Yeah, same. I wonder if web folks used to be a lot more multi-faceted than they are now. The early designers I knew were pretty polymathic: writers, artists, programmers, people who handled every aspect of a site.
Whereas a lot of the younger web people I know focus on just one thing: UX, JS, etc.
I think it could be a factor yes. I've grown up having to adapt to different things as the web has matured. But I also love brand, motion and print design so I dabble in lots of it :)
If I tell people Iβm a web designer, they ask me to build a website for their plumbing business. If I tell people I work in IT, they ask me to fix their printer.
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Me: I make websites.
Them: Oh, how much does a website cost these days?
Every time.
In general though I just refer to myself as a "Designer", because I do more than just web.
Whereas a lot of the younger web people I know focus on just one thing: UX, JS, etc.
I usually tell non technical people I do "websites and things".