What are the profession(s) that offer no real benefit to society?

[So]

Originally posted by: Schadenfreude

Originally posted by: So
Tax accountants. Seriously...if the tax code was just...simple, they would never be hired.

So would the be the tax accountant's fault or the lawmaker's?

Well, it's the lawmakers fault that a useless class of accountants exist.

 

[Mo0o]

In reality, other than illegal professions such as drug dealers and what not, all professions offer some kind of benefit to society otherwise they wouldn't be paid to do what they do in the first place. Whether they're overpaid or not is a nother matter.

Edit: although I will say, telemarketers are really pushing it as far as their worth goes. But i guess someone buys otherwise it wouldn't be so popular

 

[Legendary]

Spammers, hands down.

 

[iamaelephant]

Lawyers.

 

[zanieladie]

Originally posted by: SpunkyJones
Forum Mods.




Well, the ones at other sites that is.

----------------------------------------
Good comeback:thumbsup:

Mod

Good cover...HAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[imported_artemis]

Conceptual artists, which create art that requires an esoteric explanation to understand the piece. What real benefit to people in society receive from some post-modern expression sitting in a museum. The art is not accessible to masses, unless you have a page description explaining what the hell it is suppose to mean. I feel like art is great, but these conceptual art posers suck resources, and are mostly in it for self-aggrandizement.

Oh, and politicians. We can definitely do without them. Their function is to serve society, but it is really about self-service.

Lawyers are necessary because they help with conflict resolution, effectuating transactions, and vindicating rights. (not all the time, but that is their supposed function).

 

[herkulease]

I would have to say models. Not actors who also model, those who only job is modeling. The don't really provide anything. A manaquin(sp?) can model clothes for designers and stores.

female Models often give young girls ideas about unhealthy diets. they also give men unrealistic expection women, ultra thin, nice rack etc.

Male models give women unrealistic expectation about regular men. Not every guy will have a six pack, nice pecks and bulging biceps.

 

[Valhalla1]

I'm a pro poker player and I don't suppose I offer any real value to society. I love it

 

[AccruedExpenditure]

You live up to your handle. If any job didn't have a benefit to someone in society it wouldn't be around. You lose the argument, my only regret is that I would have commented earlier so that more people could see how wrong you are in your accertion about entertainers.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: AccruedExpenditure
You live up to your handle. If any job didn't have a benefit to someone in society it wouldn't be around. You lose the argument, my only regret is that I would have commented earlier so that more people could see how wrong you are in your ascertion about entertainers.

He said "benefit to society" - that's society as a whole, not just one person. One person in society might benefit from someone standing in the kitchen, calling off every 10 minutes "There are 64 ounces of milk in the refrigerator, and it is now 4 days, 12 hours, 15 minutes, 10 seconds old."
Knowing that information might keep this particular person at ease, and they'd be willing to pay for this service.
Does this sort of job benefit society as a whole though? No, not really.

 

[ntdz]

Originally posted by: IdioticBuffoon
I think there are some professions that don't provide any real, significant benefit to society. For example professional sports. They promote physical fitness and healthy lifestyles which is good but what do they give back to society that could be considered really beneficial? Sure, professional athletes could be philanthropic and donate regularly but the money they give out is actually the public's channeled through.

Showbiz ... fashion/movies/music ... what do they offer other than entertainment which I'm sure people can live without (or live with much less than what is available today) other than documentary making which is educational and instructive.

Any others?

Entertainment is extremely important. It keeps people happy, able to do their own jobs better.

The first job that popped into my mind when I read the thread title was Politician.

 

[IdioticBuffoon]

Originally posted by: AccruedExpenditure
If any job didn't have a benefit to someone in society it wouldn't be around.

The "want" for something could be "around" without its "need". Hence, a profession can exist as a "want" of many people who support and cherish it but at the same time it could be totally useless in terms of providing benefit to society.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Help Desk employees.

 

[crystal]

thieves, scam artists, etc. Society would be better without them. BTW, some people do these for a living so in a way it is their profession.

 

[SaturnX]

Entertainment is an expression of culture. You get rid of that, you effectively destroy culture.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: DevilsAdvocate

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
Lawyers

May you never need one... :roll:

... to protect yourself from somebody else's lawyer.

It's a nice racket ... kind of like protection money. And entirely legal because most politicians are lawyers.

 

[xospec1alk]

i would say financial analysts.

 

[MaxFusion16]

ebay scal.....I mean resellers

 

[Fenixgoon]

anything not engineering *cough* liberal arts *cough cough*

 

[JDrake]

Plastic surgeon (not for medical reasons, just for like botex or w/e)

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: EatSpam
Big Business CEOs... their existance is a net negative to society.

QFT!!!

 

[ForumMaster]

toll booth agents.
lawyers
any job at:
intel
microsoft
oh and any forum mod that doesn't know how to write funny quotes. ofcourse since all our mods do, it ain't on AT, but in several other forums sites i know. keep it up mods!

 

[Vic]

What are the profession(s) that offer no real benefit to society?

None. If they had no benefit, no one would pay them.

Originally posted by: HomeAppraiser
Fourth vote for Realtors.

Biting the hand that feeds you?

 

[BeauJangles]

Those guys who work at insurance companies and whose only goal is to try and get the company out of paying your claim.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
Those guys who work at insurance companies and whose only goal is to try and get the company out of paying your claim.

Obviously the insurance companies think that Claims Adjusters provide benefit. Or else they wouldn't pay them. And if you think about it, they really do provide benefit to society as a whole. They are the first line of defense against insurance fraud, and that helps keep your premiums down.