30 Professionals That Lost Their Shine — Once Respected, Now Disillusioning

As time passes, our perspectives naturally evolve and are shaped by new experiences, knowledge, and personal growth. What once seemed important or true may gradually lose significance as we gain a deeper understanding.

Our values, beliefs, and opinions can transform over the years, often influenced by relationships, education, and challenges we face. This evolution of thought is a reflection of our adaptability and willingness to learn.

It allows us to question old assumptions, embrace new ideas, and approach the world with a more nuanced and empathetic viewpoint. So, at one point in our lives, certain professions were highly respected for their influence and societal impact.

However, over time, many individuals have become disappointed with these jobs and the people who perform them. A 2023 Ipsos survey conducted with 22,816 respondents across 31 countries revealed that doctors are the most trusted profession (58%), closely followed by scientists (57%) and teachers (53%).

On the opposite end of the spectrum, professions such as journalists (24%), business leaders (24%), advertising executives (18%), government ministers (17%), and general politicians (13%) garnered the least trust. Curious about which of these professions experienced the biggest fall from grace, Reddit user asked the community to share the occupations they once held in high regard but now feel disillusioned by.

Below are some of the most notable responses from the discussion.

"Politicians who are slowly turning us into a slave state"

"Politicians who are slowly turning us into a slave state, at over £80k per year top 1% ruled over by what can only be described as an unelected oligarch. And police who are the worst of bullies exposed daily by auditors."

Reddit

"Journalists. Many of them have proven themselves to just be duplicitous propagandists."

Reddit

Footballers

"I’m not saying they were saints, but money has turned them into entitled c***s from 15 years old. Kids can earn enough to not give a s**t by the time they turn 20."

Reddit

The Erosion of Trust

Trust is a cornerstone of professional respect, and when leaders fail to uphold their promises, disillusionment follows. Dr. Brené Brown, a research professor and author, emphasizes that vulnerability and accountability are essential for rebuilding trust in any organization. According to her research, transparent communication and acknowledgment of mistakes can restore faith in leadership.

She states on her website that creating a culture where individuals feel safe to take risks and share their perspectives can revitalize a disenchanted team.

Priests

"I know there are rotten apples in every bushel in all fields, but I hit my limit when our priest vanished and was replaced. Seems he was removed due to accusations from years ago.

I have never been back to mass again, and my entire view of religion has shifted."

Reddit

Chiropractors

"Maybe I just had a string of bad experiences, but Chiropractors. My ex used to go a lot and loved it, I started going when I got older and found out it's a load of c**p.

Get your back cracked, feels a bit better for a few days, go back in a week. Pay them $200-300/mo that's not covered by insurance."

Reddit

Deans, Provosts, and VCs

"University senior leadership - Deans, Provosts, and VCs. Snouts in the trough with their boots on the backs of lecturers and students.

A product of the marketisation of higher education. They disgust me."

Reddit

The changing landscape of professionalism often leads to disillusionment, especially when new generations enter the workforce. Dr. Tony Wagner, an education expert, highlights that today's professionals seek meaning and purpose in their work, unlike previous generations that prioritized job security.

This shift can create tensions between seasoned professionals and younger employees. Wagner suggests that organizations need to adapt by fostering collaborative environments that value innovation and engagement, ensuring that all voices are heard and respected.

HR

"Not sure respect is the right word but I always thought HR were “for the workers” I work in Management now and 100% know HR are not your friend, do not go to them thinking they are ever! Got the HR community after me!!

All I said was when I was on the tools I was under the impression that they were there for the workers and were the go to for independent help guys when they are absolutely not and you shouldn’t ever go to them under those pretences!!"

Reddit

Anyone in caring profession

"Ok this is going to sound weird. I have huge respect for anyone in a caring profession and I totally get that the pressure and difficulty of the job has a negative impact on worker's and their mental health and personalities.

But over and over again, the b***hiest, nastiest environments I encounter are in care working professions. I sort of get it.

But also I don't. If you can't even pretend not to be at worst a psychopath and at best not a toxic individual then don't do that job."

Reddit

Doormen/bouncers/private security

"In seven years working alongside them I have met one that was in it for the right reasons. They are narcissistic, predatory and power mad, some of whom use it as an excuse to express sanctioned violence."

Reddit

Financial Disillusionment

Disillusionment often stems from unrealistic expectations, especially in financial professions. Financial columnist Michelle Singletary notes that many individuals enter the industry with a desire to help others but become disheartened by the focus on profits over people.

