Family Asked me What I do...(It was Awkward) - WickedFire - Affiliate Marketing Forum

Traska · 04-26-2009, 01:06 AM

Fuck...

I just had dinner with my family at my aunt and uncles house.
The discussion drifted over to where I am currently working & I briefly explained my internet marketing & how I do SEO for businesses.
Their reactions were confused and distant even though I put it all into layman's terms.

I know there is no reason for me to feel awkward but my family of doctors, teachers and craftsmen pretty much looked at me like I was an alien from another fucking planet!

Next time anybody asks me what I do I am just going to say "advertising" and then change the discussion to them and their "career"...

Have any of you guys had similar experiences?...

therookie · 04-26-2009, 01:18 AM

To me that would seem easier to explain calling yourself a small business marketing consultant then an affiliate marketer. Whatever the case may be most people just don't "get it" and probably never will. Your best bet is to just do like you mentioned in the last part of your post.

I don't do any of this full time yet, but trying to tell my dad about it was pretty brutal. He sort of understands because he deals with "SEO firms" calling his business all the time offering their services. He was more along the lines of get a real job there is too much competition in that stuff.

Traska · 04-26-2009, 01:56 AM

Yeah,

I know I didn't need to make a post about this, it was just really bugging me.
I'm the odd one out in my family...

Oh well!

guerilla · 04-26-2009, 01:58 AM

Neighbor - So what do you do?

Me - I build websites.

Neighbor - Oh really? That's interesting. Any sites I know?

Me - Have you ever heard of Google?

Neighbor - You work for Google?

Me - No. I just wanted to know if you had heard of Google. The last site I worked on was Yahoo. Do you know what that is?

Real conversation

ayzo · 04-26-2009, 02:09 AM

Yea it's always hard to explain to people, I always just say "marketing consultant". But if you think that's bad wait until they find out you "work from home" so you must have all the time in the world to babysit their kids and run errands for them.

vladb2 · 04-26-2009, 02:13 AM

I say "I build online campaigns for fortune 500 companies" sounds fancy and super simple. Cause hey... we do work with blockbuster and eharmony. The more fancy you make your shit seem.... the less questions they ask. They don't want to look stupid.

amanda11 · 04-26-2009, 02:22 AM

Why not be lowly and humble and say you're a web master for a gay forum? Or a virtual jack off artist?

jryan21 · 04-26-2009, 03:04 AM

It's kind of disturbing that over the years, "what do you do?" has lost its meaning and slowly has been replaced by "where do you work?" or "who you workin for?"

Even more disturbing is that these same people are the ones who bitch about all the "foreigners" who own hotels, gas stations, nail salons, etc. People around here are beginning to forget that from the outside looking in, this country is still the place to go when you want to make your own way. But as long as there is plenty of "programming" to watch and a pill for every occasion, then they don't mind being told what to think.

There's nothing wrong with running your own shit; we're not ants, nature intended for our contributions to be diverse because we need more than just a hole in the ground for us to do what we are put here to do (whatever that may be). It is not impossible to provide a service to someone without them owning every aspect of your life; and vice fucking versa. You keep listening to this shit on the TV and going to work with 50 other people who do the same fucking job and eating things out of cellophane, then your ass is in that hole and the least of your concerns should be who the fuck I am working for.

^ Tell them that the next time they ask. ^

Webferret · 04-26-2009, 04:02 AM

tell them you're a "data Raja"

Rage9 · 04-26-2009, 04:13 AM

Damn my Grandma and my extended family always grill me on this every time I see them.

They don't understand "internet marketing" even if explained too. They don't understand that products can be sold online. In fact all this rebill shit has hit the news pretty hard around here (where they can't cancel) and it's even taken a bigger credibility hit, yet it isn't associated with online. I'm basically at the point where I'd just rather tell them to go fuck them-selfs and worry about their own non-existent career. Hell when in doubt, just ask them if they ever seen the ads on google, and tell them you're that guy. Seems to work for the most part. Throw a little jargon around (the basics will do) and they'll probably either be really intrigued or (most likely) they'll drop it in fear of thinking their an idiot and not up with the times.

