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Original poster

What jobs would you not want your kids to do?

255 replies

Pointlessfact · 25/02/2018 11:16

I saw someone say on the other thread jobs they wouldn't want their kids to do there are jobs they wouldn't want their kids to do so thought I would start a thread on it

For me - I wouldnt want my kids to become reality TV stars - especially big brother stars

OP posts:
YoloSwaggins · 26/02/2018 15:10

Army
Banking
"Big 4" consultancy
Any wanky overpaid City job that has no actual use to society and the general public
Instagram celeb who makes a living by selling photos of them squatting in leggings

Otherwise whatever makes them happy

Jdabbers · 26/02/2018 15:14

Airline pilot

YoloSwaggins · 26/02/2018 15:14

Oh and I forgot Defence (or realistically, Attack, seeing as most of our weapons are just sold to the Saudis)

Graphista · 26/02/2018 16:13

Lijkk - aye right! Can you imagine?

"I refuse to go to Iraq sir, on the basis I believe it to be an illegal conflict based on oil interests"

"Sergeant! Arrest this soldier for insubordination!"

Is how it would really go - soldiers daren't even report crimes like rape!

Polarbearflavour - my immediate family are army but there's also RN and RAF employed relatives. My reasons were not only the safety issues (and all trades/services can be expected to serve in theatre my uncles' an admin in RAF and has done several tours in the Middle East) but that the pay and conditions aren't as good as they were, particularly for lower ranks. The contracts aren't as good as they were including pensions. There's real issues at the moment with kit supply, housing, infrastructure support...

Both my father and my ex say they wouldn't recommend to their worst enemy now whereas in the past they were like enthusiastic recruitment officers, dad tried to get us all to join up. The only one that wanted to, turned out to be colour blind and have an undiagnosed hearing loss.

lljkk · 26/02/2018 16:29

I just had a nice chat with (soldier) JS about "Rules of engagement" and "law of armed conflict". Even as barely enlisted, they've had a lot of ethics discussion about this kind of situation, for instance.

This type of story is better reason to avoid military career, imho.

DietCokeGirrrrrl · 26/02/2018 16:59

@notmyredditusername365 being a lawyer doesn't automatically mean selling your soul for money and it certainly doesn't mean you only mix with right wing wankers. Like any job, you meet people from across the whole political spectrum. Don't want to say too much as outing, but myself and 2 colleagues from my firm started an organisation which aims to explore how law can be used for the benefit of the poorest and most vulnerable in society. There are lots more lawyers serving immigrants, drafting wills, resolving disputes etc than there are millionaire corporate wankers! And if your kids did become lawyers they'd be in a decent career with loads of opportunities and a chance to do real good in the world (if that's where their interests lay).

Alright, I'll get off my soapbox now Grin

Polarbearflavour · 26/02/2018 17:04

Everybody has different opinions. My DP would be keen for our child to join the military. Other people would actively discourage it.

I wouldn’t encourage my child to be an NHS healthcare professional but I think the military or private healthcare is a better move. We will always need healthcare workers.

I’ve worked in the City. I didn’t find it soul destroying or evil at all like some people have said.

Graphista · 26/02/2018 17:09

Lijjk - possibly outing - my ex used to work at bulford.

That is a particularly bad case but it's not uncommon.

And that's just at recruiting stage - and you think once trained indoctrinated they're gonna feel they can say they won't partake in ethically dubious operations?

RollTopBath · 26/02/2018 19:19

Yes, I think some have a limited and outdated view of working in the military. No, it’s not for everyone but our son has words from the hymn ‘Make me a channel of your peace’ engraved down the length of the blade of his commissioning sword.
He is a gentle and peace loving lad. Drawn more to peacekeeping and humanitarian aid, he feels the modern armed forces do exactly that. One has to think who was sent to Haiti to help clear up, to Barbuda post hurricane, tosupport countries devastated by the Boxing Day Tsunami, to Yemen and Syria to ensure critical food and aid reached those most in need. Who went to Sierra Leone during the Ebola epidemic? Mainly military.
It’s very easy to say we don’t want/ need a military and we all believe that love comes from love and not from further violence but not all sides play the game fairly. Unfortunately there are atrocities around the world that threaten global stability. They have to be addressed through UN resolution - as Iraq was.
Modern military officers are very much required to uphold the Geneva conventions, to act with proprietary and to refuse to carry out acts that are illegal, abusive or put their men in danger unnecessarily. There is a requirement to obey orders but I have that in my job. A junior theatre ruse has that in their job. A fork lift truck driver, a police officer, a fire officer, a pilot all have to obey orders and follow rules sometimes.

