One week after his well-publicized run-in with a paparazzi photographer, Alec Baldwin tries to make peace with an X17 photographer ... asking him questions about the job.

Alec wants to know why someone would take pictures of celebrities when they could do something "honorable," like be a cop.

Baldwin has a history of fighting with photographers -- he was accused of punching a New York Daily News photographer last week in front of the Manhattan Civil Courthouse after he and fiancee Hilaria Thomas applied for a marriage license.

Today seemed like an attempt for the more cerebral side of Alec to understand the job of a celebrity photographer. Not sure if he agreed with the snapper's answers, but he did tell him, "At least you're being honest."