How do I avoid the "What do you do?" question?

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Another way to do that is to click "Quote" as if you are going to reply to the first post, then copy that post (Cntrl-A, Cntrl-C), then click your browser's backarrow and go to the second post and click "Quote", then past (Cntrl-V) the first post into the second and edit out (delete any unwanted part) as necessary. That is how I did what you can see just above.

True. When they've gotten to know each other better they go on to gossip and mocking whoever's not present.

(I'm not making fun of MommyJones or NTs here, but of shallow NTs only)

Where I live it goes like this:

A: It's cold here...
Me: Yes, I was just thinking the same. Do you think the a/c can be regulated?
A: What do you do?
Me: Wait, I'll ask if they can switch the a/c off.
A: You haven't told me yet what you do.
Me: Nothing special.
A: What's so mysterious? (mocking tone)
Me: Nothing mysterious.
A: Flounces off, and badmouths me to everyone at the party she can get to talk to.

It's NOT about having something to talk about. It's about INTERRUPTING anything that's being talked about to gauge your socioeconomic status.

I spent 6 years trying to find a way around this. I wasn't able to. I stopped going places to meet people because I'm allergic to the above kind of getting to know each other. I just can't stand it, even on tranquilizers. I live much more happily ever since I stopped forcing myself to participate in this kind of conversation. Nowadays, if someone asks me what I do, I just turn away and leave. But then again, I don't put myself in situations where I'm so desperate to meet people that I have to ingratiate myself by participating in this kind of dialogue.

I hate this question too. Since I'm an unemployed artist I always say -I don't work- but I'm a woman and I guess people accept married women who don't work. However, I'm planning on saying -besides my artwork I don't do much, except for traveling.
I don't know if it's gonna work.

I hate that question too. I have always wanted to answer: "I am a seeker of Truth, Beauty and Wisdom." I have never had the nerve to do so, however. I could then say: "Oh you mean how do I earn a living? There must be something more interesting to talk about, like what do you enjoy doing in your free time."

Back to reality:

A better question for making small talk would be "Where are you from?" Even talking about the weather would be better than "What do you do?"

I did not knew that this question bothered so much people :/

I ask this all the time, and mostly because I want to know what the person LIKE doing (because I assume few people work in somethign that they hate...), so I can get a conversation going..

Most people hate their jobs. And when asked about what they do, they have the added pressure of having to make it sound important and fun. So you get lots of "I manage the whole blah, blah, blah" when actually they're the errands boy. Like an acquaintance of mine used to say: "I manage the whole functioning of the warehouse for a big company.", till one day we found out that he's the errands and heavy-weight lifting boy there. He does manage the boxes, yes, by piling them up for his boss the warehouse employee, who in turn manages the warehouse administration for the real Warehouse Manager.

Those who have a high level, exciting or interesting occupation are a tiny minority of the world population. Of course, if you're at a Club Med, you'll find that most want to talk about their occupations. But even if they're the majority there, they're a tiny fraction of the population.

I want to start asking low-socioeconomic level people what they do for a living and see their reactions... Maybe all NTs, regardless of their work, enjoy being asked about their jobs, I don't know... Then again, is it appropriate to ask, at a cocktail party, the wife of the CEO of a client company what she does for a living? I think the question of "What do you do?" is NOT just an innocent smalltalk question. I can think of many situations where it'd be offensive. And if it's inappropriate to ask the CEO's wife, then why is it perfectly OK to ask ME, and I'm supposed to learn to like the question???

"What do you do?"

"I'll keep that to myself if you don't mind."

In our country, we're often advised to say "I work for the Mossad" (the secret intelligence), because people know not to ask any further questions. They also know you mean either "f*****g leave me alone with that question" or that you actually work for the Mossad.

Agree wholeheartedly. It's not "innocent," it's trolling for future ammo.

"What do you do?"
"Why, I'm a pr0n star, thanks for asking!"

That'd teach 'em. Maybe.

Haha, I can see how that would be very effective.

Gosh Greentea - I actually really enjoy my work (and no, I am not a porn star )

I also don't think that people asking this question are looking for "future ammo" . Freud once said, "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." Likewise, most people (neurotypical or aspie) are really just making small talk and wanting to engage in friendly conversation. There is no ulterior motive.

It's a possibility, but for some reason I don't like it, don't know why.

That was to pat.

That's what I do, heh. Works pretty well.

And then of course you go "HOW ABOUT YOU?" as soon as possible.

ROFL! Ah, so that's why 99% of what I say to "normals" seems to get spread around and/or come back and bite me on the ass, eventually? No, I'm not paranoid - this is how it's always been. NTs adore making me look the fool; it's as though it were a sadistic hobby with some of them. I learned from a very young age that most people are unkind backstabbers who can't be trusted.