Ann Althouse, whom I love even though we are both happily married, has posted on that WSJ job rating story. A lot of people seem quite worked about it. A journalist I was listeing to yesterday was apopletic about it, but he's a journalist which is to say, totally screwed.
Althouse said "Actuary is #1, so... shouldn't there be more factors? Like something about how interesting it is... especially to do over the long haul?"
Hey, it's Marianne Dashwood-Althouse! That strange romantic obsession still haunts our culture.
I know two actuaries. They aren't any less interesting than anyone else I know. They have good lives, good marriages, families &c. When they describe their work it sounds interesting. More importantly, they don't mind being asked. That's what really matters. I can't find it online but the scene from Metropolitan with Roger W. Kirby in the bar nails it exactly. He says:
The acid test is whether you take any pleasure in responding to the question, What do you do? I can't bear it.What do I do? Nothing on the list describes what I do exactly. I'm a writer. I write things other people want written. Some of my work is technical writing and that is #13 on the list for whatever that is worth.
* Answer: no more or less than any actuary or chartered accountant.
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