A few weeks ago I met this guy at a party and I asked him "So, what do you do?" And the conversation went something like this: Guy: "What I do? Well, I do LOTs of things!" Me (enthusiastic): "Really? Like what?" Guy: "Just, lots of things." Me: "A-ha. That sounds interesting." Guy (brief smile): "And what do you do?" Me: "Me? Lots of things." Guy: "Sounds great!" Later in the evening I asked him again. Turned out we were both unemployed and building a hippie van to escape modern society.

Lots of mothers really care about their childrens status.

"The opposite of a snob is your mother. She doesn't care about your status, she cares about your soul!" You haven't met my mother.

"We buy things we don't need, with money we don't have, to impress people we don't like." - source unknown........

My mom DOES care about my status, and she does NOT care about my soul.

when you tell the people, that their bad situation is their own fault and not the fault of the system, they won`t revolt against it.

I can recognize this is true, but I cannot accept it. I cannot stop feeling like I am worthless because I am not successful.

the narrator's voice is beautiful

When introduced to someone for the first time, it's common to ask, "What do you do?" That's because work is seen as a defining characteristic of who we are. Not only do we expect most people to be in paid work, but the type of work they do broadly indicates their income, education level, likely interests and social status. That's why I hate it when when people ask me "What do you do?" Because I interpret it as, "Summarise your total net worth for me."

"So, what do you do?" "I'm a professional loser. How about you?"

Social class, geographical location and time of birth still make equality of opportunities a mirage. Sociologists, especially those who study education, have extensively and intensively proven how much the achievement of a student depends on the social class of his/her family.

"Don't compare yourself to others, compare yourself to whom you where yesterday." JBP

The myth of meritocracy Perfect storm for self-loathing and a life spent in regret. Just let it pass you by, man.

Wow. I am so happy this channel exists!!!!!! Made my day discovering you! :D

I stopped talking to my school friends because I am unemployed for a time and I am afraid of this damn question. Earlier this year I almost went into depression and this video made me happy and I believe that next year everything will be alright. :-)

Yet another smart, insightful video. Really liked this one.

I always find it extremely rude to ask that question to someone you just met, its like "hey so whats your marital status?" or "hey how much money you make?" Starting a non-snobby conversation is really not that difficult, how about sports? music? books? movies? food? pets? etiquette much?

Life doesn't just involve luck, it IS luck, or more accurately; random circumstance. Let me explain. Predestination Theory: > It is commonly believed that life is about the consequences of the choices we make. > But choices are determined by your personality and who you are > Your personality is determined by a combination of genetics and developmental circumstance. > Genetics is selectively random based on random variation of two successfully reproducing lifeforms >The circumstances for your development are even more random >Therefore; your choices are based on a combination of complete randomness of which you have no control. Since our choices revolve around who we are, our choices are, in a sense, predetermined and unavoidable & even somewhat random based on the genetics and circumstances of development. In a way, nobody is responsible for any of their own actions.

Thanks School of Life! You're simply an inspiration to many of us! Cheers!

Most of this is so true. The problem is that we're told that we can do anything up until we actually reach "college" and find out that we cannot. I attended a school where there were freshmen who had Mercedes-Benz from daddy and lived in off campus apartments and had a job waiting when they graduated. I wouldn't call them snobs but they just didn't see the world for what it really was; the haves and the have not.

Meritocracy is perfectly logical in spirit, e.g. if I practiced the piano 8 hours every day in order to become a concert pianist my performance of Mozart's piano concerto with the New York Philharmonic was warranted if not deserved per se. However when applied to the real world meritocracy rarely works out that way. You may be a much better pianist than the others, but don't care about competing with them in order to perform. Or you may be too poor to attend some prestigious music school, or the victim of bad luck, nepotism, envy, etc. On top of which everything is based on a system of capitalism, music included, and you may not wish to participate at all if you value things differently.

I work with the acquisition and production of memes, dank and otherwise.

I'm unemployed so when someone asks me so what do you do I answer "I'm thinking , I'm a big thinker , the giant of thought". And they think of me highly right away lol. In reality a joke always saves you from an awkward situation.

