[sirdogealot]

I really wish we could do away with the formalities involved when asking "what do you make?".

It just seems so ancient. I have no problem telling anybody my average income and exactly what it is I do.

It's not like the servant is asking the king how much he makes anymore. We're all pretty much the same monetarily these days.

[aunty_helen]

I used to think this too, I was quite open about how well I was doing and how much I made.

Now not so much. I've seen what it does to people. They turn against you.

Some of my friends make half of what I do but they hang out with me and think of me as their equal. So why is it that I make so much more??? This is the question that they cannot answer for themselves and it makes them bitter. Shit, I've even had it from my own parents.

The human mind has a hard time putting itself in the position of others. Do yourself a favour, tell people but observe how their attitudes change. You aren't going follow my advice until you've seen it for yourself anyway.

[zo1]

"This is the question that they cannot answer for themselves and it makes them bitter." They can answer it, they just don't want to because they know it would make them feel uncomfortable. Facing one's own flaws and self-perceived failings is a difficult task.

[gclaramunt]

OTOH, is not enjoyable making your friends uncomfortable...

[zo1]

If internet porn has taught me anything, it's that no matter what it is, or how weird it may be, someone out there gets off watching/doing it.

[6cxs2hd6]

The phrase "would you mind me asking" is simply being polite and respectful, not obsequious (IMO).

[sirdogealot]

I agree completely.

For myself, it's more the fact that newaccountfool felt the need to ask permission to ask a question.

I love asking questions. And I love answering them whenever possible. I suppose that I wish we all held fewer secrets or assumed secrets.

[mreiland]

maybe in happy happy fun fun land where ideals are reality.

Like it or not, economic power is power in our society, and a higher salary is more inclined to having a higher economic power. It matters to you as well.