DEAR ABBY: After reading the letters about doctors who dislike being asked medical questions in social settings, I had to write.
Anytime you include a job description such as doctor or lawyer with your name, you can expect questions regarding your profession. It happens to everyone.
Speaking as a real estate investment adviser, I can assure you that even doctors try to get free advice. The same thing happens to accountants, carpenters, painters, police personnel, nurses and just about everybody else.
It should come as a surprise to no one. It is called CONVERSATION. -- HAPPY TALK IN WINNETKA, ILL.
DEAR HAPPY TALK: You're right. Many people ask questions as a way of showing interest and starting conversations. It happens to advice columnists, too. Read on:
DEAR ABBY: After reading about doctors getting asked for free advice, I would like to offer my father's response when asked what he did for a living.
He would say, "I follow the medical profession."
"Oh, you're a doctor?"
"No, I'm a mortician."
At that point the questioners usually changed the subject. -- RUTH STRAND, RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF.
DEAR RUTH: Too bad. Death is the one thing we will all have in common.