I think that most people bring up the question of pilots versus doctors because they feel defensive. We love flying and can not see ourselves doing anything else. Then, somebody comes along and denigrates our profession; or maybe after hearing a bunch of doom-and-gloom, we begin to second-guess ourselves and question the worth of flying for a living. In defense, we compare it to something like being a doctor, to show that both professions have their own complexities, similarities, etc. Relating flying to a career that is held in very high esteem almost universally can serve as a way of educating people who do not understand what we do of it's actual dangers and complexities, or of falsely boosting our own self-esteem.

Why do we feel the need to do this? Why can't we just accept each career for what it is and be happy about it? Comparing flying to a completely different career is neither fair to whomever you're talking with nor to yourself. Yes, both professionals hold many lives in their hands and have gone through extensive training, but that is about where the similarities end. Neither person will walk away from the encounter feeling better.

Both are great professions with their own, unique perks. We have breath-taking views and beautiful airplanes that provide endless hours of entertainment; doctors have the ability to interact directly and intimately with someone else's life. From a utilitarian standpoint , both are necessary for the economic globe to keep rotating.

I think that if people can be more content with what they have, and better understand and cope with the downside(s) of their careers, they would be much happier in any path they take. I take this quotation from one of my favorite movies - The Godfather II - "This is the business we've chosen." We know what comes with the territory, so we deal with it and take pride in our work. We don't feel the need to compare ourselves or make the job seem any more simple or complex than it really is. Then, we will be appreciating flying for what it truly is; not for what we want other people to think it is.

/rant . . . let the flaming begin