Downsides of the historian's life

Tenured Radical explains why she doesn't like to admit what she does for a living:

I used to tell strangers what I do for a living, but one too many moments in a bed and breakfast where someone perked up and said " Really? I love history!" and then bubbled on about World War II or their Daughters of the Confederacy chapter cured me of that. Now I stuff a piece of toast in my mouth

Yeah, but try telling people you are a writer, TR. Everyone is a writer.

PS -- One of TR's commentators responds: "I would say 95% of the time when I say I'm a historian, the response I get is: "I HATED history."