Professions That Started As A Joke But Then Became Respectable

When I read this article title, my first thought went to acting.

While parents still aren't often thrilled to hear their child say they plan to become an actor—few make it big or even successful enough to have it as their primary source of income—those who do become famous are more respected than their historical counterparts.

At one time, many actors were part of traveling shows—established permanent theatres weren't widespread and TV and film wouldn't exist for centuries. Large cities might have a theatre, but not enough parts for everyone who might want to act.

Anyone else would become part of a traveling troupe that were considered vagrants and vagabonds by respectable society and were often unwelcome. It was similar to how most suburbanites would view carnies today.

Now a working actor like Anthony Starke—yes, that's his real name and that is George Clooney with him...

Giphy

...is likely to be greeted with 'You look familiar' rather than being run out of town.

Starke has been a leading man in an 80s cult film, a series regular in multiple TV series, been a Bond film baddie, as well as having numerous guest starring roles. People might not know his name, but they often recognize his face—a respectable career accomplishment.

Reddit user Skylantech asked:

"What profession started out as a complete joke and became respectable?"

Firefighters

"Firefighting. Such a big Irish community in firefighting because it was once an extremely low paying job and one of the few jobs Irish immigrants could get when they came to America."

"Very few Americans wanted to do it for the low pay."

~ ZealousidealClock47

Drone Operators

"Drone operators, used to be a niche hobby of a niche hobby and a fair chunk were hand built. On top of that they were EXPENSIVE."

"You were basically a weird RC plane guy, which 20-30 years ago views ranged from 'huh that’s an interesting hobby' to weird neck beard hobby."

"Even when the small drones started to come out for relatively cheap ~10 years ago, it was taken as a fad or a toy."

"Now you have highly skilled film makers using drones, they’re essential to sports game and other TV, they’re vital in Ukraine."

~ navysealassulter

Actors

"Actors from the Roman Republic era were considered to be a lower class profession."

"Nowadays they’re practically worshipped, emulated, and desired."

~ Ok-Routine1969

"This is pretty much the case all the way up until radio, movies, and eventually television became a thing. That goes for most performers."

"Before that performers weren't only on stage, but also would have to sell tickets, and most were also prostitutes or pickpockets."

~ iskin

"Yes, in Shakespeare's time, too."

"If you're in a Shakespeare play now, people think you must be clever and sophisticated. Back then they'd think you were a drunken troublemaker."

~ ablettg

Surgeons

"Surgeons, apparently they used to be associated with barbers, that's why their title is Mr. rather than Dr. in the UK."

~ whatlifehastaught

"Back when having instruments durable enough and sharp enough to cut human hair was an extremely expensive prospect, it just made sense that the barber would be the bloke to lance boils, cysts and abscesses, plus hack/slice off various offending appendages."

~ Reddit

Cannabis Farmer

"Growing cannabis. Didn't say it was well respected, just respectable."

"It used to demonized and now the same people willfully buy it in stores."

~ Stoned_Tequila

Ballerinas

"All those cute little ballerinas in Degas paintings? The ballet corps in the Paris Opera in Degas' time weren't considered elite performers."

"They were more like cheerleaders in a football game—a bit of flesh to show off in between opera scenes so that the audience wouldn't get bored."

"They were expected to find rich patrons (the men in top hats and dark coats sitting around in some of Degas' paintings) who would buy numerous tickets to the operas, and the ballerinas' salaries were minuscule to non-existent."

"The 'exposure' they got was payment enough, in the sense that it gave them a chance to be seen, and thus, propositioned by wealthy patrons. In return, the patrons typically expected sex from the ballerinas."

~ PlumeDeMaTante

"There is an animated short film called Louise about ballerinas at the Paris Opera house in 1895."

"It’s very well done and a big bummer."

~ BedPutrid8297

Information Technology (I.T.) Person

"I.T. guy... when it first started out it was just for nerdy people and they got mocked for it, massive data banks with goofy looking rolls of tape on them."

"Then it got serious and if you say 'I work in I.T.' and you're an actual I.T. guy, people know your making bank, especially in cyber security."

~ Empty-Refrigerator

"Tech... The number of times I was told 'you need to turn off that computer and interact with people, or you'll never get a job' as a HS student in the 90s. Oh-my-word."

"Now it's 2024 and 'that' is a low/mid-6-figures paycheck (without much human interaction)."

~ Dave_A480

YouTuber

"YouTuber. It used to be some guy who got lucky doing 5 min skits."

"It had since become a major multimedia platform where you have people using YouTube for serious journalism, documentaries, animation, etc..."

"Not to say that there isn't still stupid things on there, but it's now a real job rather than a hobby one can get paid for."

~ Vexonte

"The big money is in the-dumber-the-better spectacle and kids shows."

~ userhwon

"Anything related with YouTube content creation. My nana, mum, and stepdad used to say YouTube was a waste of time."

"In hindsight, I should've not listened to the older people."

"YouTube content creators and editors are profitable career options nowadays, but it's much harder now to enter the industry in comparison to, say, 15 years ago."

~ Ideal-Wrong

Psychotherapists

"Psychotherapists. Early on they were the joke of the medical community."

~ Honest-Knowledge-448

Podcasters

"Podcasts. They have a big enough audience that advertisers reach out to them to promote a product."

"It’s a real job now and people still act like it’s not."

~ Downtown_Injury_3415

Dentists

"Dentistry. In the 1840s, when medicine was coming into itself as a respected field, medical dentists proposed that dentistry be an official sub-specialty of medical training. This was rejected by a few US medical colleges because 'dentistry is of little consequence'."

"In the past, dentistry was mostly practiced by folk barbers who would pull teeth and thus was unbecoming of a medical doctor."

"Fast forward to modern day, and we live with the ramifications of this snooty bias in the way dental insurance is handled separately from medical insurance, despite the proven truth one of the first lines of defense for our health is our oral and dental health."

~ avsdhpn

MMA Fighter

"MMA fighter. When UFC 1 came out in the 90's everyone thought it was barbaric gladiatorial fighting."

"Then they cleaned up the rules, added weight classes, and promoted the sport professionally."

"Now there's serious money and respect, it's more accepted in civil society, and had produced more household names. Unfortunately the biggest names seem to be a bunch of a-holes like McGregor and Jones."

~ sumthingawsum

Comedians

"Comedians, they were considered little more than clowns or entertainers for drunk crowds. But over time stand-up comedy began to evolve into a respectable art form."

~ Financial_Bunch8880

"I had a professor in college who said that comedians are our modern day prophets, they just couch their social critiques in humor so that the powers that be don’t kill them."

~ lrdwlmr

Packaging Engineers

"I remember my roommate my first year in college said that he was going to be a packaging major. I seriously laughed my a** off thinking it was akin to underwater basket weaving."

"Little did I know that they’re highly sought after and make some real money coming out of school."

~ taurusasaurus_rex

"I once met a packaging engineer for Proctor and Gamble. Quite involved stuff and damn important."

~ Form1040

"Honestly the evolution of packaging is kind of fascinating if you look at it. You just have to look at Apple."

"They went from using foam and plastic for most packaging and bagging to now almost everything being paper based and recyclable but still as effective."

"And it’s is an experience (in a good way) to unbox their stuff."

~ hurtfulproduct

Pilots

"Pilots. When planes first were invented, nobody thought there would be any real use for them other than daredevils barnstorming or entertaining for traveling carnivals."

"Then WWI came then commercial air travel and air freight."

~ crystalgrey

What profession would you add to the list?