I find it disturbing that people associate a person solely with their career. "Oh, Tom there... he is a dentist. Bob is just a mechanic." Oftentimes, that is the only attribute a person receives during an introduction. One of the first questions a person will ask another is "What do you do?" The person being questioned may be retired, but you rarely hear "Nothing." You might hear "I am between jobs." You might as well say you are unemployed, but that has a stigma attached.
If a person is happy doing what they do and is able to afford their lifestyle doing it, I find them to be virtuous for their frugality. They do not need to buy the latest fashions or try to keep up appearances merely for social credits. There is nothing wrong with buying what you want if you can afford it. There is nothing wrong with having a good income. However, judging a person based on their income is throwing the person into a specific class structure.
Think of Mario. Yes, this is the same Mario from the video game. What is he? A plumber? No! The man is a hero! He saved the princess. However, if he was at a party being introduced, he would only be that lowly plumber. "Oh, if I ever have a leak, I will be sure to call you!"
If a person can somehow identify themselves based on the exploits of their career, they should also be able to list any attributes they consider positive. "So, tell me about yourself!" "Well, Roger, I am intelligent. I love eating sushi." "Wait, wait. Let me stop your right there! I meant, what do you do?" "Oh, I clean houses for vacation homes." "Oh." Somehow the person has now been degraded into a 'house cleaner' instead of the intelligent sushi eater he claims to be.
I think this helps explain the stress and low self-esteem of some people. When you are your profession (That is, when you are identified by your profession and nothing else) and you lose your job, you become less of a person. You are no longer a teacher. You are, instead, nothing. But that is not true. You are something. You are yourself. Do you remember the way you made that sad person smile yesterday? Do you remember the time you rescued those puppies? Do you remember the company you provided to your best friend when they were going through hard times? You might be helpful, caring, smart, sensitive, strong, spiritual, or virtuous. However, those people that judge you by the first impression of your career may never know that. A lawyer is a scumbag. A doctor is rich. A janitor is unintelligent. A lawyer is not always dishonest. A doctor or someone trying to become a doctor is usually not rich at all. And there are very wise janitors. These stereotypes may even be true under many circumstances, but judging a person based on their job is no better than making snap judgments about a person based on their race. If you are simply making small talk, why even talk at all? You are probably wasting your own time and the time of other people. If you really want to know about a person, delve deeper and do not jump to conclusions based on what you see on the surface.
