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Occupation Questions 31-40

THE QUESTION:
O40: To actors and actresses: Is it possible to play a role in which you are falling in love with another person, and not have that affect you emotionally? I know it is a job, but the kisses that can curl the toes of audiences must surely curl your toes, as you are an actual participant.
POSTED DEC. 9, 1998
Ronald V., 45, male <draugas@mailcity.com>, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

ANSWER 1:
I’m an actor who studied under Lee Strasberg for four years. It surely is possible to play a steamy love scene and not fall in love. In fact, you could very much dislike the other actor and still pull off a steamy scene. Actors trained by Strasberg use a technique called “substitution,” whereby we sensorily (through sense memory) create someone in our personal lives and imbue that person upon the actor we are playing the scene with. After we’re done we can get up and walk away from it and, though emotionally involved as it may be, we know we “created” it and it’s not reality.
POSTED MARCH 26, 1999
M.P. <muz1113@yahoo.com>, Los Angeles, CA

FURTHER NOTICE:
I’ve been an actor for more than 20 years. The kisses can be nice, at the start, but remember that, at least in stage acting, the makeup may not look all that great up close. It is a shallow thrill, and after the 100th performance the thrill is bound to wear off. It really is just make-believe.
POSTED APRIL 8, 1999
Marty K, 42, white male, MN
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THE QUESTION:
O39: Why are the majority of Black Jack dealers in Las Vegas Asian women?
POSTED DEC. 2, 1998
Male, 35, Boston, MA
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THE QUESTION:
O38: Why do farmers always seem to leave one large tree in the middle of their plowed fields? Is it for navigational reasons, or a shady place to have lunch on hot days in the crops?
POSTED DEC. 1, 1998
A. Sanderson, Port Huron, MI

ANSWER 1:
I live in a farming community and see those trees often. When it is a small row of trees left between fields, it acts as a windbreak and reduces erosion.

As for the single big tree left in the field, I don’t believe it has a purpose. As far as farming goes, it is a nuisance that has to be plowed around. It is left there because it is old and beautiful, and the owners of the land love it.
POSTED DEC. 4, 1998
Colette <inkwolf@earthlink.net>, Seymour , WI
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THE QUESTION:
O37: To people who have been hospitalized: How did the nursing staff meet your psychosocial, cultural and spiritual needs?
POSTED NOV. 23, 1998
Julie K. <Eiluj11659@aol.com>, Sandusky, OH

ANSWER 1:
I was hospitalized last summer and found that almost all of the nurses were incredibly helpful. Not only were they prompt, neat and well-trained, they were reassuring, gentle and had an almost Buddha-like patience with me, for which I am very greatful. I credit my speedy recovery to the emotional well-being the nurses and my friends and family gave me, as well as to my doctor. The only problem was that there probably weren’t enough nurses. I’ve been told that I was in a more fully-staffed hospital than most, but I still found that even when there weren’t any emergencies that required extra nurses, they were in short supply and heavy demand. I must add one more comment: While in general the nurses were great, I did suffer with one really mean nurse. I was unfortunate enough to have her the morning after surgery, when I couldn’t breathe. Since I couldn’t really breathe, it was very hard to speak, and I was terribly frustrated by her constant interruptions and dismissals. I believe I started to hyperventilate. It was one of the worst experiences of my life.
POSTED NOV. 28, 1998
J.R., Boston, MA
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THE QUESTION:
O36: I am a white 43-year-old female who has taught preschool for about 20 years. Why is the occupation of teaching young children so low-paying? In my humble opinion, it is a highly skilled and sometimes stressful (though rewarding) job. Is the pay low solely because early childhood education is pretty much a tradionally female occupation? Or perhaps does the low pay pertain to society’s low value of children? I’m told that good childcare is expensive. I teach at a very good preschool, but I do not think anyone in particular is pocketing much money.
POSTED NOV. 19, 1998
Cil, 43, white female <Cil@AOL.com>, Denver, CO