"So what do you do?" "I don't give a fuck."

I'm a... person who watches school of life all day.

"Most people aren't your mothers" Wait wat.. they're not?

Why would you think the person driving the ferrari is needing of love. Isn't that judging the person just from the car they happen to drive? How do you draw such a deep personal and emotional conclusion about someone based solely on the price tag of their vehicle of transportation?

Met a rich 6 figure executive type once. Blatantly said 'theres no such thing as bad luck' and bad things happen to poor people because they deserve it. Man oh man do rich love their stories about how they pulled themselves up by their boot straps. What a surreal experience.

This channel is everything I have been looking for. Things that I feel like have been needed to say to me, but no one knew how to say it. This channel really gives me hope in my life. I'm incredibly thankful that you guys take the time to put together these videos. You're making life so much easier.

I love my mom. :/

EYE-OPENING! My finance class brought me here, I am so fortunate to have a humble professor. This virus has really humbled me what I've lost, but oddly gained much more in retrospect. Great video, I know you have 6.11m subs but now i get to be a drop in your bucket!

I really appreciate the sentiment and intention of this video and it has many many more positives than negatives but there is a naivety in the delivery, some clichéd images and simplistic stereotyping which detract from the very important point that status is all about looking for external approval rather than being able to grant yourself approval internally and privately. I like money, I like the security and independence it brings but to know one can live without it and with it, without losing one's essential nature and compass, is more uplifting and empowering than any 'thing' - no matter how beautiful :)

success in the capitalist world is an illusion giving the impression that you always have to get there or get that in order to be happy/satisfied. Placing all emphasis on material objects when in turn it should always be a personal thing in order for it be truly for filling. Something that unveils the soul, doing what you love. Bob Marley said it best "the day you stop racing is the day you win the race"

When someone asks what you do, you don't have to interpret it as them wanting to know what your job is. You could tell them you surf and play piano, things that you do that you enjoy and are interesting. The problem is most people don't pursue hobbies and invest enough time and effort in them. It's easier to watch TV and then you really are defined by your job because that is the most prominent part of your life.

"The complete opposite is your mother. She doesn't care about your status, she cares about your soul." HAHAHAH. Yeah, that's why millions of teens are verbally and physically abused by their mothers daily for their sexual orientation, appearance, college major choices, and just about everything they can pick on. Majority of the people in the world are mothers, and majority of people in the world are snobs. Can't avoid that. I fear my mother more than any human being.

Whoever you feel a need to impress owns you.

These people just nail it man!!! There's nobody like them!!! I love this channel!! I love every video out here!! I wish I could call you people and talk...you're just amazing!

This is definitely one of the biggest sources of anxiety that I've seen for most people.

Another idea is to not take people too seriously (depends of course on the occasion), and make up something that sound ridiculous or unusual, like "I collect bottles" or "I'm a stripper" or "i'm a cat trainer" something that you think is entertaining and have fun with it

Powerful words I love this channel

i'm crying so much right now

Wonderful. I also find that people aren't necessarily interested in the profession itself but how you explain and carry yourself. The feeling they get when you talk is what they remember. That's your chance for power.

This channel is doing a great service to society. In a world filled with dredge, here is a voice of reason and explanation. God bless the work that you do.

I often ask the question 'What do you do?' not as a judgement on a persons worth, but because I'm interested in what kind of driving forces rest behind their day-to-day living, what sort of worth they place in different things, and what they'd consider to be a key 'thing' that defines them. It's telling that most people think (and use) this term to mean work. I suppose it's hard to explain before asking, but to me the answer to the question 'What do you do?' can be anything. It doesn't have to be career related. If you're writing a novel, say it, if you enjoy building little bird houses, I'm all ears. What you 'do' isn't always what demands the most amount of your time, but something you've chosen to do with the little free time you have available to you. Great video as ever!

Is it me or is he speaking more passionately with each vdeo?

