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“Which Profession Has The Most Deranged People?”: 40 Jobs That Often Attract Strange People
Interview
When choosing a career path, most of us only consider how the job itself will impact us. Would I be able to do this for 40 hours a week without losing my mind? Do I feel like my skills are being utilized in this position? Am I able to take pride in what I do?
But another important aspect you might want to consider before committing to a job is what your colleagues will be like. Redditors have recently been discussing professions that tend to attract the “most deranged people,” so we’ve gathered some of their thoughts below. Enjoy reading through this list, and be sure to upvote the jobs that you wouldn’t want to have either!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Clergy. Never trust a man who says he speaks for god. For some unknown reason, god always wants them to have more of your money.
#2
Nurses are either the sweetest people you'll ever meet and will go to hell and back for you to be comfortable during your stay, or the literal spawn of Satan, bullying anyone they come across and overall, not having evolved beyond high-school mean girl cliques.
There's no inbetween.
StrangeOne 5 months ago
You can tell pretty quickly by how they speak to you and the other patients, and how they react to you expressing your pain and discomfort.
#3
Life Coaches. Completely unregulated industry. Absolutely terrifying.
To find out how this conversation started in the first place, we reached out to Reddit user Romeonaammera, who posed the question, "Which profession has the most deranged people?” First, we wanted to know what inspired him to start this conversation.
"Just a personal bad experience with a traffic cop in New Delhi. I was trying to convince her that I keep all my documents in digital format, and it's legal for me to do so, but she simply wouldn't budge," the author shared. "I wasted an hour trying to negotiate, and then her senior came in and tried telling her that what I was telling her is actually valid and I can show my documents in digital format. She kept on arguing even then, but I was let go. That's why I made the post seeking similar bad experiences people might've had dealing with people in different professions."
#4
Nutritionists.
Note that I am not saying registered dieticians.
Edit: because some people are confused. Where I am, a registered dietician is someone who has a degree and has passed boards so that they can work in professional settings like a hospital giving medical advice.
A nutritionist is nothing. It’s usually a person with an unhealthy relationship/neurosis with food or some other disordered eating who calls themselves a nutritionist and tries to make a business of their f****d up adversarial issues with food.
StrangeOne 5 months ago
Some "holistic nutritionist" got my mom into eating bitter apricot seeds everyday, claiming to cure cancer and other tumors of any sorts. There was no convincing her otherwise.
#5
Mental health professionals. My lord what a peanut gallery of weirdos and nutters. I also say that as a 20 year veteran of the profession.
#6
MMA fighters. A career that requires recurring head trauma is definitely gonna end up with some crazies by necessity
StrangeOne 5 months ago
You have to ask what type of person decides they want to get beaten up for a living.
We also asked the OP which professions he believes attract the craziest people. "I personally feel that cops, healthcare workers and people working in the meat industry have some of the most deranged people out there," he told Bored Panda. "The former two are primarily because of the demanding working conditions in India for these jobs and the latter, in my opinion, just demands that you be deranged to just survive in."
The author added that he hasn't personally worked in these fields, but he knows people who have.
#7
Silicon Valley tech entrepreneurs. The living embodiment of "just because you can doesn't mean you should". I swear just about every day I hear about some new "innovation" that leaves me wondering how anyone could possibly think it's in any way good for the world. Wannabe supervillains.
María Hermida 5 months ago
Who cares if it's in any way good for the world? Do you think those a******s think of the repercussions their "innovation" will have?
#8
Psychology.
Seriously. I majored in Psychology for 2 years before switching majors, and every single person in my major classes that wanted to be a Psychologist was essentially just a really messed up person trying to figure their own s**t out and/or trying to diagnose everyone else so that they felt more normal/in control.
#9
Public relations. You’d think PR would be full of people people, but it’s mostly big egos who believe their own b******t and can’t shoot straight—everything needs an angle or a take. They think they’re saving the world while never truly acknowledge there’s a problem in the first place.
On the other hand, we wanted to know if the author believes any professions are full of wonderful people. "Uber Drivers," he shared. "While I have had a few not so ideal encounters with Uber drivers, for the most part, I have met amazing people who drove me from one place to the other. I think it's the rating system that makes them be extra nice, but in general, [they are]."
#10
Judges are so completely out of touch with reality.