ANSWER 1:
Normally most salaries are figures that are economically justified. This is usually based on the laws of supply and demand. Economically justified does not mean importance of the job to society. If it did, then policemen, firemen, teachers and members of the military, for example, would all have high-paying jobs because they are all vital to our society. On the same note, professional atheletes and musicians would not command the salaries they do because they are not essential for society. However, professional atheletes and entertainers generate lots of money and economic activity. In other words, many people make money off their talents. Conversely, in the case of child-care workers, teachers, military personnel, policemen, etc., very little economic activity is generated by their activities and talents. I’m not saying this is fair or idealistic. It is just the economic facts of life.
POSTED NOV. 21, 1998
Al, 38, male <alan@adler.net>, Jacksonville, NC

FURTHER NOTICE:
I’m a mother with two little ones in preschool, and it is truly a struggle to be able to pay all the bills. Daycare alone costs $1,200 per month, which is a big chunk of my take-home pay. I understand that daycare workers are vastly underpaid – I could never carve out an existence on that salary – but as a working mom, I can’t afford to pay a penny more. In fact, if my center keeps raising rates, I may be forced to become a stay-at-home mother.
POSTED NOV. 23, 1998
Charisma K., 23, McHenry, IL

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
My sister is an elementary school teacher who complains about low pay for teachers. However, I frequently point out to her that she puts in much fewer hours at work than your normal full-time worker. She has seven-hour days (vs. the normal eight) and teaches during a 180-day school year. So with her holidays and summers off, if you average her salary, it is actually quite high. She does grade papers at home, but then again many workers take work home. I can think of no other job where you get all summer off, though perhaps there are some. I have seen statistics in which teaching jobs rank in the top 10 of salary based on the hours teachers work. Of course, my sister could even make more money if she decided to find a summer job. However in her 20 years of teaching she has yet to do this. And yes, I’m jealous that she gets much time by the pool in the summer.
POSTED DEC. 1, 1998
W.G., Cincinnati OH

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
To W.G.: I do not know what kind of teacher your sister is, but I can tell you that the average teacher does not work less than your average full-time worker. First of all, the regular hours for a teacher might be less than what is considered full-time, but that is just the beginning. Most teachers have to spend just as many hours as they teach to prepare for the next day, whether running through the subjects for each class or preparing materials for those classes. Keep in mind that much more goes into grading papers than checking the final result. Teachers also have to evaluate the process that each student takes to get to each answer. On top of all of that, summers are usually not playtime for teachers. Those few months are necessary to prepare for the next school year, whether by working on refining or creating the year’s curriculum or attending any number of workshops geared toward enhancing performance. And the current trend in education is to phase in a new “year-round” school schedule that eliminates the summer “vacation.” My wife, for instance, arrives at school around 6:45 a.m. and gets home around 4:45 p.m., and that time is just for what she needs to get done at the school. Also, her inner-city public elementary school goes from September to the end of July, so she only gets one month to prepare over the summer. During the week, all of her time, from waking to sleeping, is in some way devoted to her teaching. And this is true for most of the teachers in just about every district she has ever dealt with since she started teaching. Maybe you should consider that the statistics you refer to account only for the school hours that teachers work, and never account for the countless hours real teachers devote to their profession. It would appear that teachers like your sister make it more difficult for more diligent teachers to get the kind of salary they deserve.
POSTED DEC. 2, 1998
John K., 25 <the-macs@geocities.com>, Cranford, NJ
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THE QUESTION:
O35: Can an officer of the law pull you over and search your vehicle if he suspects you may have illegal paraphernalia?
POSTED NOV. 13, 1998
Anna, 17, Zandra, 17, Cheri,18 <WWW.SRATAYLOR@AOL.COM>, Sutter Creek, CA

ANSWER 1:
It depends on how he comes to suspect it. If he sees you waving a bong out the window or if you’re driving erratically, as if you’re drunk or stoned, he or she might have justification to search your car. He or she probably has less legal right to search your car if you’re stopped because of the age of your car, how old you are, your race, etc.
POSTED NOV. 16, 1998
Andrew, 34 <ziptron@start.com.au>, Huntington, NY
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THE QUESTION:
O34: Why does a principal and or school official have the right to search students, but the police need to have a warrant to search someone?
POSTED NOV. 13, 1998
Sara S., 17 <sarasamuel@hotmail.com>, Pioneer, CA

