Rant about stereotyping people's profession/trade...

Good lawyers exist, despite the Lawyer Jokes! Ever since I was in high school I've heard lawyer jokes. Years back during Practical Legal Training in a legal environment, I was aware lawyer jokes existed and heard them even more.

Today I don't hear them as much. Why? Probably because where I work, there are a good many people who are decent enough not to simply throw out a tasteless (or even tasteful) joke at parties or gatherings simply to have a laugh by insulting my chosen profession.

Most people, in all honesty, would agree, that personally I have a good sense of humour and that I could (and in all probability would), appreciate a well-told joke, regardless of any negative connotation that it may have on my chosen profession. I mean, let us face it…most jokes poke fun at what people perceive (albeit stereotypically), as a dominant trait of a profession, trade, race, religion, etc...

In fact, on our office coffee table we have a book of "Lawyer Jokes" for those waiting to meet with us. Clients commenting, appreciate our humour and reflect that we are human after all, not all painted by the same brush as some "bad apples", and there are those of us who have scruples. And then, who do people run to when they need solid legal advice and help?

In short, one should show respect towards others' chosen profession/trade, and not generally stereo type people as all "bad apples", in the manner jokes do.

 

Ain't planning on changing peoples' mind...just making people aware of how unnecessarily insulting they can be...pretty thoughtless as far as I'm concerned when throwing a general blanket over a profession/trade. Doesn't only apply to the legal profession...applies to Computer people also. But then, to each his own as they say...personally, I'm pretty thick skinned, just get rather tired of it all sometime.

 

I'm sure your are true to your profession LS but when you have to pay $100.00 a min including phone calls you become tainted. Thats here anyway!

 

I'm sure we've all seen seen this joke, at least in the USA.
1-800-CALL-SAM

 

The scary part is that's actually a law office.

As for stereotypical jokes about professions...I belong to and am an officer in a union local. You're preaching to the choir.

 

Hence the joke.

 

It happens. Over here, the two nationalities they like to bash are English and Americans. Since I'm Anglo-American, I get a double dose. But hey, I don't run the countries policies, just what I happen to be. Then I get all the computer nerd and mad scientist jokes. Big deal, at least I've achieved a few things in life. When I was young, I had fair hair, so I got all the dopey blonde jokes, too - whatever.

The point being, like what was said, people like to bash other people to feed their own ego trips. What they don't realize, is that they're making themselves look bad more than anything else. So it's not my problem. That's the way I look at it, anyway. I notice that a lot of the 'knockers' have come running to me for help when they're in a fix soon enough. Probably, they do with you as well.

As said, there is good, bad, and a lot in between in any occupation or way of life. Just that a lot of folk think it's easier to knock and bag people, than to do something more constructive, i.m.o. As long as you’re satisfied with your own achievement who cares about the negative brigade, eh.

 

Lawyers or solicitors as we call them over here are similar to undertakers,your going through a really bad time and on top of that the lawyer/undertaker is bleeding you dry

Its just the nature of the beast,fighting for your freedom or possessions is just a bad situation all round,I dislike the principle process of undertakers more than lawyers.

 

I hate to think this is keeping you away LS. If you like you can complain of the over priced crappy flowers you've received in the past. What a waste of money that is :wave

 

Hey LS... my lawyer is also one of my best friends Just worked out good like that.

Try being a Phlebotomist for 13 years... I think I have heard about every tasteless joke there is about being a vampire... when I worked nights at the hospital doing it.... well, lets just say it wasn't better.

Now that I am a professional hairstylist, I get all sorts of stuff... my orientation aside, they expect a guy who does hair to be some flaming, prancing, effeminate fairy, and as several memebers here who know me can attest to, that sure isn't me.. LOL


the thing is, most professions have some negative connotation at some point.. Doctors charge too much, lawyers are bloodthirsty, Phlebotomists are cruel vampires, even the trash collectors are looked down on becasue of what they do... we all have a job to do that helps make the world go round, and unfortunately, people who are jealous of our success have to find a way to rationalize why they can't do what we do. Hence the jokes.... of course (CNY Geeks will get this I'm sure) the Heavy Hitters make it a pain for all lawyers here.

Hope your day gets better

~C

 

At least getting old there's no such thing as re-runs