But yeah, never easy. People honestly don't know they are being marketed to.

Garrett · 04-26-2009, 04:36 AM

I honestly don't even tell people what I do anymore, even when they ask. Let's be honest, it's not like they give a fuck anyway and they only ask these things when there is nothing else to talk about.

I also notice that people respect you a hell of alot more when you remove yourself from your "job". You are not your job.

..and when they finally do learn what you do, people are glad you stayed humble and
didn't act like you are some rock star who uses money to calculate self-worth.

TylerL · 04-26-2009, 04:47 AM

My family lives in the stone age. I've tried to explain it to all of them but the only one that understands a thing I say is my brother. My mom was pretty much in awe when I showed her a landing page I was working on.

"You created that page? So my 19 year old son is behind one of the sites that pushes anti aging pills?"

I guess when you think about it, if you weren't in touch with this whole business, you'd expect that some big company would be behind anti-aging and diet pill sales pages. Young people making money? Crazy! She also keeps asking me if it's even legal for me to promote rebill offers.

My dad is so behind the times he refuses to let me transfer money to his bank account directly because he doesn't trust "that damn internet." It might steal his money.

They both think I'm going to turn out to be a 25 year old homeless guy, because I don't have a "real" job and I spend a lot of time on my computer. Despite that, some years, I've made more money than they have by just chilling at my computer, I'm still a failure to them.

But someday I'll send each of them a nice fat check for them to just go crazy with, it can serve as a bit of a wake up call and a nice present

I look forward to that day.

Sticks79 · 04-26-2009, 04:47 AM

I just tell people I'm a web designer & companies pay me to build their site and maintain the upkeep and advertising for a monthly retainer, conversation normally stops there.

John__N · 04-26-2009, 05:16 AM

i tell them i pay google. isnt that true?

pickledegg · 04-26-2009, 05:24 AM

Well when the day arrives for me when I can leave my 'respectable' day job, and sit at home pushing random offers to idiots for a living, I will have no problems telling anyone who asks.
Last month I spent about 15 hours working on mini sites to make the same amount of money that I work 2 weeks for in my dayjob. Whats to be ashamed about?

LOL ^^ that sounds like the title for an ebook, is that Digital Point calling?

LazyD · 04-26-2009, 05:27 AM

Amazing how quickly technology changes and creates new jobs or fields that never existed before...

It seems like whenever I meet someone for the first time and the conversation drifts into "what do you do for a living?" and I tell them I build websites, its almost like I told them a funny joke. The consensus among people that I say that to assume some shitty geocities-esque website, but if im around a computer, I will show them specific sites. Even then they dont seem to grasp it when I tell them that I built the ecommerce system for this site, or created the user management system for something else, it seems like they go into a state of shock or something and the conversation usually ends right there.

parrot head · 04-26-2009, 05:35 AM

Brutally Honest:

pickledegg · 04-26-2009, 05:35 AM

Well it sure beats the hell out of this

emp · 04-26-2009, 05:49 AM

I mentioned this once already, I think.

Right in the dotcom bubble in Hamburg, one of my colleagues would just say "I am a garbage man." Whenever a hot chick would ask him what he does (They could not STAND "I work in IT/web/startup")
When they got confused/flustered he'd just be all nice and ask "Why? You got a problem with that?"

The amount of girls he pulled with that was unbelievable.

::emp::

bullet-ride · 04-26-2009, 06:29 AM

When I tell people what I do online, some of them feel the need to make some remark on how much money they made with BUX.to but there was a problem with their account and they never got paid.

suzie · 04-26-2009, 08:28 AM

I am another ordinary "Programmer" to all my friends and family .....they never understood internet marketing and how anyone can make boat loads of money when I tried to explain it to them earlier !

My parents vaguely have an idea of what I do... but they don't care, coz of the fat checks I send their way

dreamache · 04-26-2009, 08:29 AM

That's not awkward... it's awkward when you're in HS like I was (8 years ago) and received your first check addressed to "Cute Wet Sluts" (a paysite I built along with an aol spammer). I had to have my dad cash it for me.

b_sun · 04-26-2009, 08:51 AM

I maintain an easy 9-5 work IT support gig from home, and do this stuff on the side. But when I try to explain the AM stuff to my family, it goes right over everyone's head.

amateursurgeon · 04-26-2009, 08:56 AM

I tell them I'm in cult-building & propaganda. A bit like goebbels without the genocide.

