And people understand what programmers do, that's easier to imagine than many other jobs. My father was a marketing manager and I grew up not really knowing what he did.
http://grandpapier.org/La-presse-independante
But most of what I publish is in print, and some is out-of-print. I know I should put more effort in making my things available, but this definitely has a lower priority than making new comics.
(hrm. I notice only now I was replying to a comment by pg. It made absolutely no sense to write 'same here')
Ha. Yeah, those people are confused young women and other artists.
Someone who belongs to a special caste.
Most other people (parents, employers, non-confused women) do consider artists to belong to a special caste: the financially destitute, irresponsible "untouchable" caste.
Spoken from experience as an artist.
To answer the OP, I say programmer when asked by most people, "artist" when asked by confused young women.