Second oldest profession

[anobium]

I read in a recent thread where somebody quoted bricklaying as being the second oldest profession.
I disagree, I think it would be carpentry wouldn't it?

 

[Chud]

I dunno - I think they'd be even stevens - a very hard call!

 

[megawatt]

It's prostitution.

 

[Deluks]

I would say (in order):

Gardener.
Stonemason.
Butcher.
Tailor.
Fisherman...

Followed closely by prostitute and Microsoft Certified Network Engineer.

 

[matilda]

I agree with prostitution.

 

[toptec]

Nah, you are all wrong. The second oldest profession is Thievery. Somebody scrumped in the garden of Eden!

 

[breezer]

prostitution is the wrong answer, prostitution is said to be the OLDEST profession, noit the 2nd oldest.

i would say it is being a chippy.

timber has been around longer than bricks, everyone had to hunt for themselves, so that rules out fishing etc, a profession is by deffinition something you do to make money to earn a living, anyone can learn to fish, but not everyone could make a wooden chair to sit in to fish

 

[tim west]

Is the second oldest profession a pimp?

 

[joe-90]

The oldest profession is farming. You can't afford a pro until you've got something she wants, so she's not the first.

 

[anobium]

I have changed my mind ,I think it would be damp proofers as the first dwellings were caves and nobody would have put up with the damp in then for very long.

 

[jefoss]

the oldest profession is considered widely to be prostitution.

no idea on number 2 tho, piracy?

 

[tim west]

could be teaching? someone had to teach the prossies what to do

 

[noseall]

a profession is paid employment.

money for services rendered.

we all farmed once and we all used to gather and hunt.

who had money enough to pay someone else to do a service for them.

mmmm, interesting topic.

i guess we all traded stuff first.

shopkeepers

 

[joe-90]

Prostitute doing a trade: "You give me your carrots and I'll look after your banana".

 

[^woody^]

Even the most uncouth, ill-mannered Neanderthal would always turn up in a tailored loincloth!

And where did he get his hunting implements from, or indeed did he need to feed before sowing his seed? Is armament and cooking work a profession or just vocational?

What did the ancient "cro-magnon of the night" accept in paymant for their services - the concept of payment came much later in the Mesolithic period. There can be no prostitution without payment

Surely apple picking is the oldest job?