Fatbat · 04-26-2009, 09:14 AM

What's worse is when one of the granparents is suffering from dementia or plain forgetfulness and asks you 5 or 6 times in a night about what you do. I didn't want to be rude but after the second time trying to explain it I just left it at "I work on computers".

Otherwise be happy that not a lot of people understand or "get" what we do.

TheDean · 04-26-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amateursurgeon

A bit like goebbels without the genocide.

lmfao

i find it odd that anyone would think there friends or family should "get it." even if you have a 10 figure day keep your fucking ass shut because it builds character. once you start talking about what you do, you'll find yourself two years down the road saying "well i used to make thousands a day on the internet, until I started talking about it." People tell other people what they do at length because they aren't convinced of their own self worth. My friends drone on and on about how they hit this target, they got this client, this bonus, or they made this amount or that amount; whoopie fucking doo and it is not my job to correct their perceptions and let them know how small they are thinking either.

just shut your mouth and grind and if and when you're set, invite them to your cliffside mansion in the pacific northwest and take them out to dinner.

then when they ask, you can say: oh ya know just a little high stakes marketing.

for right now: oh i just get by generating leads for businesses.

vinny lingo · 04-26-2009, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDean

lmfao

i find it odd that anyone would think there friends or family should "get it." even if you have a 10 figure day keep your fucking ass shut because it builds character. once you start talking about what you do, you'll find yourself two years down the road saying "well i used to make thousands a day on the internet, until I started talking about it." People tell other people what they do at length because they aren't convinced of their own self worth. My friends drone on and on about how they hit this target, they got this client, this bonus, or they made this amount or that amount; whoopie fucking doo and it is not my job to correct their perceptions and let them know how small they are thinking either.

just shut your mouth and grind and if and when you're set, invite them to your cliffside mansion in the pacific northwest and take them out to dinner.

then when they ask, you can say: oh ya know just a little high stakes marketing.

for right now: oh i just get by generating leads for businesses.

+rep

I don't think I've given any serious effort to explaining what I do to anyone. The only person who even has a clue what I do is my wife. Most of her family and mine suspect I'm unemployed. I don't mind. It keeps them from asking for money.

dangregory · 04-26-2009, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDean

lmfao
once you start talking about what you do, you'll find yourself two years down the road saying "well i used to make thousands a day on the internet, until I started talking about it." People tell other people what they do at length because they aren't convinced of their own self worth.

Absolutely right.

I was getting a haircut the other day and the guy was asking me what I do for a living and I realized that I didn't want to tell him that I work with websites because then he'd be all, like, "What's the address for your site?" and fuck if I'm letting anybody know anything about what I do anymore. The industry is competitive enough as it is without the guy's 14 year old kid overhearing me and setting up a competing campaign or something.

HarveyJ · 04-26-2009, 09:35 PM

I too am sick of trying to explain to my family what it is that I do or explain to my arsehole father that I do indeed have a job. Several, in fact, considering that I do a range of things part time.

Anyone here get the "Oh, but you were so good at school. You could have become an -<INSERT HIGHLY TECHNICAL FIELD THAT REQUIRES 7 YEAR DEGREE AS A BARE MINIMUM TO ENTRY SUCH AS MEDICAL SCIENCES>- if you only tried a little harder" line?
That one's starting to drive me up the fucking wall.

Actually, if you get that line, what was your inserted term? Mine was Bio-chemist or something like that, even though I was doing an Arts/Comm degree.

TylerL · 04-26-2009, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarveyJ

Anyone here get the "Oh, but you were so good at school. You could have become an -<INSERT HIGHLY TECHNICAL FIELD THAT REQUIRES 7 YEAR DEGREE AS A BARE MINIMUM TO ENTRY SUCH AS MEDICAL SCIENCES>- if you only tried a little harder" line?
That one's starting to drive me up the fucking wall.

