Being a barista or bartender is a respectable career goal

Dear Hipster:

I’d always heard that it’s impolite to make small talk about jobs, yet strangers at parties and other gatherings all too often ask me “what I do.” I’m not ashamed of my job — quite the opposite — but it makes me feel, well, icky. I assume that it’s just an invitation to judgment, and a tacit way of asking, “Do you make more money than me?” Would it be supremely uncool to call somebody out for breaking a common courtesy?

— Jess

If you want to be as remarkably gauche as your remarkably gauche acquaintances, then by all means point out their repugnant breach of etiquette. You can enjoy the ensuing awkward silence together. A better option might be using your clever wit (provided you have it) to divert the conversation toward hobbies, obscure sports, or fermented foods. I guarantee you’ll have plenty of opportunities to practice dancing around unpalatable topics of conversation. In the long run, I think you need more hipster friends. We’re not so judgmental about other people’s employ, which makes sense when being a barista or bartender is a respectable career goal instead of a way to earn beer money during college.