So what do you do? My answer: As soon as I wake up I turn on my computer and play games, I like to read online, anything really. It also might not seem like it, but I lift weights... occasionally. Their answer: Wow you got a good life, what kind of games do you play? My answer: League of Legends, it's this strategic game, it's in a genre of MOBA, stands for --- Them: yeah yeah hey I got to go, was fun talking to you. *sees them talking to other people while I'm alone in the corner* Yep That's my life.

I'll be streight foward and simply tell you, The School of Life, thank you. Really thank you.

KZfaq needs more channels like this. This is so inspiring!!! I love it.

As someone who graduated top 3% of his class with a 3.96 GPA and 5 honors, has a supposedly lucrative degree in finance and who holds the highest honor of pubic speaking (Distinguished Toastmaster) and had had 0 interviews in 2 years after graduation, I needed this video. I love my field, truly and honestly. But not being interviewed, not being hired, not being good enough is maddening. Let me work! Let me get excited about this topic I love so much! There's only so many finance books you can read alone before you develop nihilism. What was the point of it all when everybody (and I mean everybody) I know got snapped up into prestigious jobs but me. All my studying, all my As, means nothing .

I took postgraduate studies just because I don't want people to look at me as a loser. Fuck.

With so many social media providing the snobs to show off their lives (in which not all of them are actually as good in real life), not to mention it tends to make people too quick and too easy to judge. Totally can relate why many people deal with status anxiety these days.

I love these status anxiety videos which are so enlightening and knowledgeable because this affliction has become so epidemic these days esp here in this country, but it's almost universal now! What a relief it is to realize that we can all rightfully create our own unique definition of success! Many at the top really aren't happy to begin with and we see that all the time with the substance abuse, suicide etc.

I love how enthusiastic he is in this video :D

After watching this video, did you feel that the world is a warm welcoming place, or a treacherous world of indifference? Were you looking forward to the next person who asks the question, or already forming conclusions about people you haven't already met who might out of habit fail to ask something more original? The most ironic thing is that I might be judged by some for my point of view on this video. You see, I consider "what do you do?" to be a sincere (if admittedly unoriginal) conversation starting question that can go in as many directions as the there are people whom you ask it to. This video on the other hand views it quite cynically and judgementally. By taking a simple question and READING INTO IT not just one but MANY judgements, it turns an otherwise innocent icebreaker question into a condemnation of a human being's self worth with a litany of social condemnations, all presumed on the part of the one asking: A. "people use that one piece of information to decide how valuable we are" B. "we feel judged based on our job status" C. "people tend to go after money, big jobs, and fancy cars as a way to get attention and love" D. "We're sold a tale..." E. "judged as losers" ...and the list of harsh criticism goes on, under the pretence of being conscientious, thoughtful. The nerve of someone to ask.. "What do you do?" Can you believe they dared to pose such a threatening query? Indeed the very title of the Upworthy article "A Kinda Snobby Question..." insults any person who might ask such a question by labeling them as "snobby" without any information about them at all. If you just stop and look, the irony of each of the above quotations quickly reverse to reveal judgements being made the other way around... A. using one piece of information (the question posed) to decide someone is a snob (projection of elitism) B. judging them based on job status by presuming their job might be somehow superior to our own or that it even matters. C. assuming the person asking will deny you attention or love based on your answer instead of use your answer constructively to engage in conversation with you. D. Believing the" tale" that the world is so dark that asking of such a question is an evil act instead of a pivot towards engagement. E. Condemning someone, indeed judging them for taking an interest in you and perhaps looking for something they can learn about your life to advance the conversation. After selling the notion that a person should be judged by their character and NOT their status the video then instructs you to view a person in a Ferrarri as someone with massive critical flaws, and even goes on to condemn that "Those who succeed at making money rarely succeed at empathy or family life." Even more ironic, the video then goes on to seemingly pat itself on the back for undoing the nightmare myth of judgement it just fabricated by pretending to be on your side and telling you to "create your own definition of success." This, after having spent 2/3 of the video defining failure for you - telling you how unfair life is, convincing you that you a victim for being asked a question by someone who might have otherwise not spoken to you at all, but instead took interest in YOU. Of course the end conclusion that it's up to you to believe in yourself and reply in a positive self-affirming manner has always been the case, despite the ambitiously illustrated materialistic social myth constructed. Maybe there was never anything to worry about in the first place and you could have just spoken the truth without being told what your insecurities "ought to be"...