Actually, if you get that line, what was your inserted term? Mine was Bio-chemist or something like that, even though I was doing an Arts/Comm degree.

I was supposed to be an architect!

TFLNetwork · 04-26-2009, 09:47 PM

gay webmaster ftw.

gdubs12345 · 04-26-2009, 09:48 PM

just say "internet advertising". Even though ive explained it a million times, no one ever gets it.

SitPoMk · 04-26-2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarveyJ

I too am sick of trying to explain to my family what it is that I do or explain to my arsehole father that I do indeed have a job. Several, in fact, considering that I do a range of things part time.

Anyone here get the "Oh, but you were so good at school. You could have become an -<INSERT HIGHLY TECHNICAL FIELD THAT REQUIRES 7 YEAR DEGREE AS A BARE MINIMUM TO ENTRY SUCH AS MEDICAL SCIENCES>- if you only tried a little harder" line?
That one's starting to drive me up the fucking wall.

Actually, if you get that line, what was your inserted term? Mine was Bio-chemist or something like that, even though I was doing an Arts/Comm degree.

I have yet to go to college. Graduating highschool in 14.5 days! woo. I'm studying CS so that might actually go hand in hand with IM if I ever decide to start an internet business. It's awkward as hell when my friends ask what I do to get these checks, but it's my fault because I'm an idiot and sometimes I can't help but brag a bit.

BTW, anyone here go to or graduated from University of Illinois at Urbana? That place is going to be my home for the next 6 years

ayzo · 04-26-2009, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerL

My dad is so behind the times he refuses to let me transfer money to his bank account directly because he doesn't trust "that damn internet." It might steal his money.

LOL reminds me of the time my dad fell for a phishing page and actually said "The damn internet stole my credit card and bought a bunch of stuff from the amazon" (it was used at amazon.com)

I was laughing for days...

nitro_dee · 04-26-2009, 10:11 PM

I say i sell ads on the internet and like most other people have already said, the convo usually stops there.

edward_b · 04-26-2009, 10:32 PM

I'm having this problem right now...I'm moving to Canada (from the UK) in 2 months time, and the first question everyone asks me for some reason, is "so what are you going to do there, you know, job wise...?".

I did try and explain to a couple of people in very simple terms like "you know the ads you see online...?" etc but I still got confused blank looks even then so I gave up. Now my stock answer is that I intend to "play around on the internet full time" - that shuts them up, and the incredulous looks are just priceless!

SitPoMk · 04-26-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edward_b

I'm having this problem right now...I'm moving to Canada (from the UK) in 2 months time, and the first question everyone asks me for some reason, is "so what are you going to do there, you know, job wise...?".

I did try and explain to a couple of people in very simple terms like "you know the ads you see online...?" etc but I still got confused blank looks even then so I gave up. Now my stock answer is that I intend to "play around on the internet full time" - that shuts them up, and the incredulous looks are just priceless!

you don't worry about looking like an idiot with no future? make your self sound prestigious dude

amanda11 · 04-26-2009, 10:39 PM

Internet hustler or cyber hustler sounds fuckin' cool.

edward_b · 04-26-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SitPoMk

you don't worry about looking like an idiot with no future? make your self sound prestigious dude

Hadn't really even given it a thought tbh and I don't really feel the need to bullshit/justify myself to people anyway, they can perceive me how they like. Why would I worry? It's more fun to see their bemused looks

Close friends and family know broadly what I do btw, I was talking about my answers more to general people who know me.

edward_b · 04-26-2009, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amanda11

Internet hustler or cyber hustler sounds fuckin' cool.

Agreed...like it - "internet hustler" ftw - I'll give this a run today, someone is bound to ask lol

Danc1122 · 04-26-2009, 11:42 PM

I'm confused....

Why didn't you just tell them to fuck off?

Sticks79 · 04-27-2009, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amanda11

Internet hustler or cyber hustler sounds fuckin' cool.

For the fucking WIN, from now on that's what I'm telling sheeple... err... people what I do.

transistor · 04-27-2009, 02:21 AM

I try to explain it to my relatives all the time. My dad gets pissed every time because he thinks he's smart enough to do it too, but I won't help him out. When I went over today, he had a ebook printed out about PPC...

