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Moderators: sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, lilfssister, North Shore, I WAS Birddog
In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield...W. Buffett-
complexintentions
- Rank 10
- Posts: 2186
- Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2004 3:49 pm
- Location: of my pants is unknown.
i broke free,
I haven't quite decided if you're a semi-sophisticated troll, or basically conducting your own therapy online. Either way, can't say I'm too impressed.
Why?
Because you're basically trying to argue against emotion and passion with logic. A losing battle, every time, and unfortunately, very often the last bastion of someone who's only trying to rationalize their own sense of quitting.
I too, suffered much in the early years of my career. I watched and experienced virtually every one of the miseries and hardships described on this forum. I won't burden you with details, because my story could be that of Joe Anypilot in Canada.
But...I have achieved my goal, of flying large machines, for a major airline. And so I am here to answer the question.....was it all worth it? And this is my answer.
Yes.
Unequivocally, undeniably, every last damn little bit of suffering was worth it. Because you see, it isn't worth it because now I fly a shiny Boeing (which I do love) or because I now make good money (which I do appreciate) or any of those sorts of things.
It's worth it because I attempted something, really, really hard, (not flying airplanes, but getting to an airline), something which many aspire to and few achieve....and achieved it. This is not a statement of bragging, this is a statement of HOW MUCH every day I savour what I do, because it was so difficult to achieve.
Anyway, I doubt any of this will filter through, because you are appealing to another level, that of comfort and circumstance. Trying to become a pilot DOESN'T make any sense, if by sense the only sensible path is to take the safe path. But nothing worthwhile ever came easy, and it's never a waste to attempt the impossible even when you fail. It's only a waste not to attempt it. Sorry if that sounds like motivational speaker bs, but I don't know how else to put it other than to say...it is worth it. No matter what a person's "It" goal is. For most of us on this forum, that happens to be flying airplanes. And don't try and tell me there aren't forums out there where nurses sit around and bitch about their jobs and industry because that simply isn't true.
http://www.nurses-forum.com/
http://allnurses.com/forums/index.php
Besided which I'm married to a nurse so PUHLEEEZE don't try and tell me a nurse's life is all sunshine and lollipops, and super-secure, and just dandy, compared to a pilots!
And as far as the guy who you ask why he does a job he finds no satisfaction in....well I say there is an incredible honor in doing any job when your motive is to support a family or similar circumstance. So ease up! Maybe go spread your "help" to your own colleagues on your own forum!
I haven't quite decided if you're a semi-sophisticated troll, or basically conducting your own therapy online. Either way, can't say I'm too impressed.
Why?
Because you're basically trying to argue against emotion and passion with logic. A losing battle, every time, and unfortunately, very often the last bastion of someone who's only trying to rationalize their own sense of quitting.
I too, suffered much in the early years of my career. I watched and experienced virtually every one of the miseries and hardships described on this forum. I won't burden you with details, because my story could be that of Joe Anypilot in Canada.
But...I have achieved my goal, of flying large machines, for a major airline. And so I am here to answer the question.....was it all worth it? And this is my answer.
Yes.
Unequivocally, undeniably, every last damn little bit of suffering was worth it. Because you see, it isn't worth it because now I fly a shiny Boeing (which I do love) or because I now make good money (which I do appreciate) or any of those sorts of things.
It's worth it because I attempted something, really, really hard, (not flying airplanes, but getting to an airline), something which many aspire to and few achieve....and achieved it. This is not a statement of bragging, this is a statement of HOW MUCH every day I savour what I do, because it was so difficult to achieve.
Anyway, I doubt any of this will filter through, because you are appealing to another level, that of comfort and circumstance. Trying to become a pilot DOESN'T make any sense, if by sense the only sensible path is to take the safe path. But nothing worthwhile ever came easy, and it's never a waste to attempt the impossible even when you fail. It's only a waste not to attempt it. Sorry if that sounds like motivational speaker bs, but I don't know how else to put it other than to say...it is worth it. No matter what a person's "It" goal is. For most of us on this forum, that happens to be flying airplanes. And don't try and tell me there aren't forums out there where nurses sit around and bitch about their jobs and industry because that simply isn't true.
http://www.nurses-forum.com/
http://allnurses.com/forums/index.php
Besided which I'm married to a nurse so PUHLEEEZE don't try and tell me a nurse's life is all sunshine and lollipops, and super-secure, and just dandy, compared to a pilots!
And as far as the guy who you ask why he does a job he finds no satisfaction in....well I say there is an incredible honor in doing any job when your motive is to support a family or similar circumstance. So ease up! Maybe go spread your "help" to your own colleagues on your own forum!
I’m still waiting for my white male privilege membership card. Must have gotten lost in the mail.
Good post, CI.
I think you guys are hitting the nail on the head... for a lot of us, no matter what we've gone through, we couldn't possibly do anything else. I wouldn't even know what to consider... nothing else interests me, and I can't see driving to work actually look forward to the day ahead in any other field like I do now.
