How do you feel if asked about your salary?
By sweetyethot
@sweetyethot (1737)
China
September 16, 2009 11:38pm CST
Lately,I got to know a friend online who is eager to learn English and we chat in English.I get annoyed when he types'how much do you earn per month?'I think its my secret,and I told him its impolite to ask others about their salary ,and its also none of his business.I asked whether he often asked others this question,to my surprise,he said YES,and he added,'they are always glad to tell me.why not?
i dont steal or rob your money'.
I then asked why he wants to know.He said,he's only curious,because he heard that teachers earn a lot.BTW,I work as a teacher in a public school.We havent met before,and both of us dont plan a meeting.I do wanted to meet him early,but now,I think he wouldnt be a pleasant companion.We two just dont share the feeling.I feel offended when asked about my salary.How do you feel if you come across such guy?
I then asked why he wants to know.He said,he's only curious,because he heard that teachers earn a lot.BTW,I work as a teacher in a public school.We havent met before,and both of us dont plan a meeting.I do wanted to meet him early,but now,I think he wouldnt be a pleasant companion.We two just dont share the feeling.I feel offended when asked about my salary.How do you feel if you come across such guy?5 people like this
24 responses
@moneymakingtoday (4061)
• Philippines
17 Sep 09
i would ask him too why he wanted to know. i will politely tell him to give me the privilege of keeping it to myself and hope he just respects it. i will point to him that there are other things to talk about aside from my salary.
i will also ask how he feels if i ask the same question and would respect his opinion on that. whether he divulges or not, it doesn't matter to me. what matters is the fact that he is freely giving the info, for whatever purpose it may be intended.
1 person likes this
@youless (112112)
• Guangzhou, China
18 Sep 09
I also don't like others to ask my salary because it is a very personal question. Especially it is rude to ask this question when you don't know each other quite well. I can understand people are all very curious, but they should also know to respect others' privacy.
I love China
@sweetyethot (1737)
• China
8 Oct 09
You have a good point here.Those people who like to ask this question should learn how to respect others'privacy.Thanks for your responding.Happy mylotting!
@sweetyethot (1737)
• China
8 Oct 09
Cant understand why some people want to know how much money others make.Its really none of their business,unless they want to rob you or steal or they want to borrow money from you.But its still not right to ask the question.
@shimanaja (493)
• Indonesia
18 Sep 09
If someone asked me about salary, the answer is "i have low salary, would you find me another job who can raise my salary? " with laugh. That's easy answer. I think talk about salary is sensitiv thing for part of people,But it's reasonable and the right of each people.
Thanks, and happy mylotting
@sweetyethot (1737)
• China
8 Oct 09
How clever you are!Distract his attention and he cant focus on the question any more.Nice answer.lol
Distract his attention and he cant focus on the question any more.Nice answer.lol @satan88 (584)
• United States Minor Outlying Islands
18 Sep 09
i actually don't mind telling people my salary even though i know it's rude to ask. I must say i've asked quite a few people myself. But yes you are right that it is rude to ask and it is none of other people's business. the one's i have asked are my close friends.
@oedhapost (36)
• Indonesia
18 Sep 09
personally, i also felt the same....kinda lil secret.
but, i will always answer with : enough, i can pay all my family needs and still i can save some.
I also said...no matter how "big" your salary was if you can not have spending control..it'll be useless.
btw, i also a teacher...high school
@sweetyethot (1737)
• China
8 Oct 09
Good answer.But what if they want to know the exact amount?haha,they just want to know and they may feel strange if you dont tell them ,never realize what a question they ask!
But what if they want to know the exact amount?haha,they just want to know and they may feel strange if you dont tell them ,never realize what a question they ask! @cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
17 Sep 09
I wouldn't answer. I don't see why other people would be "glad to tell him". It's not something everyone is comfortable with sharing.
I mean, I know how much my friends make, but we've been friends for almost a decade. I wouldn't ask someone that I had only known for a little while...actually, I wouldn't ask at all. My friends and I know each others' salaries because it came up in conversation.