Garrett · 04-27-2009, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by transistor

I try to explain it to my relatives all the time. My dad gets pissed every time because he thinks he's smart enough to do it too, but I won't help him out. When I went over today, he had a ebook printed out about PPC...

That is priceless!

amanda11 · 04-27-2009, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by transistor

I try to explain it to my relatives all the time. My dad gets pissed every time because he thinks he's smart enough to do it too, but I won't help him out. When I went over today, he had a ebook printed out about PPC...

LOL you're an asshole son.

Fat Tom · 04-27-2009, 05:52 AM

3 words. Online Marketing Consultant. Simple enough people get the idea. But complex enough they dont want to ask and seem stupid. And if they ask who you work for, just tell them you work with many different companies, and then change the subject.

AdHustler · 04-27-2009, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guerilla

Neighbor - So what do you do?

Me - I build websites.

Neighbor - Oh really? That's interesting. Any sites I know?

Me - Have you ever heard of Google?

Neighbor - You work for Google?

Me - No. I just wanted to know if you had heard of Google. The last site I worked on was Yahoo. Do you know what that is?

Real conversation

thats hilarious

kingofsp · 04-27-2009, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emp

Right in the dotcom bubble in Hamburg, one of my colleagues would just say "I am a garbage man." Whenever a hot chick would ask him what he does (They could not STAND "I work in IT/web/startup")
When they got confused/flustered he'd just be all nice and ask "Why? You got a problem with that?"

The amount of girls he pulled with that was unbelievable.

If it's friends/family I just tell them I build websites. If it's some random chick, I always say something along the lines of bum/unemployed musician. Say it like you mean it and you don't give a fuck. Tried and true, as Emp's friend can testify. Bonus points if you get them to buy you a drink.

mingrza · 04-27-2009, 11:06 AM

I'm partial to the title Internet Cowboy

GeorgeB · 04-27-2009, 11:57 AM

Why not just tell them that you sling shady rebill offers to people by making them feel bad about their weight, financial status, teeth color, or aging, using fake testimonials?

Then for fun you should go into detail about how the 7 to 14 day rebill offer works. Then they'll really respect you. I promise.

04-26-2009, 01:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
Traska Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 438 iTrader: 3 / 100%	Family Asked me What I do...(It was Awkward) Fuck... I just had dinner with my family at my aunt and uncles house. The discussion drifted over to where I am currently working & I briefly explained my internet marketing & how I do SEO for businesses. Their reactions were confused and distant even though I put it all into layman's terms. I know there is no reason for me to feel awkward but my family of doctors, teachers and craftsmen pretty much looked at me like I was an alien from another fucking planet! Next time anybody asks me what I do I am just going to say "advertising" and then change the discussion to them and their "career"... Have any of you guys had similar experiences?... Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

04-26-2009, 01:18 AM	#2 (permalink)
therookie You're Fucking Out Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 418 iTrader: 2 / 100%	To me that would seem easier to explain calling yourself a small business marketing consultant then an affiliate marketer. Whatever the case may be most people just don't "get it" and probably never will. Your best bet is to just do like you mentioned in the last part of your post. I don't do any of this full time yet, but trying to tell my dad about it was pretty brutal. He sort of understands because he deals with "SEO firms" calling his business all the time offering their services. He was more along the lines of get a real job there is too much competition in that stuff. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________

04-26-2009, 01:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
Traska Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 438 iTrader: 3 / 100%	Yeah, I know I didn't need to make a post about this, it was just really bugging me. I'm the odd one out in my family... Oh well! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

04-26-2009, 01:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
guerilla Amat Victoria Curam Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: No Posts: 7,599 iTrader: 88 / 100%	Neighbor - So what do you do? Me - I build websites. Neighbor - Oh really? That's interesting. Any sites I know? Me - Have you ever heard of Google? Neighbor - You work for Google? Me - No. I just wanted to know if you had heard of Google. The last site I worked on was Yahoo. Do you know what that is? Real conversation Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ Change Your Life Twitter ^ YouTube Thank you for your attentiveness, the forward thrusters, engage on you busters, I cut the mustard.

