It was just the other day I was complaining about a certain manager. Or was it the certain hogger who has been fired more times than I can recall? Or the abilities of a certain switchman? No, it was the stupidity of Manager of the shop at Proviso. Or was it the CMS manager who made me Region Restricted last year? No, it was definitely the person in Purchasing who ordered these stupid radios. Maybe it was the former Super who told a customer he could not have a switch onto the UP main?
Gosh there are so many bad actors. A doctor commented once, speaking on Sociology, that Railroading has it's own realities (or is a sub-culture). I did not quite believe that til I hired out. It was spot on! The frustrations of the job, crappy hours/lack of family life, constant fight to even be paid right, that can easily send a person from mild mannered to complainer of the year.
Although I would no go so far as to say it was a 'right', in the very least, it is appropriate behavior. And unless you are part of that reality, you really cannot grasp at times what it can lead to.
Say what you will about the seemingly endless complainers, until you have really visited that reality, just let them vent, because some of the stories you just cannot make up.
From :"The Great Escape": "it's a soldier's right to complain" and "maybe in your army, but in ours it's the Russian front".
Kinda funny and interesting how this thread has evolved. The original poster meant and repeated it was about habits on the job. I'd guess that things like spitting tobacco on the floor, leaving a (worse?) stink in the "facility", telling and not asking someone to do his/hers work. Manners.
Or safe practice. Or competence. Or...
I've been fired and re-hired several times with the same company for 28 years and battling alcoholism all that time. They love me and I love them but I just know "nearly everything" as the boss said recently. Can't tell you about tomorrow but today I'm OK.
Holy Moley and Choogly-Woogly, let's get back to operating habits, if that's possible. The trouble is that we are apparently humans on or off the road.
RIX
rixflix aka Captain Video. Blessed be Jean Shepherd and all His works!!! Hooray for 1939, the all time movie year!!! I took that ride on the Reading but my Baby caught the Katy and left me a mule to ride.
Server is trying to tell you somthing!
selector test. Well, so much for the lock function working. We tried, as requested, but the server has its own plans for the day. Server 2, Murph and Crandell 0. Have I ever told you guys that I'm in this for my health?
test. Well, so much for the lock function working. We tried, as requested, but the server has its own plans for the day.
Server 2, Murph and Crandell 0.
Have I ever told you guys that I'm in this for my health?
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
schlimm Murray: And as you can see, Bucyrus, C.O. and I said nothing. All of you did it (whatever that was, as this is another thread going in circles) all on your own!!
Murray: And as you can see, Bucyrus, C.O. and I said nothing. All of you did it (whatever that was, as this is another thread going in circles) all on your own!!
Ironic isn't it???
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Ladies and gentlemen...a round of applause please for our two hardworking Moderators...
It must be the long winter getting the best of all of us. I'm locking this thread for obvious reasons. I'll ask the OP to start a new thread if he wishes.-Norris user/moderator
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
eolafan Oh PLEASE spare me!
Oh PLEASE spare me!
I'd offer my apologies for all of us that don't have rainbows shooting out our$1***$2 but you know what? I just don't care. Whatever.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
Glad to see you have finally gotten the real railroad spirit of complaining....welcome to the world of traction motor grease and brake smoke.
and there is no need to state a case in this thread
eolafan Methinks this thread is drifting far, far away from the original thought(s) so I am asking the moderators to consider locking it before tempers REALLY flare. And, yes, such an action would preclude me from continuing to state my case, but so be it.
Methinks this thread is drifting far, far away from the original thought(s) so I am asking the moderators to consider locking it before tempers REALLY flare. And, yes, such an action would preclude me from continuing to state my case, but so be it.
Oh boy! NOW YOU'VE DONE IT!
NOTE TO SCHLIMM, BUCYRUS AND CONVICTED ONE: MURRAY HAS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS THREAD, AND HAS MADE NO SUGGESTIONS TO ANYONE...IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE!!!!!!!!
