How about an "occupation" blank on the user pages?

June 1, 2004 9:41 PM

How about an "occupation" blank on the user pages?
posted by interrobang to Feature Requests at 9:41 PM (42 comments total)

I often click on people’s user pages if they say something clever or outrageously insulting, to find out more about them and to see where they’re coming from.

I can see where it could lead to problems: poster X could read the user-page of poster Y, find out what they do for a living, and come back with a “what do you know? You’re just a fucking terlet-button pusher!”, but I still think it’d be interesting.

I don’t have an ulterior motive for this, since I don’t have a job anyway, but the only current way to find out where people are coming from around here –- expertise-wise – is to obsessively follow questions on AskMe.
posted by interrobang at 9:42 PM on June 1, 2004

Would a drop-down list be better, rather than a blank field, so we can put people in pigeon-holes more efficiently?
posted by dg at 10:11 PM on June 1, 2004 [1 favorite]

I've already said that I realize the potential dangers of such a thing, but like the gender and zipcode blanks, one would not be obligated to fill it in.
posted by interrobang at 10:13 PM on June 1, 2004

Nah, not a pull-down menu. Those things never have "gigolo" on them.
posted by Jimbob at 10:16 PM on June 1, 2004

Those things never have "gigolo" on them.

Or evil genius.
Or Zombie Lord/Lady.
Or Ruiner of Men's Souls

Ah, there are so many things that just never make it in to the lists...
posted by dejah420 at 10:27 PM on June 1, 2004

Sorry, I wasn't meaning to be nasty, I actually think a drop-down list would work better.
posted by dg at 10:28 PM on June 1, 2004

“what do you know? You’re just a fucking terlet-button pusher!”,

I think this problem would solve itself, with the snappy comeback of "what do you know? You actually believed what I put in my occupation blank."
posted by weston at 10:36 PM on June 1, 2004

oh. that kind of occupation.

I was thinking this would have been a "for" or "against" field.
posted by namespan at 10:37 PM on June 1, 2004

How about an "occupation" blank on the user pages?

So Hitler could put in ‘Poland’?
posted by LeLiLo at 10:52 PM on June 1, 2004

Presumably, lelilo. I have my gender listed as "perpendicular" right now, and my best friend has his listed as "plumber".

Some could choose to answer honestly, some wouldn't. Wouldn't you like to know, though?
posted by interrobang at 10:58 PM on June 1, 2004

I don't really see the value, except as a lens through which to judge what people say. They have the space to explain their occupation if they choose. A specific blank for occupation just forces them to enter "null" if they don't want to talk about it (which says something right there). I guess they could come up with something clever to put there instead, like my gender.

An interesting thought, but nah.
posted by scarabic at 11:52 PM on June 1, 2004

Ideally you'd be able to lookup people with the same occupation as you they way you can lookup people in neighbouring zip codes.

I agree with dg about using a drop-down list instead of freeform text entry. Does anyone know of a comprehensive occupation list?
posted by timeistight at 1:48 AM on June 2, 2004

I don't know about this.

I'm already wringing my hands over whether I'm going to put pirate or ninja.

P.s. ninja is not in "spell check".
posted by rudyfink at 2:56 AM on June 2, 2004

There's already a place to link to a "homepage URL". What more do you need? The idea of a comprehensive occupation drop-down list makes me laugh. How narrow-minded!
posted by cbrody at 3:27 AM on June 2, 2004

A drop down occupation list is easy. Just do it arcade style. Maybe 40 drop down columns with the letters a through z, numerals, dashes, dots and punctuation symbols. There, an exhaustive occupation list.
posted by substrate at 5:09 AM on June 2, 2004

how about you just type your occupation in the darn text box matt gives you on the page, if you so desire? one more option = one more spot to not say anything about yourself, if you like to be a bit more private.

freeform is probably more fun, and requires less micromangement. like "matt, there's no option for 'zoo-monkey lice remover' in the occupation list!"
posted by caution live frogs at 5:43 AM on June 2, 2004

Occupation? I'm a scout for a major advertising firm.
posted by mr.marx at 8:48 AM on June 2, 2004

Members who want to share their job status can already do that. I like a well-populated profile(even though I don't have one).
posted by theora55 at 8:51 AM on June 2, 2004

Occupation :

"other"
posted by troutfishing at 10:16 AM on June 2, 2004

I just added it.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 10:22 AM on June 2, 2004

And I, ever so proudly, have been able to finally list myself as Zombie Mistress.
posted by dejah420 at 11:11 AM on June 2, 2004

Way to kill a conversation. Jeez.
posted by luser at 11:11 AM on June 2, 2004

Whoops. Talking to #1 there, d420.
posted by luser at 11:12 AM on June 2, 2004

Wow! Thanks, Matt.
posted by interrobang at 11:19 AM on June 2, 2004

Bonus: everyone with a stated occupation.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:29 AM on June 2, 2004

Aw, Matt. These beer goggles are totally working.

I love you, man. (*sob*)
posted by chicobangs at 12:16 PM on June 2, 2004

I like how the occupation page is sorted by usernumber. Someone hire me!
posted by corpse at 1:00 PM on June 2, 2004

GOAT RAPIST

*imagines Matt surveying answers so far, sitting back satisfied at the return on his time investment, firmly resolving to begin providing ponies immediately upon request from this day on*
posted by luser at 1:03 PM on June 2, 2004

I am rich.
posted by four panels at 2:09 PM on June 2, 2004

I am a lineman for the county

I declare malpractice to be the winner!
posted by stet at 3:45 PM on June 2, 2004

Thanks mathowie!

Except, how do I drop down the list of occupations?
posted by dg at 3:48 PM on June 2, 2004

How many here have an "occupation?" From reading Matt's various money making schemes, he may be only a handful here that would really have one.

If you don't get the above let me explain. I have a job that pays the bills. I occupy my time here because it's enjoyable.
posted by thomcatspike at 4:32 PM on June 2, 2004

By that definition, I guess, I have a job that used to be an occupation and which I now carefully avoid letting become an occupation again.

(timeistight — you mean like this, this, this, this, etc.?)
posted by hattifattener at 4:47 PM on June 2, 2004

That occupation list is damn funny. Way to give people another outlet for insane blather, Matt. :)
posted by tracicle at 5:30 PM on June 2, 2004

Thanks, Matt! That is one cute list.
posted by orange swan at 6:21 PM on June 2, 2004

Wow, this page rocks! Thanks, yo!
posted by jmd82 at 6:26 PM on June 2, 2004

Heh, it appears the occupation field no longer accepts my header tag. Heehee. All in good fun, yes yes. This is cool.
posted by DyRE at 7:01 PM on June 2, 2004

Can we get a genders.mefi page, too, while we're at it?
posted by ook at 8:59 PM on June 2, 2004

And how about personals.metafilter.com, too?

Surely there are singles waiting to date you RIGHT NOW all over MeFi.
posted by briank at 10:10 AM on June 3, 2004

Such a pretty pony. And she grows so fast...

Thanks Matt.
posted by quasistoic at 3:25 AM on June 4, 2004

Surely there are singles waiting to date you RIGHT NOW all over MeFi.

This thought disturbs me no end.
posted by orange swan at 8:05 AM on June 4, 2004

/winks at orange swan
posted by weston at 6:30 PM on June 4, 2004