04-26-2009, 02:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
ayzo Like a boss Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,068 iTrader: 65 / 100%	Yea it's always hard to explain to people, I always just say "marketing consultant". But if you think that's bad wait until they find out you "work from home" so you must have all the time in the world to babysit their kids and run errands for them. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________

04-26-2009, 02:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
vladb2 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 401 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I say "I build online campaigns for fortune 500 companies" sounds fancy and super simple. Cause hey... we do work with blockbuster and eharmony. The more fancy you make your shit seem.... the less questions they ask. They don't want to look stupid. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

04-26-2009, 02:22 AM	#7 (permalink)
amanda11 Hustle hard Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,445 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Why not be lowly and humble and say you're a web master for a gay forum? Or a virtual jack off artist? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

04-26-2009, 03:04 AM	#8 (permalink)
jryan21 WF Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,132 iTrader: 0 / 0%	It's kind of disturbing that over the years, "what do you do?" has lost its meaning and slowly has been replaced by "where do you work?" or "who you workin for?" Even more disturbing is that these same people are the ones who bitch about all the "foreigners" who own hotels, gas stations, nail salons, etc. People around here are beginning to forget that from the outside looking in, this country is still the place to go when you want to make your own way. But as long as there is plenty of "programming" to watch and a pill for every occasion, then they don't mind being told what to think. There's nothing wrong with running your own shit; we're not ants, nature intended for our contributions to be diverse because we need more than just a hole in the ground for us to do what we are put here to do (whatever that may be). It is not impossible to provide a service to someone without them owning every aspect of your life; and vice fucking versa. You keep listening to this shit on the TV and going to work with 50 other people who do the same fucking job and eating things out of cellophane, then your ass is in that hole and the least of your concerns should be who the fuck I am working for. ^ Tell them that the next time they ask. ^ Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

04-26-2009, 04:02 AM	#9 (permalink)
Webferret Banned Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,262 iTrader: 0 / 0%	tell them you're a "data Raja" Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

04-26-2009, 04:13 AM	#10 (permalink)
Rage9 #1 Soccer Hater Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 5,174 iTrader: 13 / 93%	Damn my Grandma and my extended family always grill me on this every time I see them. They don't understand "internet marketing" even if explained too. They don't understand that products can be sold online. In fact all this rebill shit has hit the news pretty hard around here (where they can't cancel) and it's even taken a bigger credibility hit, yet it isn't associated with online. I'm basically at the point where I'd just rather tell them to go fuck them-selfs and worry about their own non-existent career. Hell when in doubt, just ask them if they ever seen the ads on google, and tell them you're that guy. Seems to work for the most part. Throw a little jargon around (the basics will do) and they'll probably either be really intrigued or (most likely) they'll drop it in fear of thinking their an idiot and not up with the times. But yeah, never easy. People honestly don't know they are being marketed to. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ MadPPC.com - PPC, PHP, and other Affiliate Marketing tips. It's OK to be MAD!

04-26-2009, 04:36 AM	#11 (permalink)
Garrett music LOUD Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3,529 iTrader: 8 / 100%	I honestly don't even tell people what I do anymore, even when they ask. Let's be honest, it's not like they give a fuck anyway and they only ask these things when there is nothing else to talk about. I also notice that people respect you a hell of alot more when you remove yourself from your "job". You are not your job. ..and when they finally do learn what you do, people are glad you stayed humble and didn't act like you are some rock star who uses money to calculate self-worth. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

04-26-2009, 04:47 AM	#12 (permalink)
TylerL read less, get paid Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 885 iTrader: 11 / 87%	My family lives in the stone age. I've tried to explain it to all of them but the only one that understands a thing I say is my brother. My mom was pretty much in awe when I showed her a landing page I was working on. "You created that page? So my 19 year old son is behind one of the sites that pushes anti aging pills?" I guess when you think about it, if you weren't in touch with this whole business, you'd expect that some big company would be behind anti-aging and diet pill sales pages. Young people making money? Crazy! She also keeps asking me if it's even legal for me to promote rebill offers. My dad is so behind the times he refuses to let me transfer money to his bank account directly because he doesn't trust "that damn internet." It might steal his money. They both think I'm going to turn out to be a 25 year old homeless guy, because I don't have a "real" job and I spend a lot of time on my computer. Despite that, some years, I've made more money than they have by just chilling at my computer, I'm still a failure to them. But someday I'll send each of them a nice fat check for them to just go crazy with, it can serve as a bit of a wake up call and a nice present I look forward to that day. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ 30% off by using code WF2010 Limited uses, get yours now!

