Name three professions that you view with the utmost respect

[MagicConch]

Cab Drivers
Air Traffic Controllers
Firefighters

 

[DangerAardvark]

Originally posted by: Howard
Philosophers
Doctors
Not sure

You must respect the shit out of me then, cause I'm really not sure what I want do with myself.

 

[Brutus04]

Dentist
Teacher
EMT

 

[kreactor]

mothers
welfare office works
dmv workers

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe
doctors

research scientists

vets- animal doctors don't make much money and do so much good

Thank you Geekbabe.

My list:
Teachers
Fire Fighters
...nothing else i can thing of deserves respect from me (without me being self serving).

Edit: Shit, engineers should be on the list for sure.

 

[Vic]

Full day's work for a full day's pay and you have my respect.

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: RESmonkey

Originally posted by: Locut0s

Originally posted by: ed21x
1. Soldiers
2. Missionaries

#2 would be on my list of jobs I least respect.

QFTMFT.

I think people who say that only know about missionaries in theory in their own minds and haven't met real missionaries out in "the field". Missionaries get paid little (if anything) for their own basic needs (let alone luxuries), they do a lot of good works in many communities around the world. Many are killed for their beliefs, even though they don't force their beliefs on people, but just quietly help and teach anyone willing to listen. Obviously there are some who wear the guise of missionaries, and are really in it for some ulterior motive, and a result of that is they are bad. But that could be said of any profession, and by and large most missionaries are helping people and not hurting.

 

[Fenixgoon]

doctors, engineers, police/firefighters/soldiers. if i had to rank them.. probably engineers 1st

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Special K
1. Soldier
2. Firefighter
3. Police Officer

EDIT: I didn't even see Chaotic42's post

Everyone with the snake avatar has ASP...

 

[Slew Foot]

Putting in an honest days work without having to leach off welfare or other social assistance= respect.

 

[Finalnight]

Doctors
Farmers
Sanitation Workers

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

1. Soldiers
2. Firemen
3. EMTs

 

[DarkThinker]

Anything except Lawyers, Doctors and Car Salesmen.

 

[Babbles]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe
doctors

research scientists

vets- animal doctors don't make much money and do so much good

Good call Geekbabe! Except most research scientists seem to be underpaid alcoholic folks just trying to get a paycheck.


<=========== Research Scientist just back from the bar . . . again

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: Crono

Originally posted by: RESmonkey

Originally posted by: Locut0s

Originally posted by: ed21x
1. Soldiers
2. Missionaries

#2 would be on my list of jobs I least respect.

QFTMFT.

I think people who say that only know about missionaries in theory in their own minds and haven't met real missionaries out in "the field". Missionaries get paid little (if anything) for their own basic needs (let alone luxuries), they do a lot of good works in many communities around the world. Many are killed for their beliefs, even though they don't force their beliefs on people, but just quietly help and teach anyone willing to listen. Obviously there are some who wear the guise of missionaries, and are really in it for some ulterior motive, and a result of that is they are bad. But that could be said of any profession, and by and large most missionaries are helping people and not hurting.

If they wanted to just help people, they wouldn't need to be preaching religion along with their good work. The fact that they are bible thumping indicates that they aren't doing it solely with good intentions, which is a shame because they otherwise go through a lot of suffering in doing their good deeds.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Locut0s
No I would not consider those humanitarians to be less respectful. Like I was saying before I think all religion is harmful to some degree. again let me reiterate I don't disrespect the work the missionaries do but the reasons they do it. Given the option of no humanitarian work or missionary work I would chose to have the missionaries doing their work I would much rather see secularist organizations though. Your argument about Indian casts is a red herring though. It sounds nice to say 'see even some religious organizations practice anti humanitarian activities' and try to turn the argument on its head however like I was saying it's not the humanitarian activities that I'm against but having them tied to religion. Which in the case of your argument about Indian casts is the very problem in the first place.