This channel is pure gold

In the hard times this video will help me a lot of!! Thanks!

again. you guys amuse me with mild, wonderful knowledge. gonna do some digging about this "meritocracies" after finished watching this.

I'm an aspiring neuroscientist. If I don't make it to my goal, that is okay; no matter what misfortunates hit me in life, I'll always maintain my curious positive outlook and that is what is truly important.

Its important to stay focused, becoming distracted or around influence that does not align with your perspective in life will be the hardest part of achieving success in mastery of skill.

Though your videos sometimes contain some worrying generalisations I still find them (and your books) incredibly enriching and accessible in their structure. Keep up the good work please!

Wow I always had the thought that asking "what do you do" is kinda obnoxious but said it anyways because it was depicted as a formal conversational method. I realize it's a stupid question that makes a total human in to one narrow being. Thank god I love this channel

needed this today. thanks, guys.

What a genius way to end the video. I will do my best to never answer that question again with “I’m a...”, but rather “I work for ... as a ...”.

Watched this video years ago, and learnt never to ask that question, actually I've had better conversations with strangers, others that became friends, and then later when I found out what they do, I just didn't even care.

Often, I feel as though my definition of success is far too nebulous and ill-defined to really be something you can work towards. I often say that my goal is jut to be happy. It doesn't really address the underlying issue--that I have no idea what makes me happy. It seems to be a destination with no clear path. Honestly, the destination doesn't matter all that much; all that should matter is your ability to work towards the destination--to see your progress. I just have a very difficult time coming up with some tangible goal to occupy my mind for the first third of my life.

"Those who succeed at making money, rarely succeed at empathy, or family life." Wow. That's pretty condescending. Nice prejudice there. So the message of the video is actually a reverse of status anxiety, now against the rich. If you're rich, you're a bad person. You're vulnerable and lack empathy. You should be scolded for your success. Comrade School of Life at it again.

0:26 Probably not referring to Asian mothers.

"Most people aren't your mothers" Ive learnt that very hard way. The day my girlfriend told me to met her father and I told her father about our relationship I remember he took off his glasses to the table and told me "Don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with you but I think my daughter can not be happy with you" I asked Why He replied "There is your problem. You are just a good guy nothing more nothing less but if I search I can find thousand good guys with a better salary and a better home for living with my daughter. And you son have none of these except "Goodness". The truth is world doesn't run by only "goodness"". That day I started to question everything my parents taught me. That day I started to think being just a normal good person is a "fault" a "crime" which everyone is just framing me for. From that day I fell into this Status anxiety thing. This thing haunted me anywhere, everywhere, day, night,alone, crowed it just don't care.Whatever you do nothing matters "There is always someone ahead of you and you've lost. Better luck next time. Thank you loser". Its been 5 years but I still couldn't get out of this. But this video shed some light on me where everything was lost in darkness. Now I can see a new morning is coming.Far but not that far. Thank you #The school of life.

i was very confused by meeting a stranger at a coffee shop who asked me "what my passion was" instead of asking "what i did."

I'm a... smoker... drinker... layabout... bartender... kid... student... peasant... idealist... dreamer... procrastinator... I genuinely cannot answer the question in a way I truly believe defines me. Quite alarming really. I was in deep thought about that for 30 minutes. Not done yet either.

Hard hitting video! Making me think twice about how to approach someone at a party now.

I'm amazed by how these videos draw a smile on me whenever I watch them 🤗

It is important to remember that your job and your income do not define you. You define yourself in any way you choose. It is much easier to choose to define yourself in a positive way than to be bitter about the problems of society and how it has wronged you.

"the opposite of a snob is your mother" this has to be the best thing I've heard today

"The opposite of snob is mother..." so true... She never judged me and loved me and my bro unconditionally... I love my mom!

I've realized that extreme success is determined by so many factors that extend beyond our reach.

a pimp. I'm a pimp.