Is that an addiction? Call it whatever you want... I'm doing what I want to do for a living, and no amount of appeals to common sense or questionable allegories will change my mind. Failing a medical is about the only thing that'd prod me to a career change.
I think you guys are hitting the nail on the head... for a lot of us, no matter what we've gone through, we couldn't possibly do anything else. I wouldn't even know what to consider... nothing else interests me, and I can't see driving to work actually look forward to the day ahead in any other field like I do now.
Is that an addiction? Call it whatever you want... I'm doing what I want to do for a living, and no amount of appeals to common sense or questionable allegories will change my mind. Failing a medical is about the only thing that'd prod me to a career change.
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i broke free
- Rank 1
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2005 12:30 pm
complexintentions:
Ease up! I said I have learned from the responses on this subject discussion and have a broader perspective now. If it provided food for thought to those going through the hoops, then it will either strengthen their resolve to continue, or open their minds to other possibilities. Either way I think it will have been a good thing to hear the full range of perspectives on this subject, as it was for me.
Subject closed for me.
Ease up! I said I have learned from the responses on this subject discussion and have a broader perspective now. If it provided food for thought to those going through the hoops, then it will either strengthen their resolve to continue, or open their minds to other possibilities. Either way I think it will have been a good thing to hear the full range of perspectives on this subject, as it was for me.
Subject closed for me.
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GreatSlave
- Rank 1
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Sun Sep 25, 2005 6:21 pm
- Location: Yellowknife
Hi. I've been a lurker here for the last couple of weeks and have decided to add a post to this thread. Pleased to meet y'all. (Although I already know a few of you from other venues.)
My first post and would'nt ya know it, it's just a cut and paste job from that "other" forum. Lazier than a pet coon... but I think (hope) it fits the context to which this thread has evolved.
Kev
I consider myself very fortunate as far as I'm concerned, due to the luck of getting into the business on a high cycle ('86), getting a job in a town I like and most importantly, not having the same vision of the Golden Ring as most in the industry. No slur intended on anyone elses' particular version of the Golden Ring.
I went north and stayed. YZF has been home for 17 years now. My and my family's life is in the north and it's most definitely home. My children were born here, we make our living here and our recreation and lifestyle revolves around what a small northern city and about a billion square miles of largely unspoiled wilderness provides. And boy do we have a good time
I've been lucky enough to spend quite a number of years flogging around the Arctic with the Twin Otter (undoubtably one of the world's great aircraft). My feet have walked ground only touched by the feet of caribou, wolves and grizzlies. I've been close enough to a swimming 2000 lb polar bear to touch it over the side of the boat (no I didn't.... they're big brass ones but not that big).
I've rolled more drums than I care to count, hauled more KFC than I care to smell, had patients subsequently die or subsequently be born. I've had more copilots than I can remember, lost many friends to their Golden Ring, untimeley death or just losing touch. I've met more good people than any man has a right to.
Now I poke holes in that same northern sky with a 737 (undoubtably one of the world's great aircraft). I look down on that same country from a much higher perspective but appreciate it no less. On the road to Cambridge or Rankin, I can point out to my F/O an esker that I was the first one (and possibly the last) to leave Twin Otter tracks on. Or maybe that virgin Grayling hole west of Baker. There's the little lake with the big load that provided my all time greatest single day download of grey hair.
To get back to the question posed at the beginning of the thread: Would I change anything?...... Not on your life.
I have a great deal of empathy for what many people and their families in the southern, non backwoods, airline industry are going through right now. Many of them are my friends. The northern industry hasn't been immune either but we do enjoy the benefits of a captive audience.
In my view, this industry is like when they first installed the roller coaster in the West Ed Mall. It's a wild ride and you hope it doesn't come off the rails and hurt someone. But once you strap yourself in, you're along for the ride and all you can do is to help it stay on the rails, even if all you can contribute is to clench your teeth and butt cheeks simultaneously. The ride almost always ends with the most serious damage being a bad hairdo and losing the change out of your pockets.
Peace
Kevin Elke
My first post and would'nt ya know it, it's just a cut and paste job from that "other" forum. Lazier than a pet coon... but I think (hope) it fits the context to which this thread has evolved.
Kev
I consider myself very fortunate as far as I'm concerned, due to the luck of getting into the business on a high cycle ('86), getting a job in a town I like and most importantly, not having the same vision of the Golden Ring as most in the industry. No slur intended on anyone elses' particular version of the Golden Ring.
I went north and stayed. YZF has been home for 17 years now. My and my family's life is in the north and it's most definitely home. My children were born here, we make our living here and our recreation and lifestyle revolves around what a small northern city and about a billion square miles of largely unspoiled wilderness provides. And boy do we have a good time
I've been lucky enough to spend quite a number of years flogging around the Arctic with the Twin Otter (undoubtably one of the world's great aircraft). My feet have walked ground only touched by the feet of caribou, wolves and grizzlies. I've been close enough to a swimming 2000 lb polar bear to touch it over the side of the boat (no I didn't.... they're big brass ones but not that big).