You read that backwards. My point was that the secular humanitarians were just as guilty of "forcing" their beliefs onto those they help as the missionaries. Claiming that the fundamental problem was the religion/culture of the Indians is just going back to the standard argument of "Well it's different when we do it, because our way is correct and we know what's better for you!"...which is, if I'm not mistaken, the very attitude which atheists so loath about certain churches.

Originally posted by: ViRGE
If they wanted to just help people, they wouldn't need to be preaching religion along with their good work. The fact that they are bible thumping indicates that they aren't doing it solely with good intentions, which is a shame because they otherwise go through a lot of suffering in doing their good deeds.

Gee, maybe they think that preaching religion helps people. You know, a good intention.

They're not doing it to get a gold star next to their name any more than the secular humanitarians are. How you cannot see this is beyond me.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: Crono

Originally posted by: RESmonkey

Originally posted by: Locut0s

Originally posted by: ed21x
1. Soldiers
2. Missionaries

#2 would be on my list of jobs I least respect.

QFTMFT.

I think people who say that only know about missionaries in theory in their own minds and haven't met real missionaries out in "the field". Missionaries get paid little (if anything) for their own basic needs (let alone luxuries), they do a lot of good works in many communities around the world. Many are killed for their beliefs, even though they don't force their beliefs on people, but just quietly help and teach anyone willing to listen. Obviously there are some who wear the guise of missionaries, and are really in it for some ulterior motive, and a result of that is they are bad. But that could be said of any profession, and by and large most missionaries are helping people and not hurting.

If they wanted to just help people, they wouldn't need to be preaching religion along with their good work. The fact that they are bible thumping indicates that they aren't doing it solely with good intentions, which is a shame because they otherwise go through a lot of suffering in doing their good deeds.

Have you seen first hand how most missionaries witness? I have never seen nor heard of one running around preaching. All that I have talked to shared their religion when they were asked questions. They were asked questions because they were simply helping people expecting nothing in return.

A true missionary expects nothing in return. Even if not one single person joined them it wouldn't matter.

Originally posted by: Praxis1452

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Locut0s
Ok we aren't going to be able to see eye to eye on this one I can see that. I in fact do respect the work that missionaries do I just don't respect the reason they do it. I am an atheist personally and don't like the idea of others trying to convert people to their religion. It is not the same thing as saying you don't need to be American to help those in need because Americans who help out those in need are no different than anyone else who helps out those in need. Conversion is one of the prime objectives of missionaries on the other hand.

So? They aren't trying to convert others because it earns them a gold star in heaven. They are trying to convert others because they honestly believe that it is the best thing for them. ALL humanitarians operate on this exact premise. Now, some are overzealous in their work--denying medical care for non-converts is despicable in my mind--but secular humanitarians have fallen into similar traps when it comes to thinking that they know what's "best" for others.

Back in the day, some Indians actually resented humanitarian efforts for the lower castes, because it was their "place" to suffer, and relieving that suffering only meant that they'd have to spend more cycles of reincarnation in lower castes, thus doing them a disservice. Do you find those humanitarians to be on the list of people you "least respect" as well?

lol... Good intentions are all mistaken. Every last one. Every action is for the self. I often helping people whether it be with work or something else but I don't misguide myself believing that I'm just SUCH A WONDERFUL PERSON for doing these things. When I do them I feel good and they benefit as well. It's good for both people. I have no problem with missionaries who view it as an exchange. They do goodwill towards the people and hope that they become X religion or share their views. We all try to convert people towards our views.: any time an argument occurs it happens. It's part of life. Whether it be subtler or not it makes no difference to me.

I do not say however that the people don't honestly believe in their selflessness. They do and that's why they are wrong.

In response to the Indians you used religion as a counter to religion? huh? Sure makes sense. Why doesn't everyone believe in heaven etc if it makes them feel better?