Oh boy Eola, Schlimm wont be happy about this one!
Mechanical Department "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."
The Missabe Road: Safety First
Just to add to what Paul North said, Joseph Goebbels (of all people!) once referred to b***hing as a "bowel movement for the soul." The man was a Nazi swine but he was probably right on this one!
One of the worst habits I've noticed is a attitude of confrontation where none is needed.
Save it for the competition, we're supposed to be on the same team, remember?
"+1" to what Firelock76 said above.
To improve something, first you have to identify the problems with it. Listening to the complaints is one way of doing that.
A contrary thought: Some therapist-types say that "complaining" - as in to anyone other than the person who can change the problem - is not useful and depressing, stressful, etc. But it can be a "coping mechanism" . . .
The caveperson who invented candles was probably resented by his/ her peers for constantly cursing the darkness . . .
- Paul North.
zugmann eolafan: By all means Zug, be my guest and B--T-H all you want and see what happens...eventually. Posts like the above are starting to make me think twice about posting much of anything to this site anymore. I get sick and tired of people questioning my ability and dedication to my profession. A shame...
eolafan: By all means Zug, be my guest and B--T-H all you want and see what happens...eventually.
By all means Zug, be my guest and B--T-H all you want and see what happens...eventually.
Posts like the above are starting to make me think twice about posting much of anything to this site anymore. I get sick and tired of people questioning my ability and dedication to my profession.
A shame...
Nevermind..
There are two kinds of railroaders. The ones that quit after six months, and the ones that retire after forty years.
Bruce
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
BaltACD Historically - Alcohol - Nicotine - Caffeine - Profanity - Complaining
Historically -
Alcohol - Nicotine - Caffeine - Profanity - Complaining
I am not sure what Baltimore is like these days, however if you take out alcohol the rest will leave you a normal day in Calumet City...
An "expensive model collector"
My job has nothing to do with railroading, but let me tell you of the guys and gals on my job stopped b!#(#ing, it would mean they don't care anymore. If I was in charge, THAT would scare me more than anything else!
eolafan By all means Zug, be my guest and B--T-H all you want and see what happens...eventually.
Every occupation has gripes and whiners.
Like govt employees. Strive to meet the minimum requirements! Then complain that your overworked.
My welder friend once told me, Welders are like old hookers. They always want more heat, more rods and more money.
Mechanics like myself probably have more complaints then any other blue collar occupation. No other job in the world requires you to have a million dollars worth of tools to make $15 an hour.
Its a god given right to complain about your job.
Smoking, drinking, and cussing are probably not the worst habit we can have.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
LOL..
BI-CH--G is what keeps us sane. If you come to work whistling, you're going to get pee-tested!
It's tradition! I do my job - and I do it to the best of my ability. But I reserve the right to complain just the same...
There is a BIG difference between complaining about the truly negative aspsects of a job and constantly BI--CH--G about just about everything. These days there are PLENTY of folks who would love to have our jobs, warts and all...in order to pay their bills and even to have a roof over their heads and to pay for the groceries. You can indeed complain about anything you wish, but remember your boss is NOT obligated to keep you, me or anybody else.
I do not know how many passenger conductors would be guilty of violating Rule H now, but I recall an MP conductor who had a can that he used as a cuspidor at his seat. I'm sure he was very careful when interacting with the passengers tht his violation was not evident.
Johnny
There are worse jobs than RRing. In the 1980s I was working in a meat packing plant and one morning I walked into the locker room and said "Hey did any of you guys see America's Most Wanted last night?"
The whole plant emptied out and half of them never came back.
Reality TV is to reality, what Professional Wrestling is to Professional Brain Surgery.
One thing about bad operating habits is that they tend to catch up to you. Sometimes the results aren't pretty.
For that reason, you won't find a lot of people with bad operating habits. They may complain about rules and procedures, but at the base of it, they want to go home and have a job to come back to. So they'll 'take the safe course.'
Bad life habits, yes. Personal hygiene comes to mind...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
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