else. don't ask about their job

Depends. I pretend that I love my job to my manager, other managers, and co workers that are sympathetic to management. I also pretend that I love my job to people who could represent networking opportunities. I gotta keep my rent paid and food on the table and I'm not in a field that's commonly unionized so I'm okay sucking up because I gotta.

To everyone else? I'm honest. Dates, friends, strangers I end up talking to, whoever. Fuck my job. It's not straight up evil and that's about all the positives I have to say about it

when coworkers ask: maybe

when friends/randos ask: ignore the conversation and just start quoting theory

I answer the question as plainly as possible and follow with "it's just a job, it pays the bills," then I try to pivot to something else. It satisfies their curiosity and usually shuts down further discussion of the topic, while also not coming across too negative.

Learn to pivot to an interesting and (if you're looking to agitate) subversive topic. "I'm a widget designer down at blah blah blah factory, but my passion is Revolutionary Bank Robbers that inspired shows like Andor and Money Heist. Something about the way they stick it to the system while fighting for the little guy really inspires me with a hunger for justice that's missing in the world, ya know?"

I think that's something made up. You don't have to pretend you like your job you should be honest. Just don't whine about your job to people you're just meeting.

No, break the cycle! When they ask what you do tell em what you enjoy doing. If they ask about your job tell em you don't talk about low subjects in such nice company

I find that if im the one to drop the facade most other people are happy to do it too. We're all pretending out here and it's a relief to stop

I hate that question. I have a disability that isn't visible, and the question basically requires me to lie, deflect or share my diagnosis with people I've just met.

do i have to re-program myself to care

absolutely fucking not. just be like “eh, it’s not bad, [one thing you at least kind of like], and it pays the bills” and then change the topic by asking them about their job, which is what they actually want to talk about anyway

Death to America

Just say "Livin' the dream."

because it seems to be all people ask me about at bars or meet-ups

My usual reply to "what do you do" is say my job, but then quickly talk about the stuff I actually like. The stuff that make being alive cool and fun. We all work a job, most of them a fuckin' bullshit, so just pivot to talking about the stuff that you actually like rather than dwelling in the space. Get to the joys of living rather than talking about how you "earn" your living.

exist

Nobody really likes their job and they all just say whatever to avoid saying their job sucks.

My go to is to act uninterested. Ehhh I do some stuff. It’s alright.

Saying you hate your job also isn’t a bad direction because I feel like a lot of the time people love complaining. So just opening up the trove of complaints can really spark a good conversation.

Unless speaking to anybody who is a boss over you (and might fire you for saying you don't like your job) or anybody who might snitch on you to those same bosses... you don't need to act like you enjoy your job. Its a job, its a work, its things we do to trade our precious time on this planet for money to make the remaining time slightly less uncomfortable.

The only exception is when you're working for somebody that you like, and you might fake it because it'll make social encounters with them awkward.