Raw Thought by Aaron Swartz One of the minor puzzles of American life is what question to ask people at parties and suchly to get to know them. “How ya doin’?” is of course mere formality, only the most troubled would answer honestly for anything but the positive. “What do you do?” is somewhat offensive. First, it really means “what occupation do you hold?” and thus implies you do little outside your occupation. Second, it implies that one’s occupation is the most salient fact about them. Third, it rarely leads to further useful inquiry. For only a handful of occupations, you will be able to say something somewhat relevant, but even this will no doubt be slightly annoying or offensive. (“Oh yeah, I always thought about studying history.”) “Where are you from?” is even less fruitful. “What’s your major?” (in the case of college students) turns sour when, as is tragically all t...