Popular Post MikeFoxtrot Posted July 3, 2022 Popular Post Posted July 3, 2022 It has been suggested that I should introduce myself to the board. Hi. I go by Mike and I like discussions. I’m not here to mock anyone’s beliefs or to debate, but I promise to ask polite, but pointed questions where I find my understanding of the universe to be in contrast with a claim or statement. If I ever come off as disrespectful or rude, it is not my intention and you should feel free to call me out. I promise I was raised right, and I will try to smooth things out if I overstep. I’m also a plumber, so feel free to ask me questions about plumbing, should you find yourself posting from a puddle or something. All of my bad advice is free. 8
Calm Posted July 3, 2022 Posted July 3, 2022 You have been an enjoyable read so far. I vote you stick around. 4
Tacenda Posted July 3, 2022 Posted July 3, 2022 3 minutes ago, Calm said: You have been an enjoyable read so far. I vote you stick around. Same!
MikeFoxtrot Posted July 3, 2022 Author Posted July 3, 2022 57 minutes ago, Calm said: You have been an enjoyable read so far. I vote you stick around. Thanks. You’ve been very welcoming, and I really like your thought process. 2
teddyaware Posted July 4, 2022 Posted July 4, 2022 3 hours ago, MikeFoxtrot said: It has been suggested that I should introduce myself to the board. Hi. I go by Mike and I like discussions. I’m not here to mock anyone’s beliefs or to debate, but I promise to ask polite, but pointed questions where I find my understanding of the universe to be in contrast with a claim or statement. If I ever come off as disrespectful or rude, it is not my intention and you should feel free to call me out. I promise I was raised right, and I will try to smooth things out if I overstep. I’m also a plumber, so feel free to ask me questions about plumbing, should you find yourself posting from a puddle or something. All of my bad advice is free. Have you come here hoping to engage in exchanges that will justify you in your skepticism, or are you here hoping to find compelling reasons to give up on your skepticism? 2
3DOP Posted July 4, 2022 Posted July 4, 2022 7 hours ago, MikeFoxtrot said: It has been suggested that I should introduce myself to the board. Hi. I go by Mike and I like discussions. I’m not here to mock anyone’s beliefs or to debate, but I promise to ask polite, but pointed questions where I find my understanding of the universe to be in contrast with a claim or statement. If I ever come off as disrespectful or rude, it is not my intention and you should feel free to call me out. I promise I was raised right, and I will try to smooth things out if I overstep. I’m also a plumber, so feel free to ask me questions about plumbing, should you find yourself posting from a puddle or something. All of my bad advice is free. Mike, hi. I am currently a factory hand who was a truck driver for many years before that. If I knew how, I think I would prefer to plumb than work in the factory. I miss driving. I can see the trucks going by out the windows and miss the old freedom, except I know it all has changed. When I got out in 2018, the satellites were already watching you and the computer geniuses who did the programs thought they knew the best way to get places because of their technology. But I know they were wrong. They only see maps and mileage without understanding that trucks and trailers need more space to make right hand turns than their little roadmobiles, among other differences. The technology with the attendant ignorance on the part of the technicians made it frustrating. It will never be the same again. Anyway, God bless, Mike. Thanks for the intro. I have been here since 2004...which seems not so long ago, but is eighteen years already! 3DOP PS: If you are are reading this, and are a technician, no hard feelings, but I am not interested in anything you might have to say about how I should have run my route. 1
The Nehor Posted July 4, 2022 Posted July 4, 2022 I am afraid I will need more evidence before I am willing to buy that you are a skeptic. 2
manol Posted July 5, 2022 Posted July 5, 2022 On 7/3/2022 at 4:50 PM, MikeFoxtrot said: I go by Mike and I like discussions. I’m not here to mock anyone’s beliefs or to debate, but I promise to ask polite, but pointed questions where I find my understanding of the universe to be in contrast with a claim or statement. That's exactly how you've come across to me. I have enjoyed your participation here and look forward to more of your posts. On 7/3/2022 at 4:50 PM, MikeFoxtrot said: I’m also a plumber, so feel free to ask me questions about plumbing, should you find yourself posting from a puddle or something. All of my bad advice is free. So here's the scenario: I say, There's a leak, I'll call a plumber tomorrow. She says, Don't waste the money! Just fix it yourself!! My judgment, competence, and manhood all having been called into question, I spend the next six or eight hours playing "Amateur Plumber", which gives me the opportunity to practice using certain words and phrases that I call my "Plumbing Words". (When I type any of them on this site, they magically turn into so many little asterisks.) So the next day I call a REAL plumber, and pay him some REAL money to fix the initial problem along with everything else I managed to damage or break during my "Amateur Plumber" episode. This scene plays out about once every two or three years. The words and phrases I employ when playing "Amateur Plumber" are becoming predictable and repetitive, so I may ask you for some tips so that I can keep it interesting. 2
strappinglad Posted July 5, 2022 Posted July 5, 2022 10 hours ago, manol said: "Plumbing Words". That is just having a dis 'cuss' ion with the pipes. 3
Calm Posted July 5, 2022 Posted July 5, 2022 7 hours ago, strappinglad said: That is just having a dis 'cuss' ion with the pipes. Painful. 1