At work, we would call out people’s first names when it was time for their session. He had been there for about 20 minutes and we called his name and he never responded. We did not know it was him sitting there so we figured whoever this person was had moved on. 20 minutes later I asked him for his name because I saw him sitting there for a while, and he said Mr. _____. I told him oh well we had called out his name a while ago but I would help him now.
He became incensed and that we would dare say his first name and that he only responded to “your honor” or Mr. _____ and that it was so disrespectful to call him that and he can’t believe we missed his appointment.
They live in their own world.
John Mosley 5 months ago
I had a man get mad at me for not calling him "Doctor". I had never met him before and I didn't know he was a Dr...Dr. A*****e!
#11
Slaughterhouse workers have some of the highest violent crime/domestic abuse instances of any profession.
Kathy Richardson 5 months ago
I have lived in three different towns in the U.S. that had slaughter houses and the majority of the workers were immigrants just trying to support their families. As for the kill floor, they use an air gun most of the time to kill the animal, then they hang the animal upside down and cut the throat to bleed them the same as a hunter does when they get whatever they are hunting.
#12
Those in the military. I'm 39 and have dated/talked to 3 different men in my lifetime who were either in the Air Force or Army. The level of mental f***ery they tried to pull... I cannot.
Can't go for that 5 months ago
Yes. I ran around with a guy who was in the Air Force. He tried using some type of brainwashing technique on me. Absolute sociopath and master manipulator.
Finally, we asked Romeo what he thought of the replies to his post. "I enjoyed them a lot," he noted. "Nothing particularly stood out per se, but I was surprised at the mentioned of line chefs."
#13
Motivational speakers.
#14
Lawyers. Though I know some stellar attorneys, the deranged ones are numerous, oddly competent and leave a wide swath of pain, loss, and despair.
Bowtechie 5 months ago (edited)
Tbf I'm starting to think there's a little insanity in all legal/legal-adjacent professionals - myself included lol. I'm not an attorney but I work for a large firm and I actually kind of love the neuroses of my lawyers. It's like herding cats, but they're my cats and and like all cat owners I can watch them do the weirdest s**t and I'll find it so amusing. To be clear, I'm talking day-to-day quirks like how they prefer their documents or write their emails or interact in general.
#15
I've dealt with a number of real estate developers. Everything from the single operator flipping houses to owners of huge development companies. There is a direct correlation between how successful they are and what insufferable pieces of s**t they are.
Michael Largey 5 months ago
Despite the popular saying, the three most important words in real estate are not "Location, location, location". They are "Money, money, money".
#16
Car salesman in my experience. You truly have to poker face and swindle your way into a bigger pay check. I think you have to have some form of sociopathic heart to sleep at night as a car salesman.
StrangeOne 5 months ago
You have to love money more than your dignity and morals, that's for sure.
#17
I'm assuming property managers at apartment complexes. The three people in the world I hope the absolute worst for are the property managers from the three complexes I've lived in. I don't know what it is about that position, but they are the most truly f*****g evil people I've ever encountered.
StrangeOne 5 months ago
I've met some absolute thug property managers when I lived in cheap apartments. But the people working at the mgmt company that runs this block I live in have been really not bad at all. S**t gets done. I've had no bogus accusations. No issues with rent being received. We've been left alone. I hope they remain here for a long time.
#18
Fashion industry. I corrected someone who asked if the Devil Wears Prada is accurate. My reply was, it’s more like a Mean Girls version of SAW on the set of Office Space
StrangeOne 5 months ago (edited)
So, basically, the Devil Wears Prada is an accurate depiction, which was written by someone who worked for the Editor In Chief of Vogue Magazine, and Miranda Presley was inspired by that EIC.
#19
Grade school teachers. I have a lot of respect for the s**t that they put up with but some of the people I had as teachers in grade school should NOT be working with kids, and I don’t think my experience with that is particularly uncommon.
#20
Sales. People who can do sales no problem are psychotic to me. Doing a couple weeks of sales calls was enough for me and I quit. You get paid to be a nuisance.
StrangeOne 5 months ago
They are always super hyper at 9am. Like wound, pacing, loud, cocky and just in your face, not allowing you to just try to learn what to do without them getting impatient with you. I've suspected some of the most high-strung ones are on coke.
#22
I don't know if "deranged" is the right term, but generally academics and psychiatrists always end up having screwed-up children.
Like for some reason if you have a kid who eats shoelaces and cakes his face with deodorant stick, someone will say "Oh that's Billy. Both of his parents are professors at MIT.".