So what do I actually disagree with? I disagree with the idea that the missionaries are pure in their actions and that they misguide themselves when doing so, which happens to include almost all of them.

edit: I commented so much that I totally forgot the topic haha. I don't think a general profession is a good way to judge at all. What professions do I think would be awesome though?

1) Philosophy - Academia
2) Comedian
3) Artists - all types I think. If your incredibly good at something your and have dedicated yourself to that aspect I think it's awesome.

How can you respect anyone if you just think everyone is always looking out for #1. So the people who risk their lives and die (say, someone who rescues 3 people from a fire but dies from smoke inhalation) was selfish? What do they get, fame? Money? If they are a Christian than they are going to heaven either way they didn't need to die saving people to do that, Christianity isn't based on works. So, how exactly is that act selfish?

 

[Corporate Thug]

1. lawyers
2. lawyers
3. lawyers

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer

Originally posted by: Farang
Doctors
Architects
Novelists

Most doctors are spoiled assholes, I work in a hospital so I have first hand experience with that

sigh. Most? You must know quite a few physicians. Most of the doctors that I know are absolutely phenomenal people. Side note; try busting your hump for 4 years of high school, 4 years of undergrad, then say.. 6-8 years of medical school/residency/fellowship only to have your patients/bosses (businessmen) assume they know as much or more about medicine than you do. Add to that, those people that already assume you're an asshole doctor just because you're a doctor and you've already got quite a bit to be pissy about as a physician. Not that I'm in any way condoning the behavior of some physicians - I absolutely loathe asshat/arrogant doctors, but some have been pushed to the breaking point. To be frank, I think doctors are some of the more under appreciated professionals out there - and yes, I'm admitting to being biased.

On topic, I'll have to go with whackers of any sort (fire/police/EMS), social workers (a huge category of people), and so many blue collar workers. Sorry, really cop out answers, but when's the last time people took the time to say thank you to their janitors?

 

[hiromizu]

People that I obligatorily respect because I feel sorry for them:

Soldiers
Police
Fast food workers


People that I have true respect for:

Portfolio managers
Researchers
Cuban political refugees

 

[chowmein]

Its funny, I was just thinking about this sort of thing the other day. Whenever I go anywhere in uniform, people would stop me to thank me for my service. That just makes my job way more worth-while and rewarding than anything I've ever done or could do.

:beer: to all

 

[xtknight]

Firefighters
Paramedics
Pediatricians

And I feel sorry for:
- Psychologists
- Prison guards
- Police

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

I can't say that I respect members of any particular profession. People choose to do the jobs they are comfortable doing. What some people consider to be crazy (such as cleaning sewers) others consider a great job. The only way I respect anyone for their profession is if they choose to pursue a particular profession because it needs to be done AND it is not their first choice: Ex: Some (not all) members of the military, some educators, etc.

 

[Pepsi90919]

AnandTech Moderator
AnandTech Moderator
AnandTech Moderator

 

[jmmtn4aj]

Originally posted by: Locut0s
Doctors working for Médecins Sans Frontières and other such organizations.
Journalists who risk their lives in war torn countries or other danger zones.

Those two, too, but tier 1 special forces like DEVGRU, SFOD-Delta and the SAS above them. Just the selection process and training puts more mental and physical stress on these men than most people experience within the span of several decades. I respect them for that. If superman were homo sapiens sapiens, he'd be a seal, delta or sas operator

For the war journalists and MSF doctors, I respect them partially for having the balls to work in those places, and mostly for the knowledge and experience they've gained doing what they do. The MSF doctors are a little more respect-worthy because a 'Dr.' prefixed to your name could make you far more money than you'd ever make in a non-profit, so it's really noble.

MSF pilot and wartime correspondent/photographer are the two jobs I'd most love to have. Oddly I never went through the policeman/firefighter phase, always wanted to travel and be shot at.. at the same time.

 

[gophins72]

no particular order:
teachers,
social workers,
therapists