ANSWER 1:
Two reasons. First, during the school day, your school and its officials are considered to be acting as your guardians. Just as your parents have the right to search your room, your school has the right to search your locker. Also, technically, the locker belongs to the school, not you. The school’s just letting you use it. The other reason is that police have greater powers than school officials. Police can arrest you and start the legal process toward imprisonment. That’s why they need a warrant.
POSTED NOV. 16, 1998
Andrew, 34 <ziptron@start.com.au>, Huntington, NY

FURTHER NOTICE:
Are you talking about a personal search, like “frisking?” If you are, then, as far as I know, a police officer does not need a warrant to check a person’s body if that person has come under suspicion of something. This would assume that the person being searched is out in public, and possibly a danger to others. If that person were inside their home on private property, then the police would probably need a warrant. I suspect it is similar for school officials. Anytime you go into a confined space containing large numbers of people (school, ballgames, concerts, etc.), you might be subject to a search if a danger is suspected. I have been frisked several times before, and I never thought my privacy was being invaded.
POSTED NOV. 16, 1998
Stephen S., 31, San Antonio, TX

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
This sure brings back memories. In high school that was the No. 1 issue I battled on in the student senate, and this was a very long time ago. I got the same arguments and they do not impress me in my 40s any more than they did when I was in my teens. The U.S. Constitution explicitly protects against “unreasonable search and seizure.” This has been interpreted by the courts to mean, among other things, random mass searches with no reason to believe a crime has been committed by those being searched. I have seen nothing in the Constitution that exempts high school students, minors or anyone else. Yet we regularly had our lockers searched while we were in class, and students were disciplined for having cigarettes and other items. In loco parentis does not impress me; aside from the fact that I believe strongly that parents should respect a young person’s privacy and not search, the Constitution is the highest law in the land and overrides any such statute.
POSTED NOV. 27, 1998
Carol, former high school student <carol_prosports@msn.com>, Castro Valley, CA
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THE QUESTION:
O33: Why do we lower physical standards for women in police and fire occupations? Are we not risking the lives of people in the interest of equality? I for one would not want a woman half my size attempting to carry me out of a burning building. I would much rather it be a man who I know has the physical capability.
POSTED NOV. 12, 1998
Pete, male, Toledo, OH

ANSWER 1:
I agree we should not lower standards for any position in order to include a particular group of people. However, a man is not necessarily stronger or more physically fit by mere virtue of his sex. Ever seen a couch potato? I’d much rather have a physically fit female carry me around than some fireman who spends his free time sitting on his butt. At the same time, when standards are lowered in the interest of including other groups, it ultimately sends the message that those groups aren’t up for the challenge. And let’s face it, the level of strength needed to be an effective firefighter, for example, is not unattainable by most people, regardless of sex. I’m not saying firefighters are not incredibly well-conditioned people, just that anyone with a passion for that field should be capable of achieving the level of fitness required. I think reasonable standards, determined by the demands of a position, should be set and required of all employees/volunteers. Those who can’t meet them should either seek other work, or find a way to serve that does not require physical strength. Everyone has his/her limitations; if yours is physical fitness, then maybe firefighting (or lifeguarding or military service) is not the field for you – male, female or otherwise.
POSTED NOV. 16, 1998
D.M.M., white, female, 24 <donikam@hotmail.com>, Charleston, SC

FURTHER NOTICE:
I do see your point, but do not believe the police and fire departments would suffer any woman or man to fill physically demanding positions if they were incapable of executing reasonable physical feats. Now if a woman will risk her own life to save another, so be it; are not her male colleagues also risking theirs? As for a woman risking others’ lives, what if a woman half your size did pull/drag you out of a burning building – how would you feel then?
POSTED NOV. 16, 1998
Alonzo C., 32, African American, Jacksonville, FL