#23
Have you ever met a stand-up comedian? Now there's a profession full of crazy geniuses you have to be a little off your rocker to willingly subject yourself to hecklers every night!
#24
University faculty, especially in disciplines that are unrelated to anything that makes money or has real-world applications.
Some academic departments are holding pens for personality disorders.
censorshipsucks 5 months ago
google Sokal Hoax if you want to learn more about why a large proportion of academia is just a wank.
#25
Back in the 70s, College professors, at least at smaller schools. These people were power tripping narcissists with massive delusions and paranoia especially around the tenure process and politics to become permanent. As a kid of two professors, saw some S**T at parties.
censorshipsucks 5 months ago
100% can confirm after over 20 years in higher education. F*****g narcissistic asshats who think their stupid waffle will save the world.
#26
Psychiatrists. Different side of the same coin as their patients but think theyve found socially acceptable ways to be deranged.
#27
Construction trades are full of angry a******s with broken bodies who resent every decision they ever made and whose only joy in life is making apprentices as miserable as they are. .
StrangeOne 5 months ago (edited)
I saw one on the bus, just gotten off his shift and still wearing his tool belt and steal toes, start going off on a family with a couple of kids because another lady was harassing them, too, and accusing them of being on welfare. The guy got up and took out his hammer like he was about to assault the family. Everyone was shocked. The bus stayed at the bus stop until police arrived, which wasn't long. This guy was ranting and complaining to the police. Ended up pissing off the cops and getting arrested. The family had already gotten off the bus and walked away. They did absolutely nothing but exist.
#28
Line cooks. Best and worst of all humanity. Don't bring a gun to a milk crate fight.
Hugh Cookson 5 months ago
Ex high end Chef with 37 years in front of the stove. The job nearly killed me several times - 1 heart attack, 2 mental breakdowns, 1 major fire that I got trapped in and one where a faulty gas cooker (that the owner had known about for 2 years, but had done nothing to get it fixed) basically blew me across the room when I tried to manually light it ; that landed me 3 days in hospital, I then sued the owner sucessfully for a chunk of money. I loved the job and many of my co workers, hated most of my employers and tried my hardest to put out the best food I could within the constraints of budgets, surroundings and staff competence. Would I go back into it ? No, f**k off, what do you think I am, stupid ?
#29
Dog Show Handlers.
The entire operation is weird as s**t and the people who travel from show to show every weekend are often quite bats**t.
Julia Mckinney 5 months ago
For a funny, and sweet, look at dog shows, watch Christopher Guest's mockumentary "Best in Show".
#30
Psychotherapy attracts some very dangerous people. And the licensing boards that are *supposed* to hold them accountable, for that matter.
#31
Film producers. While you need empathy and humanity (or the ability to fake those things) to become a director, every successful film producer that i've met is some sort of a*****e.
#32
Nonprofits + union staff. Often terrible people hiding behind moral ground of "my job is to save the world" imo.
StrangeOne 5 months ago (edited)
For-profit charities and thrift stores have to be the worst people disguised as the nicest. Behind every smile, compliment, nicety are stress, worked up people, who shout, shame and form cliques around each other.
#33
Pretty much everyone in logistics (Truck drivers, dock workers, pickers, etc.).
The truck drivers have either killed people or are about to (And yes, Swift really are the worst). The dock workers are all ex/current d**g dealers. The pickers are tweakers and meth heads.
Every company Christmas party there would either be a fight, or at least someone threatening to stab/shoot someone.
Good times though, I always got along with them despite being office admin. Getting invited to their BBQs and parties was like going to a scene from Boyz n the Hood.
Dumb teenager 5 months ago
My grandfather was a trucky. Drove a petrol tanker. I don’t really remember him but every word I’ve ever heard spoken about him describes him as one of the best people you’d ever meet.
#34
Believe it or not, gift basket designers. I used to do gift baskets as a side gig and the amount of people that are unhinged are insane! I got hate mail from asking too many questions in one Facebook group. One quote I got was "your ugly basket designs are too much for the sophisticated gift designers" among other horrific quotes. They are self-centered, backstabbing, horrible people.
#35
I've heard that painters are the farthest off the deepend. The painters that have worked for me are good examples of this. Love them guys, but they are kinda crazy.
Stephanie Did It 5 months ago
Paint fumes. All day. After hours, they often drink heavily or otherwise indulge in order to continue the buzz. Many painters' spouses & families can attest to this.
#36
Small town post office workers... I don't know why but everyone I've dealt with has some kind of screw loose.
