Shop Truths, Phrases, Tales; and Outright Lies

[PJs]

Well Said, C-Bag! I re-read this entire thread again this morning and thought of a couple of things.

First is; I wonder if I resemble MR25...that little niggler tells me I probably did once or twice along the many miles.

Second is; there are a lot of people out there and every one has their own "Way of Becoming". I generally don't like the idea of Archetypes but age has shown me there is some truth to it, even though I Know each of us has our own unique character based on many factors. The key is how does one make do in the sea of them...and why? Here is my attempt at breaking the workaday world into groups. Some are promoted by Peter Principle and will generally fail -some not. Some just do the same thing for 30yrs for the paycheck and blindly and obediently do only what is ask of them with mediocrity. Some are Alpha Dogs (2 types)...those that do anything to succeed (competitive by hook or crook) and those that are wily with discernment, street smarts and some brains to succeed. Then there are those that are creative, learners, doers that work hard at their own improvement and knowledge base throughout their lives and try to help others along the way. There are probably other groups but those are the primary, IMHO.

The last group is probably why I joined this great forum. The people here come from all walks, disciplines, and skills, but share freely their ideas, builds and have that creativity and fortitude to get things done with the things at hand and with or with out plans. I would like to consider myself one of that last group but know I've fallen from the tree a few times until I either realized it myself or it was pointed out to me by someone that got the point across, nicely or not.

How 25 yrs qualifies as an argument escapes me; not seeking expertise of others part of that, continually; we'd be but a self proclaimed expert. Invalid, self absorbed, and not even well-rounded.

TM51 aptly noted that d2 doesn't seek expertise of others and would probably fall into the Alpha Dog 1 category in my book based on the story. Years ago an old guy I looked up to and thought was an expert once told me not to call him that. He told me to break down the word...Ex (has been) Spurt (a drip that's about to)...I got it and never forgot it. I had the privilege over the years to work with and learn from some fine people with what I would call wisdom. Not all of them were old, some set in their ways a bit (focused) but the ones I am grateful to have known are those that had vision, learners and the wherewithal to get it done, the best they could, share it...and most of them had broad backgrounds, young or old. Honestly to me its the miles not the years that really mean anything, but only if we learn from them, share them, and take them to the next level. Otherwise it's just road weary miles no matter what archetype we fall into.

Lord knows I have run into my share of "Them" that irritate, cheat, lie, steal and tell me "What to do or How to Behave". I'm a big fan of bumper stickers over the years and billboards too. What I've noticed over the last 20 or so is that more and more are telling people how to behave. Like the "CoEXist" stickers out here that you see on the back of the ID10T's that just cut you off in traffic or races you off the line to get in front of you and be a digital driver (on/off the gas and brakes) in front of you...Control freaks or maybe just ID10T's, IMHO. Who knows but they are here. What ever happened to the wholesome fun of the Burma Shave signs? Personally it's feeling more like a Systemic Pathology that is growing in the work world as well as the rest of it.

So how does one make do in a sea of "them" and "Why we do what we do"? Franks story of his encounter with MR39 and TM51's with D1 & D2 illustrate how it can be done and I've used both methods over the years. I think what I've learned from all those incidents is that I learn also from them, and sometimes figure out how to approach it better next time. However there are those times that nothing seems to work better than a good Gibb's, Head Slap. I got a few knots on my head a time or two from my Dad OCS ring...and it usually worked although I didn't like the method much and told him so a few times as I got older. It's funny we talked about it a year or two before his passing and I was able to laugh and tell him I actually appreciated some of them...and he said to me that he had learned a lot too by me telling him it was too harsh sometimes.

As for "Why we do what we do", I think it has to do with loving what we do or did, with pure intentions to do it right and the best of our ability, learning along the way...sometimes making something from nothing, recycling old stuff, making something better because we can and because deep down we like doing the impossible and doing the Right Thing. Not something I want to wear as a badge but as a way of becoming for myself.

Probably reaching the 5K point here and wondering if I'm in up to my ears... ~PJ