Dear Prudence

Re: Don't get me started....

SpaceCadet — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:48:29 GMT

Start, Tonto, start! Start, Tonto, start!

Don't get me started....

tonto_goldberg — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:06:16 GMT

The average typist (no degree, and safe easy inside work) in a state social welfare agency gets paid 20% more than the average case worker (degree required, outside work in all kinds of weather, risk of bodily harm trying to find clients).

Re: If only it could be that way.

SpaceCadet — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:33:59 GMT

There is a LOT of money in social work. Also, you never seen a gravy train like a tenure track gravy train. Makes all those poor bankers look like chumps. Corporate defense lawyers quail and are filled with remorse for their professional choices when they see public defenders, with their light workloads and delightful indigent clients and big money from the state.

Seriously, helping others is a racket {/sarcasm}

Re: If only it could be that way.

SmagBoy1 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:56:13 GMT

Yeah, those damned liberals, always ruining everything for, and taking rights from, the rich and privileged people (I mean, clearly the rich and privileged have no rights, right?). Next thing you know, we'll be advocating socialism and stealing all of their money in order to provide health care for all of those bazillions of people out there who don't work and milk the system.

Idiots. Makes me wonder how they got rich and privileged in the first place, actually. :-)

Re: If only it could be that way.

kati — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:16:37 GMT

Way to go, Tonto!

If only it could be that way.

tonto_goldberg — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:15:40 GMT

"As you watch their mouth open and close in astonishment, kindly tell them that you don’t really feel all teachers are bad, but thought they might like to know what it feels like to have their profession criticized so thoughtlessly. Then answer their question about your work. They’ll be so embarrassed they will listen and nod sympathetically."

In a perfect world, your ploy might work, and a person who had made a stupid and thoughtless comment about something they don't understand would be suitably embarrassed. In this best of all possible worlds, lots of sanctimonious numbskulls feel completely justified in criticizing anyone who defends the poor, who helps them keep a roof over their heads, who advocates for voting rights, literacy, or works in any of those "librull" occupations.

Lawyer's defense

mlemon — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:57:52 GMT

Stop trying to put them in the shoes of the accused, and put them in YOUR shoes, the person whose life’ work has been attacked with a conversational rocket propelled grenade under the guise of cocktail party chatter.

Take hostages before trying to negotiate with terrorists. Turn table on your sanctimonious conversation partner by simply telling them that before you answer their question, which is a very good one, might they please tell you what THEY do for a living? Of course, they will be delighted, telling you with satisfaction that they have an honourable profession such as teacher or accountant or collateralized mortgage dealer, at which point you can parry with something like this:

“Oh, you are a teacher, wonderful. Tell me, how does everyone in your industry live with themselves graduating students who can’t read and write?” Or, “How is that you keep failing our minority students?”

As you watch their mouth open and close in astonishment, kindly tell them that you don’t really feel all teachers are bad, but thought they might like to know what it feels like to have their profession criticized so thoughtlessly. Then answer their question about your work. They’ll be so embarrassed they will listen and nod sympathetically.

You might not reform everyone of their rudeness, but it might make cocktail parties more interesting, and you will be practicing your lawyerly skills to boot.