#37
Catering….looking back it was just an insane industry to work in for as long as I did as a kid….
Thee8thsense 5 months ago
Providing service to people who are demanding, particular to an impossible measure and stressed about making themselves look good via your work seems highly likely to be a recipe for disaster.
#38
I worked as a florist for 15 years and I can confidently say that floral designers are some of the most messed-up people I’ve ever worked with. Fights breaking out at work were not uncommon. Everyone is so volatile and angry, probably because the pay sucks and the hours are brutal (especially during holidays).
#40
Surgeons because how’re you that comfortable cutting someone open and playing with their guts.
What do you think ?
Rayne OfSalt 5 months ago
Genuinely surprised that Cop isn't on the list. Talk about a profession full of borderline sociopaths with anger disorders, superiority complexes and violent tendencies.
Ladedah 5 months ago
Wow. All I see here are a whole lot of generalizations and biased individual opinions. There are good and bad people in every profession. Why is this even posted?
Moosy Girl 5 months ago
I think this list was written by a cop or someone in a customer service job, because those are conspicuously absent… ;)
Toothless Feline 5 months ago
Lots of stereotypes and attempts to create stereotypes here. Far too many generalizations. And a complete lack of compassion and sympathy for others. Yes, every job has truly messed-up people, and some do seem to attract more than others. But there is no field that is without such people, and there is no field where everyone is that messed up. Like everything else in the universe, they’re distributed unevenly and mostly randomly, based on what opportunities fall each person’s way.
StrangeOne 4 months ago
Telemarketers and market researchers. One does coke, the other never stops being nosy when they're off the clock.
kansasmagic 5 months ago
My takeaway is that apparently every job has the "most" deranged workers...
BrunoVI 5 months ago
I don't mean to invalidate any political viewpoints through guilt-by-association. Or promote any conspiracy-minded politicians or organizations, like Q. But Washington, DC is today dominated by hive-minded people who hate their fellow humans and believe that the rest of America is too stupid to be entrusted with democratic processes. In a way, it's WORSE than a conspiracy; no-one needs to get their marching orders; it's just a perfect coalescence of minds of self-important would-be overlords.
Orysha 5 months ago
Seriously, no one said politicians when we know Trump and Milei or cops a job that attracts violent psychos ? ACAB
Reset Game 4 months ago
What should have been on the list - cops, ICE agents, social workers, customer service supervisors & executive management for homeless nonprofits All toxic toads
Dawn Davison Clements 4 months ago
I came to say that exact thing. As a former cop I can definitely say it should be high on this list.
visacrum 4 months ago
Podiatrists. I had a position where I regularly handled Medical Education meetings for Spine surgeons, Orthopedists (think extremities mainly), and Podiatrists. After each meeting, there would be a 'reception' afterwards. Spine surgeons were divas. Expected the best, scoffed at less than the best. Orthopedists were just after free stuff. They would bring their family to the reception (they weren't supposed to), they would pile everything (usually butler passed hors d'oeuvres) onto their plates. But Podiatrists...my GOD every single time it was like Animal house. Not even the same group of Podiatrists, it was a different group EVERY TIME. Stealing wine glasses. I remember one of their spouses (spouses were allowed btw) showing everyone about 'spirit hands' as a cheerleader and half the group immediately invaded the lobby giving everyone 'spirit hands'. One group managed to detach a decoration from a wall. And omg taking MULTIPLE to-go bottles of wine! I don't know what it is about them
h to da izzle 4 months ago
i might add the middle to upper management in certain parts of the social service system. especially here in germany. i worked at quite a few organisations and the base workers are all fine people ripping their heart out for the kids, but as soon as it comes to the middle management position people just don't seem to care anymore. they litteraly give a f**k about the kids, its all about numbers, money and how to manage it that you delegate all your work to the people that are actively working with the kids. screw you L.L.
WalterWhiteSavannah 4 months ago
I'm also surprised roofer didn't make the cut. 15 years in construction I knew some decent dudes who were roofers but a large majority were alcoholics, meth heads, and just generally screwed up people.
Two_rolling_black_eyes 5 months ago
Physical therapist. I'm glad they exist and they perform a vital service but the job is to hurt people. You have to be sadistic to force a 77 year old grandma who is taking opiates just to stand up and make them walk.
censorshipsucks 5 months ago
so I've seen two votes for florists and about 5 votes for shrinks in the list above. I suspect this means we agree that shrinks are nuts.
