Job titles or no?

[Brattus]

I was watching some woo woo show on the Biography channel and I was wondering what others thought about some of the "experts" they have on those shows.
Is ghost hunter, ufologist, UFO researcher and paranormal theorist actual job titles or just another way of saying unemployed?

[Pidge]

"Vocation" perhaps?

[Brattus]

"Vocation" perhaps?

Perhaps but I think that on those shows they should say as much.
So instead of say "Joe a ufologist" They should say "Joe a Walmart Manager who reads stuff on UFOs".

[-Fran-]

Perhaps but I think that on those shows they should say as much.
So instead of say "Joe a ufologist" They should say "Joe a Walmart Manager who reads stuff on UFOs".

But then people would maybe be skeptical of what Joe the Walmart Manager really knows, and that would not be good for the show's ratings :rolleyes:

[JoeTheJuggler]

"Vocation" perhaps?

Maybe "avocation"--as a hobbyist.

[RSLancastr]

It can work both ways. When I gave a paper presentation at TAM 4 about the StopKaz saga, I was listed in the program as "Robert Lancaster, Skeptical Investigator."

I would have preferred it to read "Robert Lancaster, Guy With a Web Site."

[kerikiwi]

In many cases describing someone as 'unemployed' is a euphemism for 'unemployable'.

[-Fran-]

It can work both ways. When I gave a paper presentation at TAM 4 about the StopKaz saga, I was listed in the program as "Robert Lancaster, Skeptical Investigator."

I would have preferred it to read "Robert Lancaster, Guy With a Web Site."

You're too modest, Robert!

[Brattus]

It can work both ways. When I gave a paper presentation at TAM 4 about the StopKaz saga, I was listed in the program as "Robert Lancaster, Skeptical Investigator."

I would have preferred it to read "Robert Lancaster, Guy With a Web Site."

I was going to respond that in your case it wasn't by choice.
But then of course I thought that more than likely these people show up and say their stuff and have no idea what title will be given them.
So also more that likely it's the shows writers and producers that do all that stuff.
Oh well. I really need to not create threads in the middle of the night.
Thanks everyone!

[Monza]

I recently was promoted into a new position at my company. My boss asked me to write up a job description and to come up with a job title for myself. I forwarded the following web site to him.

http://www.bullsh*tjob.com/titles.html

* I ultimately chickened out and decided upon the generic "Senior Mechanical Engineer". Though we do have some people at work who have real job titles that show up on this web site.

[RSLancastr]

You're too modest, Robert!No, I'm moving up! At TAM5.5, I hope to be referred to as "A Guy With Two Web Sites."

I was going to respond that in your case it wasn't by choice.
But then of course I thought that more than likely these people show up and say their stuff and have no idea what title will be given them.I would say that sometimes you do, and sometimes you don't.

When they interviewed me for Anderson Cooper 360, they asked "How should we refer to you? Is 'Founder, www.StopSylviaBrowne.com' okay?" I said that was fine.

And in some of the live radio interviews I've done, they've asked me up front how I would like to be introduced.

But I would imagine that in many instances on TV, where they have a bunch of talking heads with snippets of comments, they just add whatever title gets the point accross quickly, and will fit in the screen space.

And "A Walmart manager who reads stuff on UFOs" is as unlikely to be used as "A computer programmer who has a skeptical web site."

[Brattus]

True Mr. Lancaster. Very true.

[my_wan]

I recently watched a UFO show on the history channel. What drives me nuts is the way they start assuming UFOs as factual other worldly crafts and start presenting the physics as if they know what behind it documentary style. They never even bother to break it down to categories of assumptions. Even Dinolab (http://www.discoverychannel.ca/shows/showdetails.aspx?sid=1019) assumes too much authority.

[Brattus]

I recently watched a UFO show on the history channel. What drives me nuts is the way they start assuming UFOs as factual other worldly crafts and start presenting the physics as if they know what behind it documentary style. They never even bother to break it down to categories of assumptions. Even Dinolab (http://www.discoverychannel.ca/shows/showdetails.aspx?sid=1019) assumes too much authority.

Yes! That bothers me too!

[Tricky]

No, I'm moving up! At TAM5.5, I hope to be referred to as "A Guy With Two Web Sites."
Like Arthur "Two-Sheds" Jackson?

[Steven Howard]

Years ago, the science fiction writer Harlan Ellison did some car commercials where he was identified on screen as "Harlan Ellison, Futurist". Asked about it later, Ellison said that the "Futurist" title was definitely not his idea and that, since he's known mostly for his fiction writing, he thought he should be credited as "Harlan Ellison, Paid Liar."