I've rolled more drums than I care to count, hauled more KFC than I care to smell, had patients subsequently die or subsequently be born. I've had more copilots than I can remember, lost many friends to their Golden Ring, untimeley death or just losing touch. I've met more good people than any man has a right to.
Now I poke holes in that same northern sky with a 737 (undoubtably one of the world's great aircraft). I look down on that same country from a much higher perspective but appreciate it no less. On the road to Cambridge or Rankin, I can point out to my F/O an esker that I was the first one (and possibly the last) to leave Twin Otter tracks on. Or maybe that virgin Grayling hole west of Baker. There's the little lake with the big load that provided my all time greatest single day download of grey hair.
To get back to the question posed at the beginning of the thread: Would I change anything?...... Not on your life.
I have a great deal of empathy for what many people and their families in the southern, non backwoods, airline industry are going through right now. Many of them are my friends. The northern industry hasn't been immune either but we do enjoy the benefits of a captive audience.
In my view, this industry is like when they first installed the roller coaster in the West Ed Mall. It's a wild ride and you hope it doesn't come off the rails and hurt someone. But once you strap yourself in, you're along for the ride and all you can do is to help it stay on the rails, even if all you can contribute is to clench your teeth and butt cheeks simultaneously. The ride almost always ends with the most serious damage being a bad hairdo and losing the change out of your pockets.
Peace
Kevin Elke
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marktheone
- Rank 7
- Posts: 719
- Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2005 9:07 am
- Location: An airplane.
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just curious
- Rank Moderator
- Posts: 3592
- Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2004 9:29 am
- Location: The Frozen North
- Contact:
I might have changed one thing over the last 30 years.
I stole one of GreatSlave's Charters from Little Grand to Pukatawagan in the 185, but at the end of the trip with five ill, and bad aiming passengers on an extremely rough flight, it just didn't, in the end, smell like ("undoubtably one of the world's great aircraft")
As for the rest, nope, all good.
I stole one of GreatSlave's Charters from Little Grand to Pukatawagan in the 185, but at the end of the trip with five ill, and bad aiming passengers on an extremely rough flight, it just didn't, in the end, smell like ("undoubtably one of the world's great aircraft")
As for the rest, nope, all good.
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GreatSlave
- Rank 1
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Sun Sep 25, 2005 6:21 pm
- Location: Yellowknife
Just Curious,
Your presence (Moderator even... not bad for a guy that can't read and write) is a bit of the reason that I decided to show my face on this forum.
You can take that as a compliment... but don't ask me for a date.
You've made mention before of stealing charters from me in Little Grand. Although we're certainly of the same era, I can't for the life of me place you in my old Little Grand/Puingassi/Berens/Bloodvein/Bisset/Red Lake/Pikum/Poplar Hill/Deer Lake stomping grounds. (Man...does it feel like a lifetime ago to you too?) I flew for St. Air (St. Peter)...who did you work for? Enquiring minds want to know.
Well actually, no one else give a shit but I want to know!!
PM me if you like, you know the address. (No feathers in my Pratts for nearly two weeks, migration must be over in our part of the world.)
Kev
Your presence (Moderator even... not bad for a guy that can't read and write) is a bit of the reason that I decided to show my face on this forum.
You can take that as a compliment... but don't ask me for a date.
You've made mention before of stealing charters from me in Little Grand. Although we're certainly of the same era, I can't for the life of me place you in my old Little Grand/Puingassi/Berens/Bloodvein/Bisset/Red Lake/Pikum/Poplar Hill/Deer Lake stomping grounds. (Man...does it feel like a lifetime ago to you too?) I flew for St. Air (St. Peter)...who did you work for? Enquiring minds want to know.
Well actually, no one else give a shit but I want to know!!
PM me if you like, you know the address. (No feathers in my Pratts for nearly two weeks, migration must be over in our part of the world.)
Kev
The worst part about Puk is trying to get all the kids that were swimming on the dock detached from your floats when your trying to taxi away. And the mud in the spring...just curious wrote:I might have changed one thing over the last 30 years.
I stole one of GreatSlave's Charters from Little Grand to Pukatawagan in the 185, but at the end of the trip with five ill, and bad aiming passengers on an extremely rough flight, it just didn't, in the end, smell like ("undoubtably one of the world's great aircraft")
As for the rest, nope, all good.
Some people are like slinkies: Not much good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
I would HOPE you wouldn't change it GreatSlave - you were a really cool chief 
Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace. The soul that knows it not,knows no release from the little things; knows not the livid loneliness of fear, nor mountain heights where bitter joy can hear the sound of wings.
- Amelia Earhart
- Amelia Earhart