04-26-2009, 05:16 AM	#14 (permalink)
John__N Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 330 iTrader: 6 / 100%	i tell them i pay google. isnt that true? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

04-26-2009, 05:24 AM	#15 (permalink)
pickledegg I Have A Lander For That Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,186 iTrader: 14 / 100%	Well when the day arrives for me when I can leave my 'respectable' day job, and sit at home pushing random offers to idiots for a living, I will have no problems telling anyone who asks. Last month I spent about 15 hours working on mini sites to make the same amount of money that I work 2 weeks for in my dayjob. Whats to be ashamed about? LOL ^^ that sounds like the title for an ebook, is that Digital Point calling? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ This signature is temporarily down for maintenance.

04-26-2009, 05:27 AM	#16 (permalink)
LazyD $monies = false; Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wine Cuntry Posts: 669 iTrader: 3 / 100%	Amazing how quickly technology changes and creates new jobs or fields that never existed before... It seems like whenever I meet someone for the first time and the conversation drifts into "what do you do for a living?" and I tell them I build websites, its almost like I told them a funny joke. The consensus among people that I say that to assume some shitty geocities-esque website, but if im around a computer, I will show them specific sites. Even then they dont seem to grasp it when I tell them that I built the ecommerce system for this site, or created the user management system for something else, it seems like they go into a state of shock or something and the conversation usually ends right there. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________

04-26-2009, 05:35 AM	#17 (permalink)
parrot head Call Center Ninja Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Minneapolis Minnesota Posts: 725 iTrader: 2 / 100%	Brutally Honest: YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

04-26-2009, 05:35 AM	#18 (permalink)
pickledegg I Have A Lander For That Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,186 iTrader: 14 / 100%	Well it sure beats the hell out of this YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ This signature is temporarily down for maintenance.

04-26-2009, 05:49 AM	#19 (permalink)
emp Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,977 iTrader: 17 / 100%	I mentioned this once already, I think. Right in the dotcom bubble in Hamburg, one of my colleagues would just say "I am a garbage man." Whenever a hot chick would ask him what he does (They could not STAND "I work in IT/web/startup") When they got confused/flustered he'd just be all nice and ask "Why? You got a problem with that?" The amount of girls he pulled with that was unbelievable. ::emp:: Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ Your Logical Fallacies - know them to avoid them That's because all programmers are also ninjas.(but not all ninjas are programmers) - LogicFlux Blind Ape Seo

04-26-2009, 06:29 AM	#20 (permalink)
bullet-ride minor internet superstar Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 469 iTrader: 1 / 100%	When I tell people what I do online, some of them feel the need to make some remark on how much money they made with BUX.to but there was a problem with their account and they never got paid. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________

04-26-2009, 08:28 AM	#21 (permalink)
suzie Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 69 iTrader: 3 / 100%	I am another ordinary "Programmer" to all my friends and family .....they never understood internet marketing and how anyone can make boat loads of money when I tried to explain it to them earlier ! My parents vaguely have an idea of what I do... but they don't care, coz of the fat checks I send their way Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

04-26-2009, 08:29 AM	#22 (permalink)
dreamache Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,823 iTrader: 7 / 100%	That's not awkward... it's awkward when you're in HS like I was (8 years ago) and received your first check addressed to "Cute Wet Sluts" (a paysite I built along with an aol spammer). I had to have my dad cash it for me. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

04-26-2009, 08:51 AM	#23 (permalink)
b_sun Design on the Grind Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,623 iTrader: 12 / 100%	I maintain an easy 9-5 work IT support gig from home, and do this stuff on the side. But when I try to explain the AM stuff to my family, it goes right over everyone's head. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

