Alright! I think I've got it...
I totally goofed from the very first post, and it was all downhill from there. Let my mistakes be a testament to all future newbs...the correct way to initiate a query:
http://www.arboristsite.com/arborist-101/186237.htm
Short, simple, to the point, and no unnecessary personal details. Had I instead posted:
"Hi! I want to eventually learn to be a climbing arborist, but to support my family I have a 40 hr job. How open are most outfits to employing part-timer, weekend-only groundies?"
If I'd kept it to that, I seriously doubt I'd have caught so much flak. I realize now that it really doesn't matter whether your personality or background might increase a newb's employability. Have you got extensive high angle experience using similar safety protocols and gear, but in a different setting? Don't mention it like I did! To some folks that's merely ammo: "you
must be an idiotic know-it-all, just enough knowledge to be dangerous, making some sophomoric attempt to assert your superiority over us saw-slingin, knuckle-draggin slobs!". In my case, nothing could be further from the truth.
I don't know about you, but when someone takes a swipe at me...I punch back. I regret my first post, but will only apologize so far as providing you with reasons to help you discriminate against my climbing resume. Do you really not see anything in
yourfirst post, which might be perceived as nonspecific criticism? If you'd instead lead with harsh yet informative comments (THEN call me an idiot) we'd be fine, but simply repeatedly calling someone an idiot based off your
assumptions...that's not engaging in discussion or debate. That's only picking a fight. Sorry for responding in kind.
It took you a week to prove my suspicions (that you're capable of meaningful discussion), lxt, but when I try to see it from your perspective, you start to make some sense.
Arborist work is clearly a very unforgivingly dangerous business; one mistake can quickly lead to death or dismemberment, and even when all the cards are anticipated and played correctly, you can STILL die in some freak accident. ENCOURAGING most people to jump into this game would be downright irresponsible. Arborists MUST be hard-asses, if only to weed-out the incompetents who are a hazard to themselves and everyone with whom they work.
Despite your prejudices, lxt, I do understand this thinning process firsthand (is it not common to ALL careers, in some shape or form?). The only difference is that in my field, failures lead to termination of employment...not LIFE...which is why I don't lead with idiot, Idiot, IDIOT every time a technician seems to overstep his abilities. Given the nature of your daily work, I can certainly forgive your aggressive attitude towards newbs: how can anyone argue against a reaction rooted in self-preservation? Especially a reaction which I suspect (pure speculation here) might be periodic and habitual behavior?
Huh, that was a most uncharacteristically straightforward, almost paternal response. I appreciate (finally) getting the explanation I've been craving.
Thanks!
Sorry if I came across as disrespectful of your work, and be assured that my own attitude stemmed from the need to defend myself against a relatively uninformed and seemingly disproportionate attack on my own (in)abilities. I doubt there's any need for further insults. Despite whatever you might think, I totally get that this is a really dangerous profession which absolutely demands a lengthy break-in apprenticeship period; where even experts...in a moment of complacency, or simply due to bad luck...can quickly find themselves dead. I've already nearly killed myself several times and have learned to be efficient, methodical, and flexible, yet cautious of rushing, eliminating steps or taking unnecessary risks. I like to think that a lot of my skills and equipment will also carry over, but only an Idiot would assume they'd jump into the saddle from the get-go!
No Tree too Big:
Good stuff, thanks! It
is pretty ridiculous how much I've already managed to do successfully, using barely adequate equipment, and you're all totally right that I absolutely must acquire a REAL saw...something I've known for years. However, REAL saws require regular use and maintenance...and all along my $50 Remington (pulled out every 3-4 mo) is basically just a disposable fill-gap measure. My cash has been tied up building various sheds, coops, barns, etc and I'm just now able to seriously look at some Stihls. New ones. I'd love to score a deal at a pawnshop, possibly even clean/rebuild one eventually, but right now I lack the experience to make a good decision on used saws. Plenty more saw research to be done, which itself is pretty exciting.
Iustinian:
I LOVE that John Ball quote. You guys have way more responsibility (trees...property...LIVES!) than most folks, yet for whatever reason our culture (in the US at any rate) stigmatizes skilled labor, especially anyone remotely associated with "Landscaping". I can think of very few careers which see overlaps in so many areas of expertise: biology, physics, geology, law, rigging, climbing, teamwork, 2 cycle engine repair, saw maintenance, first aid...
In retrospect it's easy to see why lxt is so touchy, but idiot or not, if I really thought my plan were so simple and immediately rewarding...would I have started this thread in the first place?
. My head still hurts a little from this one...
But seriously, it will.
