We use to ride new guys so bad, more then once a guy had left ready to cry, never to be seen again. I've work at places that by the end of the day I was telling my self, I'm not coming back in the morning. But I always did come back.
Most my time in this industry I have been the only white guy on a crew. I have been seen as an outsider by my co-workers and had to put up with a lot of sh_t. I learned to roll with the punches, and over time get accepted and respected.
I see other crews that I have worked with drive by and we all give each other the finger as a greeting. But were smiling while we do it.
I run across a lot of young climbers(that's anyone under 35) who have only worked for one or two places, and think their the sh_t, but in reality they're very limited in experience. Yet they think they know it all. I've yet to meet a climber of any age who'll say,"I don't really have much experience.
A little advice to you youngsters who think you know it all(or oldsters for that matter)Don't let a cocky, proud attitude prevent you from learning new things. I still learn from other people. I am not proud, if you have a technic that works better then what I'm doing, I'll give you props and start doing it too. Guys that think they know it all, don't grow or learn. You have to work at being good, just saying it, doesn't make it so.
If you don't continue to learn and grow throu out your life, you'll be that old know it all guy, one day, who really never grew beyond what he learned his first few years. Where you think all those tree toppers come from?
Although we may not have met in person,
I'm not singling you out beastmaster, but all the people who have little to no faith in those lacking the life experience that they have.
I don't really have much experience, in tree work or otherwise. I've spent almost 2 years making a living with a chainsaw. I seldom find anything I walk away from on the ground, I'm content to notch and drop just about any tree that anyone else will(short of the "heros" cutting out widowmakers instead of thinking of their children). I do know when to walk away, and I'm not ashamed, nor embarrased to do it when the need arises.
Put me in a tree, if I'm not sure I will ask for advice from an "older" coworker. I do not trust myself, and I do not wish to. I approach every task on the ground and in the tree as if it's 100% critical to do it as close to perfect as I can. The guy who started me felling trees once told me "All the good ones are dead." and that's how I see it. I show up every day, work my can off and don't complain. If someone cracks a smartass remark about me, look out because I can lay it out just as well as I can take it.
The "old, toothless, bald, senile ******"(amusingly, he goes by the name of Rusty, I pick about that too) who is teaching me how to climb has actually became a good friend, even though there are 22 years between us. I won't post some of the things he calls me, as I might offend some women, devout christians and possibly most of my generation.
Though it is appropriate to say that most of my generation (I'm 26) is worthless, don't discount us all. Although my knowledge and experience probably wouldn't impress you, my work ethic, attitude and willingness to learn probably would. Some of my witty remarks might do the same...if I was as good in a tree as I am with my mouth(in a fun loving, joking manner of course) I would be worth the wage I make.
P.S: I killed a nice(38") Timber Rattlesnake yesterday, we were going to a big (4'ish) White Oak that needed some limbs overhanging a power line removed. Rusty walked right over it, stepping within 6" of it. I was in tow packing ropes and gear, dropped the gear and clubbed him with a nearby stick. I don't kill them just to do it, but we were going to be walking through there all day and I don't have the balls to catch one alive to relocate it. I put him on ice and took him home to show my wife and daughter firsthand what they look like. I put it in the sink, then ran out to the store. My wife beat me home, she called and asked where I'd gone. I told her, and said whatever you do, don't look in the kitchen sink. She asked why, and I told her. She said "Oh my God, that thing better be dead!" I just paused for a minute, building suspense before I told her it was.
fun fun!