She advocates for a renewed emphasis on ethical financial advising, where professionals prioritize clients' best interests. Her suggestions include ongoing education on ethical standards and community-building initiatives that re-establish trust and respect within the industry.

The BBC management

"They've fought a mate of mine over ten years after a severe accident at work. They basically bankrupted him, destroyed his life, and hired experts to discredit him in court.

After a decade, he won the case, but those who dragged him over the coals for years continue to have successful careers and just saw him as a game, a toy to be played with, with hundreds of millions available to outspend his lawyers. The BBC top brass are pretty sick in the head - they could have just admitted liability and paid up years ago, but no one would."

Reddit

Lawyers

"I studied law and did so many work experiences to see what area of law I wanted to get into. Every single lawyer I met (save for a few posh white men) was a glorified administrator.

99% of the job is soooooo menial. It’s really a profession where success is determined by your socio-economic profile and connections, not actual talent. Boring."

Reddit

Car mechanics

"I worked in the field for 40 years, and there were always bad actors, but the norm was that something would be diagnosed and repaired as needed, and you tried to keep the bill down and respect the customer and the car. The normal markup on parts was 40% for ages.

Now it's fairly normal for shops to just replace everything that might cause a problem (instead of diagnosing it), and markups are almost always over 100%. Customers get a $2,000 estimate for a small issue, with a shrug, "take it somewhere else if you want".

The number of guys on the job who don't know or care to know how to actually service things rather than just swapping new parts in is appalling."

Reddit

In today's fast-paced world, burnout has become a common experience for many professionals. Dr. Christina Maslach, a leading researcher on burnout, defines it as a syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment.

To combat this, she suggests organizations implement regular wellness check-ins and promote work-life balance. Her research indicates that supportive work environments not only improve employee well-being but also enhance productivity and job satisfaction.

Academia and anything based in universities

"Since starting a PhD and being considered a staff member instead of student, the corruption and egos involved from a Dr to senior management makes a struggling industry toxic to work in. Can't wait to finish and move on."

Reddit

Estate Agents

"Not going to shock anyone as I don't know if they ever had it, but Estate Agents. They straight up lie, they make negotiation more complex between seller/landlord and buyer/renter.

They make an already stressful situation worse to deal with. I actually believe their jobs are now redundant in the modern age where the internet can do a better job of advertising and owners/landlords do a better job of showing you around.

Politicians have become (even more) spineless and all they're doing is saving their jobs and securing income for themselves and family. Journalists because they've stopped explaining who has expertise and a decade in the job and who has just done a google search.

But they don't they give equal importance under the guise of fairness. But that's not fairness, that's spreading misinformation."

Reddit

Vets

"I used to buy into the whole "we're just covering our costs" with insane prices but since working alongside them a lot, they mark up emergencies surgeries based on availability of vets, not a percentage, to the point where when there aren't alternatives, owners just have to go into crazy debt or put thier animals down. They also try and talk you into treatment and tests that aren't necessary.

Disclaimer: not all are bad, like any profession."

Reddit

The Importance of Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EI) plays a vital role in maintaining professional relationships. Dr. Daniel Goleman, an emotional intelligence expert, explains that high EI fosters better collaboration and reduces conflict within teams.

He suggests that organizations provide training in EI to enhance communication skills and empathy among team members. By doing so, they create an environment where professionals feel valued and understood, ultimately countering feelings of disillusionment and fostering a more engaged workforce.

Prison officers and governors

"Having worked in a prison - prison officers and governors. Some of them are the most crooked, racist, sexist, homophobic people I've ever met, who continuously cover up each other's mistakes and drive out anyone who is any way a threat / has any morals.

The people who are the worst get promoted. There's a crazy amount of officers who go to court for assaulting inmates in "self defence", come back and get promoted.

Lots of people get "investigated" for misdeeds and the person in charge of the investigation are their uncles / parents / inlaws. Unsurprisingly, they're found innocent.

These people earn £50-80k a year for doing nothing, and are on the world's largest power trip. Getthe job through nepotism then never leave. Basically a bunch of thuggish bullies.

Had one senior manager brag about how when he started in the 90s, him and his coworker stripped a prisoner down naked and used as a staple gun on his ballsack. I was talking about the standford prison experiment (he'd never heard of it).

He asked, "oh, dyou think yhat counts as brutality?" Have a ton more stories like this.

I was there less than a year. Worse than the police."