04-26-2009, 08:56 AM	#24 (permalink)
amateursurgeon Chloroform Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Behind you. Posts: 2,689 iTrader: 3 / 100%	I tell them I'm in cult-building & propaganda. A bit like goebbels without the genocide. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ Exact Match Domains still work well for SEO Get lists of profitable ones at EMDLists.com

04-26-2009, 09:14 AM	#25 (permalink)
Fatbat Advertise Here Join Date: May 2008 Location: Costa del Sol, Spain Posts: 4,091 iTrader: 3 / 100%	What's worse is when one of the granparents is suffering from dementia or plain forgetfulness and asks you 5 or 6 times in a night about what you do. I didn't want to be rude but after the second time trying to explain it I just left it at "I work on computers". Otherwise be happy that not a lot of people understand or "get" what we do. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ BRAD SHAW - GRAPHIC DESIGN [ WEB - PRINT - IDENTITY ] >>>

04-26-2009, 09:35 PM	#29 (permalink)
HarveyJ He is - THE CACTUS! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Melbourne - Not the one in Florida Posts: 3,906 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I too am sick of trying to explain to my family what it is that I do or explain to my arsehole father that I do indeed have a job. Several, in fact, considering that I do a range of things part time. Anyone here get the "Oh, but you were so good at school. You could have become an -<INSERT HIGHLY TECHNICAL FIELD THAT REQUIRES 7 YEAR DEGREE AS A BARE MINIMUM TO ENTRY SUCH AS MEDICAL SCIENCES>- if you only tried a little harder" line? That one's starting to drive me up the fucking wall. Actually, if you get that line, what was your inserted term? Mine was Bio-chemist or something like that, even though I was doing an Arts/Comm degree. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ After 10,000 years I'm free!

04-26-2009, 09:47 PM	#31 (permalink)
TFLNetwork Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 215/514 Posts: 1,728 iTrader: 1 / 100%	gay webmaster ftw. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

04-26-2009, 09:48 PM	#32 (permalink)
gdubs12345 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,652 iTrader: 8 / 100%	just say "internet advertising". Even though ive explained it a million times, no one ever gets it. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

04-26-2009, 10:11 PM	#35 (permalink)
nitro_dee Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 293 iTrader: 2 / 100%	I say i sell ads on the internet and like most other people have already said, the convo usually stops there. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. ~ Michael Jordan

04-26-2009, 10:32 PM	#36 (permalink)
edward_b Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 207 iTrader: 7 / 100%	I'm having this problem right now...I'm moving to Canada (from the UK) in 2 months time, and the first question everyone asks me for some reason, is "so what are you going to do there, you know, job wise...?". I did try and explain to a couple of people in very simple terms like "you know the ads you see online...?" etc but I still got confused blank looks even then so I gave up. Now my stock answer is that I intend to "play around on the internet full time" - that shuts them up, and the incredulous looks are just priceless! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

04-26-2009, 10:39 PM	#38 (permalink)
amanda11 Hustle hard Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,445 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Internet hustler or cyber hustler sounds fuckin' cool. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

04-26-2009, 11:42 PM	#41 (permalink)
Danc1122 Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 882 iTrader: 1 / 100%	I'm confused.... Why didn't you just tell them to fuck off? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

04-27-2009, 02:21 AM	#43 (permalink)
transistor Ron Paul 2012 Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 663 iTrader: 3 / 100%	I try to explain it to my relatives all the time. My dad gets pissed every time because he thinks he's smart enough to do it too, but I won't help him out. When I went over today, he had a ebook printed out about PPC... Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

04-27-2009, 11:57 AM	#50 (permalink)
GeorgeB Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 384 iTrader: 6 / 100%	Why not just tell them that you sling shady rebill offers to people by making them feel bad about their weight, financial status, teeth color, or aging, using fake testimonials? Then for fun you should go into detail about how the 7 to 14 day rebill offer works. Then they'll really respect you. I promise. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ ubored? Join Us PROHINT: We are looking for people who like to discuss celebrities be they in music, acting, politics, or famous for no reason!

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