Isn’t it interesting how there are certain professions people do that scare people, even though they are just normal/everyday individuals with bills to pay like everyone else?
The thought just struck me because I had a live listen happen out of nowhere at work, where my boss listens in on my call and then gives me feedback (I work in a call centre). Whenever she does that, I feel nervous, because it’s my boss listening in on my work, even though I know that she’s lovely and is just a woman doing a job.
Others I can think of are doctors, dentists, and clowns.
It must be really weird for the people who do those jobs, knowing that people have an irrational fear of what they do. I thought it would make for an interesting discussion on here.
(My boss isn’t even a nasty or scary boss, but it’s just the idea of a boss in general has those kind of weird ‘Oh God, it’s…’ connotations associated with it.)
I have a reputation as being the ‘strict’ teacher at school, despite the fact there are other teachers who are definitely stricter than me. But because I’m male (and getting on in years) in primary, there is still a stereotype that I’m the strict one and children are often scared about being in my class (two or three actually cried when they found out at the end of last year).
In reality I can be a bit of a soft touch and often don’t follow through on things and generally enjoy having a laugh with the kids. But they don’t realise that until they’re in my class.
(That said, I’m having to be really strict with my current class - and I can turn it on when I need to - because they are wild!)
I mean, a boss, a doctor, and a dentist all have something in common, and that’s the power they have over you, and with a doctor and a dentist the power they have over you combined with your vulnerability and the general physical unpleasantness of what they do. It makes sense to be nervous about being around your boss, whose disapproval could, directly or indirectly, cause you to lose access to food and shelter. I’m nervous around doctors because they have direct control over my medical care and disability accommodations. I don’t really feel bad for people who have chosen to be in positions of power when people are nervous/scared to be subjected to that power.
(Being scared of clowns is a different thing, though.)
Yeah, I forgot about teachers. It’s weird because there are some lovely teachers, but I think it’s the sense of authority they hold that makes you scared of them when you’re a kid.
I didn’t think of that connection. That’s very true. I suppose it’s not fear of the individual, but fear of the hierarchy, in that sense.
In a couple of months I have had a rep thrust upon me of being a Debbie Downer when it comes to helping other stores. The managers freak out about me coming in and helping them with process. I have to be slightly harsh with them, but when I go and show the ‘low level’ workers how to implement the process on their end, we have a laugh. They aren’t the ones in trouble, and because I came up starting from where they are, I know the shortcuts they take that aren’t exactly approved. A few stores I’ve been into the cashiers greet me nicely, but the managers have dread on their face. Its funny, and as I started as a cashier, it gives me joy to see managers squirm.
I’m a restaurant professional, fifteen year bartender. I was recently working at a Michelin adjacent place; we were in the Diner’s Guide, and the chef who owned the restaurant group had gotten stars in the past.
Now bear in mind, the CDC (chef de cuisine, and a different guy entirely) was a real brown bear at this spot - not in appearance, but he was scary. Crying in the walk-in happened more than once. This was a guy who knew his stuff, inside out, and had a strong steel hand over the kitchen. Never saw him rattled.
Except when Chef Steven came in for R+D tests and he had to audition new dishes for him. Watching this dude who intimidated me then experience that same level of knee-jerk fear when his boss showed up was something I’ll remember for a long time. Always a bigger fish.
The funniest thing with a bigger fish thing is that often the bigger fish is actually a very nice person who just wants to do what’s right with you.
I had coaching with my boss today, for instance, and she was asking questions about my autism because she wanted to understand my needs. I know some people with my disability are reluctant to discuss it, but for me, I always find talking about it helps.
And that’s true that there’s always a bigger fish. My boss has two people above her, and she told me that she feels one of them is a big harsh.
Actors, musicians, and other professions whose body of work can garner fandoms. I always hear people say how scared they are to meet so-and-so person whose art they enjoy.
I work with and champion species that other people are often afraid of (other people’s monsters and nightmares, you might say). It was Doctor Who that inspired me to do this in the first place. I also get called out to identify exotic invertebrates that people find in their shopping. It’s almost always something run of the mill, but there are the odd surprises (rarely the horror stories you read about online though). People aren’t scared of me, per se, but they’re frequently scared of what I do (and they worry about what lurks in my lab or in my field kit).
Love my job. I like to think that the Doctor would approve.
That’s very kind of you to say. Thank you! Sadly, not everyone agrees. Some people can’t understand why I champion these wonderful creatures (I know it’s because they’re scared of them and don’t see their value). It’s just about education, though. I guess it also explains why I’m fascinated by ‘the monsters’ and concepts of ‘monstrosity’.
We need the whole range of life to maintain the delicate balance on this planet. People rarely realise the value that every organism contributes, but they’re all so important. Some of them have a PR problem and they really need their champions!
Hell, even our own bodies have delicate ecosystems of microorganisms that the average person has no idea about and contains many bacteria that get a bad rep since they can be harmful in certain circumstances (eg E Coli, golden staph etc)
You are, of course, quite right. Microbial communities have immense ecological importance that is seldom recognised. I have colleagues who are full time microbiologists (I dabble on occasion, where it overlaps with my other work). I think that, whilst not exactly feared, micolrobiologists fall into a similar sphere to my own profession where some people are suspicious of what they do (principally due to ignorance).
This is such a lovely quote because it’s so true! Monsters are symbolic of our fears (as I say at length in the other thread) but, once we know them, they typically cease to be monsters at all!
Smart cookie, that Doctor. People should listen to him a bit more!
I irradiate people with ionising radiation for living (radiographer) so know the feeling. The average person knows very little about radiation, even my knowledge was pretty limited before doing my medical imaging degree, and their minds often jump to cartoonish images of radioactive waste and nuclear disasters like Chernobyl
