# Inquiry By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2022-10-10 What one finds out is contingent on what one asks. This dynamic is observable when one meets new people. Invariably, one will ask the question what do you do. This line of inquiry does a few things. First, it provides some initial context about the individual. Second, it provides some potential insight into the relative social and economic hierarchy between two individuals. Third, it can provide a platform for further questions and discussion. Depending on the career, the response to the answer can also be revealing. When asked that question, I frequently responded with, “I am an analyst.” The responses to my answer varied from “cool” to “I have no idea what that is.” Sometimes a person would grimace and say something like, “Ugh, I hate math.” The direction of the conversation was certainly contingent on how the person responded. But the initial question itself is revealing and worthy of some scrutiny. Is employment a good starting point for getting to know another person? It certainly provides some [[information]], but it is inherently reductionist. By asking what one does, one is attempting to categorize another person. Whatever one says in response to the occupation given, in one’s mind one is saying something like, “Oh, you are one of _them_.” Categorization is not inherently bad, but it is potentially limiting. Analytics makes use of categorization frequently to discern if qualitative attributes influence results. It can be important for analysis and understanding. In human interactions, there are perhaps more beneficial lines of inquiry. The what do you do line of inquiry is a cul de sac. One can travel along the road for a while, but ultimately one will wind up, relatively quickly, where one started. Perhaps a more productive question might be something like, what are your interests? The person might respond with one’s employment, but one might not reveal that at all. The degree to which employment plays a role reveals more than what one does. The person might respond with hobbies. That might suggest that one finds more satisfaction from what one does outside of work than one does from one’s employment. One might describe volunteer work, social engagements, or workout routines. Who knows? The career question is very specific; the interest question is infinitely broad. This provides space for the inquiry to develop in unexpected ways. This is especially beneficial for analysts to appreciate, as one doesn’t want to presuppose or limit the available responses to one’s inquiry. Getting into the practice in everyday [[life]] can make it more natural when one does so professionally. #### Related Items [[Analytics]] [[Profession]] [[Questions]] [[Interests]]