(no subject)

[tahnan]

There's a question that linguists get all the time after they tell someone they're a linguist, which is, "How many languages do you speak?" It's an intensely frustrating question, because it misses much of the point of the work a linguist does.

Similarly, I know that friends who have masters' degrees in children's literature dread questions about whether that means that they're writing a children's book. (Also, nearly any question that mentions Harry Potter.)

So I ask my readers, out of curiosity. When you tell people something fundamental about who you are or what you do ("I'm a linguist"; "I have a Masters' in Children's Literature"; "I'm from Serbia"; "I have a wooden leg"; "I brew beer"; or what have you), what question is it that you dread getting in return, but which seems to be fairly inevitable?

Comments

[jadelennox]

most of mine have already been answered but:

Children's literature: "I have written and illustrated a picture book -- can you help me get it published?" Or "you got a degree in Dr. Seuss?!?" Or "are you writing a children's book?" Or "what do you think of Harry Potter?" Or my new favorite, which I've been getting a lot here, "what books do you like?" [Answer: "oh, I specialize in middle-grade and young adult books, preferably fantasy and science fiction." Follow-up question is either a blank look or "oh, what children's fantasy books do you read?" Answer: "Er, all of them, time permitting?" Follow-up: blank look.]

Library science: "you studied the Dewey decimal system!" Or, "oh, I remember going to the library!"

RSI: "oh, my wrists hurt all the time! I went and bought hand braces, but they still hurt. What should I do?" [Answer: "Take off the braces, call your doctor, and never type when you were in pain." Follow-up question: "No, seriously, what should I do?"]

Jewish: "So that hole in the sheet thing..."

[leighjen.livejournal.com]

I thought the annoying Jewish question would be: "Would you like to take Jesus Christ as your lord and savior?"