Originally Posted by island911 (Post 8158364)

Again with the petulant condescension.

Originally Posted by SilberUrS6 (Post 8158503)

The only petulant person in this thread is you. And your attitude deserves nothing more that condescension. Your position on the subject is unworthy of adult discussion.

Originally Posted by Tobra (Post 8159334)

I guess you only read his posts then, or you just don't read well at all

Originally Posted by wildthing (Post 8159462)

Why has this become a PARF thread?

Originally Posted by Tobra (Post 8159334)

I guess you only read his posts then, or you just don't read well at all

Originally Posted by wdfifteen (Post 8153906)

Our shipping gir burned something in the office kitchen and set off the fire alarm. The alarm system automatically contacts the FD, and they didn't answer their phone when I called to tell them it was a false alarm. While I was calling our shipping girl silenced the alarm horn and opened the doors to let the smoke out. I'm still on the phone when the FD shows up and she tells them what is going on. The dude in charge shouts "EVERYONE SHOULD BE OUT OF THE BUILDING" at our shipping girl.
She said, "There are nine of us here today and they're all right here. There is no fire."
He shouts at her again, "YOU CAN BE CRIMINALLY CHARGED WITH SILENCING THE ALARM. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT." Scares her to death.
So I step in, "It was just smoke coming out of the oven!"
"YOU DON'T KNOW THAT!"
The shipping girl is at her desk crying now and I'm getting testy.
"SO YOU THINK THERE IS A BLAZE SOMEWHERE AND THE SMOKING OVEN WAS A F&%$ING COINCIDENCE?"
The guys start to leave and they haven't looked at any part of the building except the oven. On the way out I asked if they found the fire. Dude glares at me and gets in the truck. The alarm is still going off, it's just the noise maker that is silenced. They are supposed to reset it. So half an hour later I call them and tell them they forgot to reset the alarm. I asked the dispatcher (girl I went to high school with) to tell them to send the big truck and the loudmouth driver.
The fire chief (who was not on the original call) came to do the reset and apologized. He said he'd talk to the staff about community relations. I don't know if this clown was having a bad day or he's just a jerk and should find a job with Time Warner.

Originally Posted by island911 (Post 8158304)

here's all I wrote


On balance, it's a really great gig if you can get it. That is ONE reason why so many volunteer for years. So many want that gig. The gig provides ALL kinds of off-time to pursue other ventures.. rental properties, whatever.

What annoys me is this over-played holier than thou crap. Yeah, beepbeep, 9-11-01.. lot of first responders --not just FF's-- hustling like they never had before... the situation was huge. And on flight 93... the few passengers, --normal people just on their way home, or to a customer-- hearing of the situation took the FIGHT to the attackers. ...they took those hi-jacking monkey-butts and drove them (and themselves) into the ground - fast! --Not because their identity predisposed them to take action. ...they would see no hazard pay, or their loved ones again.

Point is, People - of all professions, will step up w/o pay. ...and then those are those guys in far away places making a LOT less, doing MUCH harder work, WHILE people are trying to k'k'kk'KILL them.

So, now, if anyone wants to directly refute my comment being a FF is a Really great gig if you can get it w/o condescending comments about who I'll call if my house is on fire, then let's hear it. All this deflection about 'but look how hard they work' is just that. Plenty of people work harder, in higher risk situations, for a lot less.

Subtext: the OP and others are doing you FF's a favor. That is pointing out that there IS a limit to the good-will people will direct toward first responders. That the days of FF walking on water are numbered. That doesn't mean they aren't useful, appreciated, whatever... Just that the milking of "I'm a FF, put money in this boot, as we snarl traffic - but it's okay that we wander in the road, and slow traffic, we're trained safety specialists... look, suspenders... helmets... " (it's getting old, and annoying, and so gd liberal - coercing others to pay for your supposed causes)

For another example where it's over done; Driving a big ass fire-truck around so a couple of guys can tell me that the inspection stamps on one of my extinguishers is out of date is just stupid on multiple levels. But hey, Good thing there are trained professionals to come along, look at the little needle, in the green zone, and make the risky call that this one, it's stamp-worthy. --then the men from the giant truck blocking customers is happy. --SO Stupid.

You're welcome.

PS, I made it extra ranty, so you could more easily dismiss. :)