Tyranamar Seuss 5 months ago
Home health care workers. I work in addictions. Scarily, the last job everyone goes to before they're completely unable to work is construction or home health care. It's frightening how many people with active addiction are being invited into people's homes to take care of a vulnerable individual when they can't even care for themselves. And they're actively stealing.
Rayne OfSalt 5 months ago
Genuinely surprised that Cop isn't on the list. Talk about a profession full of borderline sociopaths with anger disorders, superiority complexes and violent tendencies.
Ladedah 5 months ago
Wow. All I see here are a whole lot of generalizations and biased individual opinions. There are good and bad people in every profession. Why is this even posted?
Moosy Girl 5 months ago
I think this list was written by a cop or someone in a customer service job, because those are conspicuously absent… ;)
Toothless Feline 5 months ago
Lots of stereotypes and attempts to create stereotypes here. Far too many generalizations. And a complete lack of compassion and sympathy for others. Yes, every job has truly messed-up people, and some do seem to attract more than others. But there is no field that is without such people, and there is no field where everyone is that messed up. Like everything else in the universe, they’re distributed unevenly and mostly randomly, based on what opportunities fall each person’s way.
StrangeOne 4 months ago
Telemarketers and market researchers. One does coke, the other never stops being nosy when they're off the clock.
kansasmagic 5 months ago
My takeaway is that apparently every job has the "most" deranged workers...
BrunoVI 5 months ago
I don't mean to invalidate any political viewpoints through guilt-by-association. Or promote any conspiracy-minded politicians or organizations, like Q. But Washington, DC is today dominated by hive-minded people who hate their fellow humans and believe that the rest of America is too stupid to be entrusted with democratic processes. In a way, it's WORSE than a conspiracy; no-one needs to get their marching orders; it's just a perfect coalescence of minds of self-important would-be overlords.
Orysha 5 months ago
Seriously, no one said politicians when we know Trump and Milei or cops a job that attracts violent psychos ? ACAB
Reset Game 4 months ago
What should have been on the list - cops, ICE agents, social workers, customer service supervisors & executive management for homeless nonprofits All toxic toads
Dawn Davison Clements 4 months ago
I came to say that exact thing. As a former cop I can definitely say it should be high on this list.
visacrum 4 months ago
Podiatrists. I had a position where I regularly handled Medical Education meetings for Spine surgeons, Orthopedists (think extremities mainly), and Podiatrists. After each meeting, there would be a 'reception' afterwards. Spine surgeons were divas. Expected the best, scoffed at less than the best. Orthopedists were just after free stuff. They would bring their family to the reception (they weren't supposed to), they would pile everything (usually butler passed hors d'oeuvres) onto their plates. But Podiatrists...my GOD every single time it was like Animal house. Not even the same group of Podiatrists, it was a different group EVERY TIME. Stealing wine glasses. I remember one of their spouses (spouses were allowed btw) showing everyone about 'spirit hands' as a cheerleader and half the group immediately invaded the lobby giving everyone 'spirit hands'. One group managed to detach a decoration from a wall. And omg taking MULTIPLE to-go bottles of wine! I don't know what it is about them
h to da izzle 4 months ago
i might add the middle to upper management in certain parts of the social service system. especially here in germany. i worked at quite a few organisations and the base workers are all fine people ripping their heart out for the kids, but as soon as it comes to the middle management position people just don't seem to care anymore. they litteraly give a f**k about the kids, its all about numbers, money and how to manage it that you delegate all your work to the people that are actively working with the kids. screw you L.L.
WalterWhiteSavannah 4 months ago
I'm also surprised roofer didn't make the cut. 15 years in construction I knew some decent dudes who were roofers but a large majority were alcoholics, meth heads, and just generally screwed up people.
Two_rolling_black_eyes 5 months ago
Physical therapist. I'm glad they exist and they perform a vital service but the job is to hurt people. You have to be sadistic to force a 77 year old grandma who is taking opiates just to stand up and make them walk.
censorshipsucks 5 months ago
so I've seen two votes for florists and about 5 votes for shrinks in the list above. I suspect this means we agree that shrinks are nuts.
Tyranamar Seuss 5 months ago
Home health care workers. I work in addictions. Scarily, the last job everyone goes to before they're completely unable to work is construction or home health care. It's frightening how many people with active addiction are being invited into people's homes to take care of a vulnerable individual when they can't even care for themselves. And they're actively stealing.
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