Reddit

Physio's

"I used to think they played a key role in injury recovery and were very knowledgeable about the human body but over time, and several sport related injuries, its become clear to me that a lot (not all) of them dont actually know a great deal and its not much more than i have learned through life experiences and reading up on injuries online.

I had one who was giving me exercises so light i dont think they took in to account i was a regular exerciser and gym goer before the injury and the exercises were far far too simple. I had another who regularly pulled out a little book that looked like it was £5.99 from Amazon on leg exercises and another who i told repeatedly i had a back problem and they just focused on my knees for weeks and weeks (it was later proven to be a back problem).

Im sure theres some very good ones out there but im yet to encounter them."

Reddit

Midwives

"I work in a hospital and I’ve been unfortunate to work at a very high level for a while a few years back. The midwives were the most vile, abusive and toxic cohort.

Totally delusional. Thinking they’re better, more important and special.

I copped more abuse off them than the rest of the hospital put together. Recently (in a different role) I had the misfortune to have to go to their ward to review a patient.

I got interrogated about who I am and why I’m there 7 times on my first visit and 11 times on my second visit. Yes I kept a tally.

They were aggressive, argumentative and generally bullies. I got a very irate phone call from their discharge planner about my patient demanding I create the patients discharge plan then getting angry when I didn’t know what she was on about.

The discharge planner had not spoken to the patient about what and how they wanted to discharge. I suggested the midwife have a discussion with the patient rather than me and reminded her of putting the patient at the centre of her care.

I’m torn about writing this as I am friends with a couple of midwives and they’re great. But they seem to be the few and far between."

Reddit

As professionals navigate their careers, the impact of societal changes can lead to feelings of disillusionment. Dr. Carol Dweck, a renowned psychologist, emphasizes the importance of a growth mindset in overcoming challenges.

She advocates for embracing setbacks as opportunities for learning and development. By cultivating resilience and adaptability, professionals can shift their perspectives and regain respect for their chosen fields, ultimately transforming disillusionment into motivation.

Senior leadership in NHS hospitals

"Not Drs or Nurses or support staff, who do great jobs. The nepotism starts at the top and its deep."

Reddit

Independent Financial Advisors

"Independent Financial Advisors are an absolute joke. I work in pensions and some of the questions they ask me are shocking, some even ask me to explain basic maths to them.

They shouldn’t be giving financial advice to anyone, and the advice they end up giving to their clients is always “we’ve evaluated your portfolio and recommend you invest your funds with us”."

Reddit

Builders

"I’ve had nothing but bad experiences with them. One stole a lot of money from me and I’ve had to fight them in court for it back.

They won’t get into trouble or pay interest on what they owe because these kind of people get away with stealing… but if a member of the public went into a shop and stole something, there would be hell to pay."

Reddit

Navigating Professional Evolution

The evolution of professional roles can lead to disillusionment as expectations shift. Dr. Andreas Schleicher, an education expert at the OECD, argues that continuous learning is crucial for maintaining relevance in today’s job market.

He recommends that professionals invest in lifelong learning and skill development to adapt to these changes. By doing so, they can rediscover their passion for their work and regain respect from peers and clients alike.

The royal family

"I was brought up in primary school to believe that they were to be admired and respected.

Turns out they are a bunch of elitist c***s. The national anthem doesn't even mention the country, it's just a vanity song for whichever tw@ happens to be sitting on the throne.

Also their entitlement to any archeological treasure "gold and silver objects, hidden with the intention of retrieval, and which are discovered with no identifiable owner or heir, belong to the Crown". The scamming bastards weren't even in power when these items were crafted and should have no right to just claim them."

Reddit

IT

"My own profession (work in tech). I thought people cared about their work and enjoyed working in a team to meet some goal. I also thought everyone else was bright.

Turns out we are all charlatans that do next to no work."

Reddit

Boxing

"As a sport, it has become too much about the money and focusing too much on fights involving social media influencers."

Reddit

Many professionals experience a disconnect between personal values and corporate culture, leading to disillusionment. Dr. Simon Sinek, a leadership expert, emphasizes that aligning personal and organizational missions is key to job satisfaction.

He encourages professionals to seek environments that resonate with their values. By doing so, they can foster a sense of belonging and commitment, which enhances overall workplace respect. Sinek's insights remind us that passion often stems from purpose.

"I’ll get attacked for criticising an NHS profession but GPs"

"Just my anecdotal experience of them is that they don’t give a f**k. I’ve been prescribed medication I’m allergic to on multiple occasions, I have a scar thing on my leg that sometimes keeps me up at night when it flares as the pain is so bad and the reply from 3 separate GPs now is essentially “that condition doesn’t typically cause pain so I don’t believe you and can’t/won’t help you”.

