Pretty much everyone knows the feeling of dealing with people who have no idea what your profession is actually all about. Sometimes it even becomes frustrating to explain the nuances of your job over and over again. But if people will pay attention to this post, many won't have to do it ever again.
Recently, Portland-based icon designer Louie Mantia started a very informative Twitter thread, asking people, "What's something that seems obvious within your profession, but the general public seems to misunderstand?" Many people rushed to debunk the myths surrounding their professions, and their responses are both hilarious and eye-opening.
"I was inspired to ask that question because I too have felt like there are misconceptions about what I do," Mantia told Bored Panda. "Earlier that day, I posted about best practices in app icon design, and was met with a lot of pushback. I realized a lot of others probably feel the same way about their own jobs."
"I remember when I visited Buckingham Palace a few years back, there was an insane amount of people," Mantia added. "The police officers had to continually keep their cool while telling different people to stay in a certain area. They couldn’t get mad at them because every time they had to say it was to a different person." He thinks a lot of people can relate to that. "They might have to repeat something to [their] customer, but that customer doesn’t have the knowledge or experience about the other side that often. They need a short explanation."
Mantia thinks there are many reasons why such misunderstandings are common, but pop culture is the big one. "Hospital shows portray hospital jobs inaccurately. Law shows do the same. And any show that has ever shown someone pounding away at a keyboard has contributed to some incorrect views of hacking or programming," he said. "TV and movies can do a lot of damage in this regard. For example, Lee Unkrich at Pixar noted that voices are recorded before the animation. But because of Mrs. Doubtfire’s opening scene with Robin Williams recording a cartoon character’s voice after the animation was finished, a lot of people now believe that’s the way it’s done."
Continue scrolling to read the responses Mantia has received and upvote your faves! (Facebook cover image: Marina Kuperman Villatoro)
More info: louiemantia.com | Twitter
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Manager
Nurse
wait, you're NOT all sexy? well sorry, but saving lives and healing the sick is pretty sexy in my book.
Librarians
Do people not go to libraries? Our community library plays a big role in the community.
Programmer
Photographer
Environmental Scientist
Marriage, Family, And Sex Therapist
Assistant
It Consultant
As my families IT-technician (because I do work in IT) I can relate to this so much.
Editor
As a writer I got always a similar question: "Is your editor correcting typos and grammar?" Ehm, no, that is the job of the corrector. The editors job is.. see above
Forester
Dietitian
This 100000x. Yes cut your carbs, get skinny fast, but as soon as you start back eating them...
Massage Therapist
Massagists have unfortunately a bad reputation from all the frauds in this area :(
Artist
I could say the same thing about Graphic Designers. People want amazing logos, corporate image, websites, campaigns and all.... but they don't want to pay for it, because.. "their niece could do better in powerpoint".
Baker
Clinical Social Worker
Yes yes yes!!! I was going to add this if it wasn't here!! I'm a medical social worker. I work in a hospital and some patients have a terrified look when I say I'm a social worker. I work for a hospital not child protective services. It blows my mind that the general public has no idea how many different kinds of social workers there actually are.
High School Teacher
That is true (go, Jay, go!) - but is it eye-opening? I thought that was common knowledge.
Bartender
No, but some people don't like the alcohol they do get to be so diluted.
Cell Biologist
Archaeologist
Lawyer
Interpreter
One things that annoys me so much is when people translate idioms from one language by just directly translating the words. That's not how it works. You need to find the closest meaning of the idiom itself, not the words it contains.
Intern
I am tutoring an intern right now and make sure SHE benefits from this work experience. Coworkers who tried to give her their work to do would soon learn that they have to go through me...so this was nipped in the bud.