MustardSeed Posted July 6, 2022 Posted July 6, 2022 Welcome! I describe myself as quite skeptical in general . I suppose if I were asked if I needed justification or a reason to give it up I’d say neither. My level of skepticism I believe is healthy and stands on its own. 1
Amulek Posted July 6, 2022 Posted July 6, 2022 On 7/3/2022 at 4:50 PM, MikeFoxtrot said: I’m also a plumber, so feel free to ask me questions about plumbing, should you find yourself posting from a puddle or something. All of my bad advice is free. Welcome to the board! I remember asking one of my buddies (back in the last town we lived in) how he decided on plumbing for a career. He said that his father always told him that there are two things people will always need: a good mechanic and a good plumber; and a lot of times when you need a plumber, you really need a plumber. 1
Stargazer Posted July 6, 2022 Posted July 6, 2022 On 7/3/2022 at 10:50 PM, MikeFoxtrot said: I’m also a plumber, so feel free to ask me questions about plumbing, should you find yourself posting from a puddle or something. All of my bad advice is free. Nice! I'm kind of an amateur plumber, having turned one of my downstairs bedrooms into a full bathroom several years ago. After fixing the foundation in that corner of the house, and replacing the floor, I put a toilet, bathtub and sink into the new bathroom. Tons of fun, that was! It was the first time I ever used Pex. Lovely to work with. 1
strappinglad Posted July 6, 2022 Posted July 6, 2022 I'm told that one of the things a plumber must learn is that water runs down hill. In my work I have found the occasional place where the previous " plumber " had tried to ignore that learning. It made for messy clogs ! 4
strappinglad Posted July 6, 2022 Posted July 6, 2022 (edited) To show the value of the skeptic , I present the following: The wind is caused by the leaves on the trees moving . A skeptic will say , " what about in winter? There are no leaves on the trees but there is still wind " The retort would be that even in winter there are still trees with leaves moving somewhere and their effect is global. As more evidence of the truth about the wind, it should be noted that on the moon there is no wind. Why ? No trees ! Q.E.D. Edited July 6, 2022 by strappinglad 3
Stargazer Posted July 7, 2022 Posted July 7, 2022 (edited) 23 hours ago, strappinglad said: As more evidence of the truth about the wind, it should be noted that on the moon there is no wind. Why ? No trees ! Q.E.D. Thanks for the laugh! Although I note that there is a solar wind. I once claimed that the lack of elephants in our town was due to the effectiveness of the elephant repellent employed by the town council. Edited July 7, 2022 by Stargazer 1
longview Posted July 9, 2022 Posted July 9, 2022 On 7/4/2022 at 1:12 PM, The Nehor said: I am afraid I will need more evidence before I am willing to buy that you are a skeptic.
MikeFoxtrot Posted July 16, 2022 Author Posted July 16, 2022 On 7/3/2022 at 7:54 PM, teddyaware said: Have you come here hoping to engage in exchanges that will justify you in your skepticism, or are you here hoping to find compelling reasons to give up on your skepticism? Neither and both, really. I’ve come here hoping to find good conversations, and, from those conversations, learn new information and find areas where my understanding is in error. I’m not sure I’ll ever stop being skeptical of claims that conflict with my current state of brain juices, but I’m happy to admit that I’m wrong when I discover such.
MikeFoxtrot Posted July 16, 2022 Author Posted July 16, 2022 On 7/4/2022 at 12:02 AM, 3DOP said: PS: If you are are reading this, and are a technician, no hard feelings, but I am not interested in anything you might have to say about how I should have run my route. We have these creatures called “engineers” and “architects” who think they know the best way to run pipes, because they paid several hundred dollars for a drag-and-drop autoCAD system. Inevitably, there is conflict between plans and reality, and these technicians assume that they are correct and that reality needs to conform. 1
MikeFoxtrot Posted July 16, 2022 Author Posted July 16, 2022 On 7/4/2022 at 1:12 PM, The Nehor said: I am afraid I will need more evidence before I am willing to buy that you are a skeptic. Act now! Supplies are running out!
MikeFoxtrot Posted July 16, 2022 Author Posted July 16, 2022 On 7/4/2022 at 10:58 PM, manol said: I say, There's a leak, I'll call a plumber tomorrow. She says, Don't waste the money! Just fix it yourself!! My judgment, competence, and manhood all having been called into question, I spend the next six or eight hours playing "Amateur Plumber", which gives me the opportunity to practice using certain words and phrases that I call my "Plumbing Words". (When I type any of them on this site, they magically turn into so many little asterisks.) So the next day I call a REAL plumber, and pay him some REAL money to fix the initial problem along with everything else I managed to damage or break during my "Amateur Plumber" episode. This scene plays out about once every two or three years. The words and phrases I employ when playing "Amateur Plumber" are becoming predictable and repetitive, so I may ask you for some tips so that I can keep it interesting. I’m so fluent in plumbing words that I use them in other fields of interest, like amateur auto repair, amateur woodwork, and amateur waiting behind my fellow St. Georgians at green lights and in dangerous roundabouts. 1
MikeFoxtrot Posted July 16, 2022 Author Posted July 16, 2022 On 7/6/2022 at 10:57 AM, Amulek said: Welcome to the board! I remember asking one of my buddies (back in the last town we lived in) how he decided on plumbing for a career. He said that his father always told him that there are two things people will always need: a good mechanic and a good plumber; and a lot of times when you need a plumber, you really need a plumber. I figure it will be one of the last jobs to be taken over by robots. 3
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