I injured my Hamstring pretty bad one time and now it often flares up if I try and resistance train and the GP just googled “hamstring stretches” in front of me and printed off a page of stretching designed for the elderly. No follow up or referrals."

Reddit

Dentists

"Growing up, dentists were people who stopped you eating sweets, but actually cared about your health. But as an adult, they just seem money hungry, as they seem to find issues where you've never had them before.

Fiancé was told they needed 12 fillings (2 pretty big ones, the rest small ones), and went to a different dentist to have them done (as they are anxious about dentists, so needed a specialist). The dentist looked at their mouth and said "You don't need any fillings, no idea why your dentist said you needed any".

This happened a week after the same dentist gave me a filling on a chipped tooth... Which just over a month later abscessed, and I find out the dentist was fired from the practice.

So him alone completely turned my view of dentists on its head... And my current dentist seeming to always have something extra to charge me extra for..."

Reddit

Builders/laborers

"Controversially, builders/laborers. They seem to come in 2 distinct categories.

Reliable cowboys, or unreliable craftsmen. You either seem to get a bunch of workers who turn up do the "work" quoted and leave, but when you find out all of the corners that were cut you end up having to foot the bill for repairs as they won't ever return.

Then you get the ones with great repertoires, good reviews and generally coming in at a higher price point. You know you're going to get good results from them.

The problem is *if* they turn up. Take "I'll be there at 10am Tuesday" with a large pinch of salt. They will also prioritise jobs on value.

My friend had put £2k down on a new kitchen worth £10k, agreed on a start date. Start date came, nobody turned up.

When he rang to see what was happening they said they needed to push it back a month. When down on the high street of the village he lives in, the contractors vans (small company, only have 2) were both parked outside a restaurant that had recently closed for renovation.

He called and asked what it was about, they said that the bigger job had to take priority. They're a group of people that I wouldn't trust as far as I could throw them."

Reddit

Rebuilding Professional Relationships

Rebuilding professional relationships after disillusionment requires intentional effort. Relationship expert Dr. Terri Orbuch emphasizes the importance of open communication and vulnerability in mending connections.

She suggests initiating honest conversations about feelings and expectations. By addressing underlying issues, professionals can create a more supportive work environment, fostering mutual respect and collaboration, which are essential for a successful workplace.

The employees of the The Probate Registry

"The employees of the The Probate Registry also have absolutely no idea what they’re doing. The long delays with applications are caused solely by their incompetence."

Reddit

CPS

"I did jury duty earlier this year and their case collapsed on the first morning when it became very apparent that the alleged crime didn’t happen. The defendant did have previous for something similar and it seemed like the police just wanted this guy off the street and the CPS blindly went along with it.

It’s a joke when the jury is the one getting warned about not talking about the trial because it collapsing would be massive waste of court and lawyer time and money. Rules seemingly don’t apply to the CPS."

Reddit

NHS admin and managers

"How come you lot are so useless when dealing with all the bullying of staff? Also appears to be impossible to get rid of these people too."

Reddit

In a rapidly changing job market, adaptability is crucial. Business author Jim Collins argues that organizations must prioritize innovation and flexibility to stay relevant. He notes that complacency leads to disillusionment among employees.

To combat this, Collins recommends fostering a culture of continuous improvement where feedback is valued. Organizations that encourage proactive behavior and adaptability are more likely to maintain a motivated and respected workforce.

Managers and road workers

"Managers are pretty obvious. For road workers it might be local to me, a main road required repairs for years to the point car tyres would get destroyed.

Never got worked on until a McDonald's opened on that road where it was fixed in a day. I lost any respect for them from that."

Reddit

Our perspectives and trust in certain professions evolve over time as we gain new insights, learn new facts, and face challenges. Professions once held in high regard may lose their standing due to changes in societal perceptions and personal experiences, as reflected in the Reddit discussions about trust in various occupations.

What do you think? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Analysis & Alternative Approaches

The disillusionment of once-respected professionals highlights the importance of adaptability, emotional intelligence, and alignment with personal values in the workplace. Experts like Dr. Brené Brown and Dr. Carol Dweck emphasize that fostering trust, communication, and a growth mindset can transform negative experiences into opportunities for growth.

By actively seeking to rebuild relationships and encouraging a supportive work culture, organizations can help professionals regain their passion and respect. Ultimately, it’s about creating environments where individuals feel valued and empowered to thrive.