I accept it’s not the career many would choose for their young people. It’s not a career where being accepted for training is easy. It does however offer fabulous opportunities, a huge range of careers, good terms and conditions and watching the Pass Out is a very proud moment. Not paid to recruit but can see what a good choice it was for a sports/excitement loving lad who never really enjoyed academic learning for its own sake.

Graphista · 26/02/2018 22:28

Sorry but it's very different for officers than it is for lower ranks. And yes they do peacekeeping duties, my dad had several tours in former colonies in the 70's dealing with places that erupted into civil wars, but come on don't be disingenuous that's not all they do.

And iraq was not about peacekeeping.

corythatwas · 26/02/2018 22:41

"Not only are British soldiers allowed to disobey orders they believe to be unethical or immoral, they are required to disobey them. The modern military wants people who think, not sheep."

So if a soldier comes to believe that the war he has been deployed in is unethical, he can just refuse to take part? Sorry, but I think the phrase here is "pull the other one".

Yes, he can (in theory) refuse to go against the Geneva convention, but he cannot just leave if he realises the war itself is wrong and should not be fought.

I understand why this cannot be the case in the military, an army couldn't work that way- but I would not be happy for any child of mine to be in that position.

corythatwas · 26/02/2018 22:44

"There is a requirement to obey orders but I have that in my job. A junior theatre ruse has that in their job. A fork lift truck driver, a police officer, a fire officer, a pilot all have to obey orders and follow rules sometimes."

All the above can hand in their notice at any time and just walk out. A soldier on deployment cannot do that (for very obvious reasons).

And there is plenty of evidence to show that individual soldiers find it very difficult to protest when bullying or illegal actions are taking place with the sanction of officers.

Littledrummergirl · 26/02/2018 23:04

I'm clearly doing something very wrong. Ds1 is hoping to study vetmed in September and ds2 is hoping to join the British Army!

I'm very proud of both of them.

I think I would feel very sad if any of my dc resorted to criminality or sex work. I wouldn't particularly like them to be in retail either, bitter experience.

StellaWouldYouTakeMeHome · 26/02/2018 23:46

Anything dangerous, like soldier or something.

Otherwise I don’t care as long as they are happy

blackberryfairy · 27/02/2018 00:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

YouGotRedOnYou · 27/02/2018 00:06

Anus Bleacher.

Historicallyinaccurate · 27/02/2018 01:55

In addition to all the ethics of war etc, I wouldn't want my DC to join the military. Regular deployment can really mess up family life.

toffee1000 · 27/02/2018 02:13

Absolutely historically.
I don’t know if I’d be able to cope in a relationship where my DP was away for months at a time and where I would be worried he could get killed or seriously injured. Not to mention how you seem to have to move house an awful lot; that’s difficult enough without adding DC into the mix, particularly when they’re school-aged. It’s not for me. I can’t imagine it’s easy.

Ericaequites · 27/02/2018 02:26

Poet
Dancer
Sex Worker

Historicallyinaccurate · 27/02/2018 04:01

Take it from me toffee, it's pants.

user1497863568 · 27/02/2018 08:16

RollTopBath: I'm not saying, what with all the contracts flying around, that military life can't be profitable. I'm sure my son would love a new Merc at 22 as well. It's more the other side - feeling responsible for the deaths of millions of peasants side- that I would hate for him to experience having seen so much of that sort of PTSD.

YoloSwaggins · 27/02/2018 09:11

In the military you can speak up if you don't agree with something?

So why was Chelsea Manning given a life sentence then?

YoloSwaggins · 27/02/2018 09:12

And yes, I think most wars are fought for oil and profit, not "global stability" and "peacekeeping".

So I wouldn't be pleased with my kids going into that career, no matter how much sport they play or what car they manage to buy.

RoadToRivendell · 27/02/2018 19:01

My sister is marrying a scumbag who conned elderly people out of their life savings.

Jeez. Have you had a conversation with her about this? Is she in denial?

blackberryfairy · 27/02/2018 20:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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