Director Of Marketing
Historian
Neuroscientist
Pharmacist
Sorry Debbie, you kind of do. I was in pharma sales and guess what? unless you are not in a drug store or a grocery store, you are mostly paid to double check what under paid pharmacy techs do for you. And guess what? You get paid 6 figures and the Pharmacy Tech gets barely minimum wage. Yet they do the yeoman's work. Sorry. I know I'll get down voted, but you aren't mixing in a compounding pharmacy or working in a hospital, you are a pill counter and a consultant at the checkout window. And telling people on which aisle the cough syrup is at.
Psychologist
I am sorry, but I love that. Did actually really someone ask you if you can read his mind? That's hilarious.
Creative
Veterinary Technician
The problem is the health care system for humans and non humans alike in the USA. I have lived in first world and third world countries. And only in the US are the costs the way they are. Countries with both free public (100% free) and non free private care, the latter is still 90% less than if you do have insurance in the US. For pet care, procedures and minimal routine care is not supposed to break the bank. And don't get me started on dental care. All you need to do is talk to others who have lived in countries that actually provide a standard of health care that is decent. Only in "America" there are horror stories of how unaffordable getting sick is.
Musician
Howard Goodall wrote the theme songs for Red Dwarf and every Blackadder series.
Composer
Tell me about it... All the majors I know are actually somewhat grumpy or overly serious people, and a lot of the minors around where I live seem quite jolly...
Animator
Neil, are you an expert animator? Obviously not, as Animation is Art, and to do it well takes time. BitCoin is make believe computer money, only supported by popular demand, which will disappear when the "next big thing" comes along. Quit being an a*s.
Chemist
Some are discovered and reinvented through stepwise processes in the lab.
Teacher
My moms a teacher/professor and an adjunct (I think that’s the word) and i can tell it’s really hard
Arborist
Don't you tell me Dave still has that rickety ladder. I've told him 100 times to get rid of that thing.
Radiographer
Linguist
Let's also agree, that by definition, English is the most "tainted" language in the Solar system. It is the most-spoken second-langauge by a huuuuuge margin. Germanic-languages aside, English is poorly understood, both grammatically and particularly, in tone by almost every other language. Slang lives outside the grammar and diction, and cannot be used to compare "right or wrong use" of English. The purpose of grammar, diction, and tone, (in any language) it to make sure the thoughts and feelings expressed in your mind, are verbally communicated as close as possible in your words. Less ambiguity, and a closer understanding of what the mind and heart are attempting to express.
Graphic Designer
Civil Engineer
Math Teacher
Actor
Occupational Therapist
Pediatrician
Only idiots could think such nonsense. Everybody who ever had a serious injured or ill kid (or once was one) knows otherwise.
Local News Reporter
First off, Balls, you don't know for certain that they work for a local paper---they might be local TV newscasters. Second, I didn't see any grammatical felonies in the statement. Quit being a grammar narc.
Transportation Engineer
Barista
Novelist
Speech Pathologist
Nonprofit Worker
Sister in law worked for a nonprofit making near nothing for the area, while the Vice President pockets massive amounts and CEO lays low and acts like “oh, I only pay myself 40k a year” but we all know that’s not their only means of money (lives in huge house to say the least).
Urban Planner
Copywriter
Ux Designer
French-English Translator
Model
General Practitioner
Waitress
Tipping is not optional - in the US! In other countries it is. The system is very unfair in the US.
Teachers seem to be thought of as magical parents these days. They're expected to take your kid and turn them into a better person, without giving any punishments that might hurt the kids feelings. However, if the teacher, heaven forbid, makes a mistake, then prepare to get sued, yelled at, and possibly lose their job. I remember when teachers were just supposed to teach... Good luck to all you new teachers out there.
Political scientists don't have an answer in their pockets "What to vote for?"
Teachers seem to be thought of as magical parents these days. They're expected to take your kid and turn them into a better person, without giving any punishments that might hurt the kids feelings. However, if the teacher, heaven forbid, makes a mistake, then prepare to get sued, yelled at, and possibly lose their job. I remember when teachers were just supposed to teach... Good luck to all you new teachers out there.
Political scientists don't have an answer in their pockets "What to vote for?"