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
Why do they lower height requirements so certain ethnic groups can qualify? Height is also important, particularly in a firefighter’s job. You gotta be fair all the way around. As a female firefighter (reserve – competition is stiff ) I know there are plenty of us who can do the job and work circles around some of our plumper, lazier man-fellows. Besides, there’s that new firefighter “two-in-two-out” law that passed, so I doubt one guy is gonna run into a burning building and save you single-handedly. Also noteworthy, under the influence of adrenalin, anything is possible!
POSTED NOV. 16, 1998
K.B., 37, white female, Riverside area, CA

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
The technical term for differing standards for men and women is “gender norming.” Essentially, the theory goes that “based on physiological differences, the women’s equivalent of a man doing 12 pullups is (for example) four pullups.” The idea is to assign not equal standards, but equivalent standards. I’m in the military, and we deal with this all the time. I believe there is a reason for a given standard, such as carrying someone out of a burning building, and that standard should be the same regardless of the sex of the rescuer. The other problem is one of physiology: How can we say for sure what is equivalent to what? I do caution you not to assume a woman couldn’t rescue you, though. In my judo classes, I’ve run across many a “little old lady” who could move my 200 lbs around with no effort at all.
POSTED NOV. 16, 1998
Charles <Sw1mFast@aol.com>, Fairview Heights, IL

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
Lowering standards for a test that reflects skills needed to do a job is one thing, but how often do you think that happens? What does doing 15 pushups have to do (directly) with the ability to be a fireman? Nothing. Push-ups, pull-ups, etc. are strength tests that favor men over women. If you want to favor the women, then do endurance tests, or tests that require working through pain (both are documented as higher women-achieving tests).
POSTED NOV. 23, 1998
T.J., EMT, Gatorland, FL

FURTHER NOTICE 5:
Who do you think can pull hose up a set of steps faster, a 110-lb person or a 200-lb person? You have to grab the hose and lean to pull it. Who do you think can pop a door? The lighter you are, the more likely you will bounce off. Who is going to be more successful in a situation involving self-rescue – say falling through a burned-out floor or roof right up to your armpits – someone who can do a lot of pullups? You bet. Who is going to push debris off themself when things come crashing down? I’d safely bet it is the one who can bench-press 300 pounds. And who would you rather have carrying dad down the steps in a stairchair – two burly men, or two petite women?
POSTED NOV. 28, 1998
Firefighter <tmon@who.net>, Hamilton, OH

FURTHER NOTICE 6:
One of the things about physical tests for firefighters – they test you when you go in, but never again. What does that tell you? That the test is to weed out people, particularly people who “they” don’t want. Otherwise, the tests would be given every year or two. People who were out of shape would lose their jobs. (And where I live, that would be most cops and firefighters.) Another point: We tend to test for one set of skills (pulling a 250-lb. man across the floor) and ignore others (crawl through this 16- inch opening across this caving-in floor, to the baby). Why not test for both? Then, of course, the big guys would be screaming, wouldn’t they?
POSTED DEC. 27, 1998
Barbara, female <newagent99@hotmail.com>, FL
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THE QUESTION:
O32: Does having acne make an individual less likely to be selected for a job or professional career?
POSTED NOV. 10, 1998
Mary, Calif.

ANSWER 1:
Yes indeed. I’ve yet to see a model on a magazine cover with acne. Never saw any men with acne in shaving ads either, for that matter. And people don’t generally want the pizza driver’s face looking like the pizza he is delivering.
POSTED NOV. 16, 1998
Tony, Bay Village, OH
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THE QUESTION:
O31: Can anyone in the fashion industry tell me why the runway models have such outrageous clothes that nobody would be caught dead in? The clothes on display by major designers never resemble anyting I see in public. Do people really buy that stuff, and where on earth do they wear it?
POSTED NOV. 6, 1998
R.J., Cincinnati, OH

