Which questions are intrusive is a matter of definition

Why do people like to ask "What are you going to do when you've finished uni?" ?
I hated it in school and I hate it now. I know it's a good starting point for a conversation, but if the person you're talking to evades the question multiple times, it would probably be better to change the subject.
To distort some proverbs, I don't like counting un laid eggs. Even if the eggs are laid, I don't like counting my chickens anywhere but in my own head before they are hatched. The earliest time I might mention that I want to have a chicken is, when a little yellow fluff ball is standing on my hand.
I have some general ideas what I'd like to do, but to tell the truth, I'm not picky. It earns me money and I'm qualified? I'll do it. Mainly because I've no intention of settling down anytime soon, if I can avoid it. But explaining this, would credit the asking person with to much interest. So, if I say "I don't know yet.", "I try not to think about it, the idea terrifies me" or "I don't have specific plans", would it be asking for too much to just leave it and talk about the weather?

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I generally assume it's just meant to be small talk. (And even when it isn't, why do they need to know, when I obviously don't want to talk about it?)

Same in you case, I can see what they're trying to do (easy small talk question doesn't have expected result - ask next question, put foot in mouth again), but shouldn't your reluctance to offer a more elaborate answer ("... but once he's in school I'll take up professional skywriting/ scuba diving/ shepherding again...") be a clue that maybe a change of subject would be a good idea?

Bah, I just don't like to be poked with uncomfortable questions when it's not necessary.

As to your question:
:p

(But honestly? I know what I *don't* want to do and simply wait which of the other things comes up first. Making elaborate plans wouldn't work anyway. If I find a subject that interests me (and some way to earn money at the same time), I'll probably go for a Dr. vet. med.. If not, I may work for one or two years with large animals (where it's supposedly relatively easy to find a job) and maybe work as a vacation replacement afterward. If something else turns up, I may do that instead. )

Yeah . . . I defintely see your point that when someone has OBVIOUSLY tried to change the subject and not answer a question . . . erm, time to move on to something else. ::grin:: Especially when it really is just "small talk." I mean, I'm willing to be a bit more tenacious when I'm talking to friends, if I think they're holding back something that might be useful to discuss . . . but that's an entirely different scenario.

As for your "plans" - it seems like you're definitely planning to work with animals, you're just not sure yet in what capacity exactly. Maybe you could just say, "I know I want to work with animals, but I'm not sure where?" Or is that a stupid answer, considering the people you talk to know that you're studying veterinary medicine? (I'm thinking it might be a stupid answer . . . but hey! Since we're talking about people who are being annoying and nosy, maybe they deserve a stupid answer ::grin::).

In any case, it sounds cool to me whatever you do. When you say, "a subject that interests me," do you mean a specific family of animals? Or type of medicine? Which would involve further education to become a specialist? (And, erm, if I'm being nosy and you don't want to answer . . . that's fine! ::grin::).

I recently learned that a wildlife center near me offers classes in wildlife rehabilitation . . . and I'm thinking of taking one of the courses. I'm really not sure what it would involve - if I'd actually have to perform first aid on injured animals (which I think I'm probably too squeamish to do), or if it's mostly the care they'd require after being patched up by someone competant (which I think would be really rewarding). I'm sort of interested in giving it a try. Not as a career, though - I think this is something that I'd just do as a hobby.

Talking with friends is definitely an entirely different scenario.
Especially since friends often know which subjects the others don't like talking about and only bring it up if it's necessary.

My small-talk-answer - because apparently "I don't know" translates as "Ask me some more about it" - these days is "I'm going to win the lottery and emigrate to Australia." which for some reason has the desired effect. Maybe people just assume I'm mental *g*

"A subject that interests me" means some topic for a dissertation, that I'm really interested in - as opposed to any random topic just to get those two letters in front of the name. I'm toying with the idea of radiology, but like I said - I'll see what comes up.

And wildlife rehabilitation sounds pretty cool even as a hobby - what kind of animals do they work with?
(I *think* wildlife centers have specialized people dealing with the first aid and mostly deal with the convalescence, but it's not as if there's a lot of wildlife here anyway, so I'm probably wrong.)

Hee! It's my day to answer long-neglected comments.

And wildlife rehabilitation sounds pretty cool even as a hobby - what kind of animals do they work with?

It sounds like we'd handle pretty much any native animal that comes along. They don't take introduced species (like rock doves), and when sea or shore birds are found, they're usually sent off to another center which deals exclusively with coastal wildlife. But other than that - they handle all sorts of mammals - lots of squirrels, foxes, rabbits, the occasional mountain lion or bobcat; plus all sorts of birds, from hummingbirds on up to golden eagles.

I think that eventually, I'd like to get certified (or licensed, or whatever) to have an aviary at my home, where I could care for owls and other birds of prey, maybe corvids as well - I've always loved them. Although West Nile is a bit scary. I don't think I'd let that deter me, though, really.

And you're right - there is medical staff who does the actual veterinary work. What I'll be doing is feeding, mostly . . . plus lots of laundry and dishes. ::grin::

Which questions are intrusive is a matter of definition

no subject

Hopefully I'm not being nosy and annoying here . . . ;)

Re: Hopefully I'm not being nosy and annoying here . . . ;)

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