"Most people aren't our mothers" School of Life be speaking the hard truths

Wow, at 3:47 - what a powerfully moving subtle touch, when they remove the father from the photo. Says so much.

My mom cares about my status more than anyone else. She said she would disown me if I didn't become the person she wanted. She also loved to point out my physical flaws and tell me I'm worthless.

Wow, what a cool channel. Subscribed!

I would like to think that my job and my income doesn't define me, but when people think it does, then it does. Especially when entering the dating atmosphere. Girls my age (20's) aren't crazy about trash collectors or warehouse workers.

i was feeling down and just serched how to be a better person and found you guys i feel really lucky and much better after just a few videos thank you for all the work you do it means so much to me

For those who have the luxury to choose a job not out of necessity, but out of interest, this question of "what you do?" does make a lot of sense. It is obviously not the only question, no one question is the perfect one to know anyone else, but is a nice place to start. If you are a physicist, an actor, or a philosophy professor, this speaks a lot about what your interest lie, and most conversations and friendships begin from there. If you say you are a game designer, I'll find what about this interest me as well, why have you chosen this field and so on. If it is something I dislike, we'll try to find something else we both have in common, maybe sports, politics, family issues, or simply move on.

sounds like a video a low status person would watch

So what's the alternative to "What do you do?" I've tried "What are you passionate about?" and "What do you do for fun?" but most people are rarely prepared for such a question, and often it just creates awkward moments. This also assumes that people can afford time to pursue their passions or have fun...Thoughts?

Unbelievable how in every single video you completely capture the point, great job.

I bumped into one video in this channel and now I'm obsessed

I don't entirely agree. It depends on your reasons for your occupation. If you're really passionate about what you do and you chose that career for that reason I'd like to know more. I don't think its always unfair to judge people by what they do. It depends on the situation. I'm currently studying to be an engineer. I'd like to think that my choice of career reflects personal qualities. A passion for science, an interest in maths and a dedication to improving society through analytically thinking. Sure I have plenty of other interests, but I would like to think my future career would shape me personally. I'm always interested by people who are passionate and creative in their jobs, in any discipline. Be it the local barista or someone doing scientific research. I do recognise that some people aren't fortunate enough to have had the opportunities I have had, and have found themselves in a backend job, and thus applying the above criterion is unfair, but so is characterising everyone who wants to know what you do as snobs.

Today my teacher asked in class, 'how many of you have read about sigmund freud' and thanks to the school of life, one hand went up!

I feel like the most common thing for people to be wondering is what to ask, if not "what do you do?". Well theres many ways to break the ice when beginning a conversation with a stranger. It's simple: Ask questions that do not relate to the amount of money they earn. Ask questions like what hobbies they have, or if they like music/sports in which case, what kind. Elaborate and show interest in things that this hypothetical person gets the most out of life from. Share your experiences that are similar or show your contrast by how your life hobbies/experiences differentiate from theirs. Theres so many different ways to approach the acquaintance of a new friend, so try not to ask about their financial life. As stated in the video success is all about perspective. Try to find out what your strangers view of success is. Remember, if you're talking to someone and they want to tell you about their job, you can be certain that they will.

This is just what I needed, helped me so much. Thank you.

I think that any success I have had is due one part to my own efforts, one part due to the help of the people around me and one part sheer luck. The idea that anyone's success has no luck involved is indeed very haughty and leads to a demeaning attitude to those with less success.

I am............Happy

Best channel ever, gives you so much insight

And this is why I find it so hard to form relationships, as so many judge you for your status.

so my mother is not my mother

"Suicide rates rise exponentially the moment a society joins the so-called modern world" - Can someone elaborate and especially give sources?

Very true. I did a social experiment the other day. I'm a cashier at a grocery store and not in college. The other day I had an attractive young girl pay with me. She was very nice and talkative. She asked me if I was in school or if that was all I did. I lied and say yes. That I was about to get my bachelors in English and graduate in May. She lit up and became very interested in everything I said after that. I know that if I said the truth the conversation would of basically ended.

Brilliant work guys. Indeed I've learnt life lessons form this channel.