ANSWER 1:
It is obvious you have never been to Paris or Milan, for example. I have been in many dance clubs and bars in these areas and see such extravagant outfits here. I doubt you would see anyone wearing this in Cincinnati. Before you assume no one would be caught dead in these outfits, maybe you ought to think in a more wordly manner. There is a world outside the United States and Cincinnati.
POSTED NOV. 10, 1998
Jeff, male, Dayton, OH

FURTHER NOTICE:
As a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, I can give you an explanation about why designers design outrageous clothes that are impossible for wear even to special events. Fashion designers are very competitive with each other, especially when there are new and upcoming designers who are just as talented as the well-established designers. Designers are artists, and they need to express themselves. However, they do have lines designed and marketed to the everyday customer. Those outrageous clothes are ways to get their names out there so that customers will respond.
POSTED NOV. 10, 1998
Julie, 21, female <Jasmin411@aol.com>, New York, NY

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
One is more likely to find outrageous clothing in urban centers and among the wealthy, particularly in Europe. The designers themselves seek to be expressive and to create something invigoratingly new. To them and to many others, like myself, the clothing is beautiful, inspiring, fun, dramatic, moody, crazy, angry, soothing, etc. It extends and represents who we are or who we desire to be.
POSTED NOV. 10, 1998
Ryan H. <ryanhy@tbaytel.net>, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I know! I know! My mother has her master’s in fashion design and she tells me that runway shows are not in any way intended to exhibit a line of practical clothing. They are to be taken like an art exhibit with no practical application; their value is purely aesthetic. However, they do translate into “real world” fashion in a subtle way. Let’s say you observe a runway show filled with models strutting down the catwalk practically naked in nothing but sheer, drapey, shapeless fabrics. That season, you might notice a lot of sheer blouses in the department stores, but accompanied by another layer underneath because people in the real world can’t run around with their nipples showing. The fashion shows basically serve to celebrate the fabrics and cuts that designers want to be “in” that season in the most dramatic and showy way possible.
POSTED NOV. 10, 1998
D.M.M., 24, white, female <donikam@hotmail.com>, Charleston, SC

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
From what I’ve heard there are two types of fashion shows: Haute Couture and Pret-a-porter. Haute Couture are the outrageous, one-copy-only creations. If you want one of these, you have to buy the original and it costs an arm and a leg and a few other body parts. These are the shows that are in many ways like art shows. Most people who attend them won’t buy any of the clothes. But some will. Pret-a-porter means “ready-to-wear.” The clothes exhibited in these shows are less outrageous and are usually for sale in ordinary stores. They can be quite expensive, but they are made in many copies. They are often on the edge, but not as outrageous as the Haute Couture clothes.
POSTED NOV. 13, 1998
Frej <frejvall@online.no>, Oslo, Norway

FURTHER NOTICE 5:
I don’t believe a person should be judged on where they’re from. Jeff from Dayton is putting down R.J. from Cincinnati, saying there’s a world outside Cincinnati. There is, but Jeff makes R.J. sound ignorant for asking the question. I’m living in Cincinnati but have lived and visited quite a few cities in the United States and seldom, if ever, have seen the sort of styles R.J. is referring to. I don’t think that makes me ignorant (no, I don’t think I need to go to Milan or Paris) and I have no particular opinion of fashion, but just wish to counter the idea that Cincinnati has backward or ignorant people.
POSTED NOV. 16, 1998
Lou F. <lflum@iac.net>, Cincinnati, OH

FURTHER NOTICE 6:
Y? talked with Sherrol Barnes-Burton, a fashion designer, consultant and instructor and owner of Sherrol Couture design studio on the “Miracle Mile” in Coral Gables, Fla.

“Lots of times these shows with all the crazy designs are for the photographers and media,” she said. “They’re designed to be show-stoppers. These designers also produce wearable items in the rest of their line. Some designers even give their $100,000 designer outfits to celebrities, or even pay them to wear them, because it gets the designer name recognition. The dresses get copied and might sell for $200 in the store. Or the celebrity might mention the designer’s name, and then when you go to the store and see an affordable piece by that designer, there’s name recognition and you might buy it.”
POSTED NOV. 19, 1998
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