@radukugalati (173)
• Romania
17 Sep 09
Different country different type of questions beying asked . In my country almost everyone knows theyr friends salary and stuff like that . If I would ask someone about his salary he would tell me just because he wants me to know how much he is earning and maybe I want to hire and I want to know what salary I can posibly receive :)
@austere (2812)
• Philippines
17 Sep 09
it's a case to case basis for me, somtimes i would get irritated, somtimes i would answer straight without hesitations of giving the information. It's in the manner of how i am being asked though. if i find the person respectful and he means no harm in asking, i would give him/her the answer to the question. If i find him only prying about my life, then i would excuse my self in not disclosing the information. I ask about my friends salary at times, but that's because i am trying to compare and have a preference with my work. If i am being paid enough or if there are other companies that give out bigger pay for the same job. 
@iamfine (740)
• China
18 Sep 09
hello, when I was asked how much I earn per month, I would say "not much" or "enough for live"... I wn't answer the question directly. But I won't tell them that they are implite by asking this, since tell them about this directly is implite itself. So I rather answer them in a more "twist" way instead of answer or point out the I am not happy with their question.
@titansaha (188)
• India
17 Sep 09
Hi sweetythot,
I completely agree with you that ONE'S SALARY is one's own and very personal and touchy affair too. I too will not like anybody asking about it. I would rather say
that somethings in life should not be interfered by others. Keep smiling always.
Regards
@irene3184 (898)
• Philippines
18 Sep 09
I got you..It is really very annoying if someone ask how much you earned in a month or your salary.. I also had a friend who ask me they same questions and I told her that I keep my profile private and it is not good to ask such whether you are a closed friend. It is somewhat impolite question asking your salary which very hard to deal with..
@joaosilvakle (35)
• Portugal
17 Sep 09
well... our salary is never enough...we always want more :P....but about mine well is much good by the way :D...i work at home like freelancer web design so i think that is a great job and in home is you that make our work time.
@peace001 (726)
• China
17 Sep 09
same here.it makes uneasy if others ask my salary.but there are lots person who are curious.everyone has his secrets,why not give more private spares for your friends or colleagues?if you want to get well wth your friends you should know it and don't touch and ask about something sensitive questions.tere are some common senses you should know.
@cheriezhao (246)
• China
17 Sep 09
yeah,if there's such guy asking me this question,i would feel offended,because that looks someone is making a show of himself or herslef.so i don't like this,and i think this question could be rasied when you have been friends for a period of time ,not at the first talking or meet,that would be regarded as an impolite action!
@mansoak (510)
• India
17 Sep 09
I dont like those persons who ask How much is your salary?. This is something secret and some people are not comfortable in sharing these things especially you and me. I feel that the guy asking is interested in my salary. I personaly dont like all these questions asked by people.
@malamar (779)
• Canada
17 Sep 09
If a friend was considering the same career as I have, I wouldn't be offended if they asked what my salary was. I would much less reluctant to discuss salary with an "online friend" or someone I didn't know well.
You need only to read the postings here and at other sites to notice that questions regarding how much money you can make abound. This is a different situation as there are so many online sites, so it is natural for someone to ask how much you do (or can) make. In this case, they are only asking for verification that the potential income is valid and worth their time.
I think you have already answered this particular chap. If you don't feel comfortable discussing salary (or anything else), then just don't do it. If he chooses not be "friends" because of it, oh well, no great loss.
@ssydequina (9)
• Philippines
17 Sep 09
I always feel embarassed when asked about it and i really don't want to talk about it actually. The reason is i don't want to feel dissatisfied. I am also a teacher in a private school and it is not always true that private school teachers get paid well. Being a teacher is very hard work and i believe no amount of money can ever be equated to the kind of work that we do. As what my mentors have said, it is not for the money that we are here but a vocation. Because i love to teach and love to be part of honing young minds , i don't mind anymore. When i receive my salary, that's it. But when asked about it, then the cycle begins.
