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Permalink Reply by blair4630 on August 16, 2009 at 1:42am

Wow, I just read the current 79 articles on it. I usually keep a pretty level head, I've dealt with all kinds of idiots over the years. But I really wanted to reach through the computer screen and knock the sense (if there is any) out of a few of those guys. I really, really try not to wish harm on anyone, but some of those guys need to be trapped in a structure fire and then be pulled out by one of the guys they spend so much energy bashing. Wow.

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Permalink Reply by Izzy ( J. Bade) on August 16, 2009 at 2:13am

I only got to read a few pages, and my blood is boiling. I really liked the commentary about teachers being better than us, and they risk their lives on the same level. OMG. teachers are needed, and while they are awesome. comparing the risks that they take with the ones that we do? wow... there was a stretch........ I wonder if any of the bashers were the owners of either the Beemers or the Mercedes that had windows taken out when they were too close to hydrants, and found the not-so-tight couplings sitting on their leather seats..... or maybe, they SHOULD be .....

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Permalink Reply by Fire Chick on August 16, 2009 at 2:34am

i hate wishing harm on someone, but i totally agree with blair

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Permalink Reply by Fire Capt. 1304 on August 16, 2009 at 7:47am

There is a career dept. that borders my town that is going through the same thing right now. I was on craigslist in the rants and raves section for omaha, Nebraska yesterday and they were slamming those guys pretty hard. They blame the FD for the city having a major budget crisis. I kind of pisses me off when the people that rely on the service that we provide are the ones talking the most trash about us.

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Permalink Reply by Walter on August 16, 2009 at 8:43am

I was so pissed off when I read that, but then I thought there is never an instance when every one is happy. I figured this guy is a troll or someone that has some serious personal issues. He's a jack a$$ and the type of person that if we pulled him out of a structure fire or cut him out of a car he would still be pissy and say its about time you all did something. In fact the more i think about it, the more i think that he probably wanted to be a firefighter but didn't have the balls to set foot on the fireground. everyone be safe.

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Permalink Reply by ashfire on August 16, 2009 at 9:39am

I believe that people out there have lost all respect for anyone and have become over selfcentered. In doing so they have become educated idiots. Now we do have under educated idiots too who believe what other under educated or educated idiots tell them. We have instigators out there that will start something then it will takeoff like a wildfire and people will believe it.
The news media is one that will start something and then all you have is a big mess. I miss Uncle Walter. He was a good news man.

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Permalink Reply by Oldman on August 16, 2009 at 12:51pm

Ok, and?... In this country, (for the time being) even idiots have a right of free speech. People are entitled to their opinion, and opinions vary.

I didn't read all 96 comments. I didn't have to. A lot of them made me chuckle and wonder why someone would want to show the world their ignorance. "Tis better to remain quiet and be thought a fool, then to open your mouth, and remove all doubt".

With many of these comments, there is no doubt. There is a lot of mis-information out there concerning the duties of a firefighter, paramedic, EMT, & LEO. Part of this may be our fault. We don't always do a good enough job of letting the public know exactly what we do when we are not "running into burning buildings". With the advent of video websites, lets face it, some of what is on the net bolsters some of those opinions.

I wish no harm to those disillutioned individuals. What goes around, comes around. One day we will be needed by one of them, and it might change their opinion.

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Permalink Reply by John Allen on August 16, 2009 at 3:48pm

As president of my local.....one thing i've learned is that you cannot please everyone. That includes the public. Just gotta remember that people like to complain especially if you're doing something they're wishing they could do:) Keep living the dream!

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Permalink Reply by Chief Michael Neudorf on August 16, 2009 at 9:18pm

Will after reading all 125 post I think all that needs say has been side on there. There will always be those kind of people around

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Permalink Reply by blair4630 on August 17, 2009 at 6:19am

I never thought about that, very good point.

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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on August 17, 2009 at 11:40am

A link to a news story where a firefighter admits to setting two fires and we are calling the readers stupid?
That's rich.
KGOD;
I like the cut of your jib.
Don't you just love the "how dare they" attitude?
Wise up, folks.
As long as we are in the headlines, there will be headhunters.
TCSS.
Art

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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on August 17, 2009 at 1:55pm

I have to agree with a couple posts, this idiot was the one who committed arson as a firefighter and the people are stupid?

I really didn't read many comments, I didn't have to. One thing to remember is many people get "keyboard courage" under the veil of annonymity and some people just like to stir the pot. There will always be people who don't care for us, nor think they need us, or the pay we get, until it comes a time they do. You wish it would be the naysayers having trouble and needing to call, but that is rarely the case.

Another thing is people develop their own stigma of the fire service and many times we don't do a good enough job showing the public what we do. This is something which can be easily remedied, and such examples were given like training, having doors open while cleaning the station, welcome people to stop in and so forth. Yes, you still get people that think it is a waste of money, but these are the ones who need education. Firefighters need to be PROACTIVE and not reactive to show what we do and why we need so many firefighters, highlight the dangers of the job, etc.

We know the dangers of light weight construction, synthetics and so forth, yet how many of the general public do? Such examples we train on are good subjects to also educate the public. The reason we need so many firefighters and a quick response time is because the fail factor and dangers of such things. Getting the public more educated about our job and THEIR services, creates a better sense of ownership for the taxpayer. Instead of us saying cuts to us will affect them, educate them on how it would affect them. Educate them on THEIR service and you will see more people taking ownership.

Budgets are tough all over and people think and make assumptions of firefighters, but that means we have to do a better job educating and showing the public we are out and we are approachable. Govts will always play that "money" game and the best way to combat such stigmas is to give the taxpayer a greater sense of ownership in their service. Put a monetary value to the service and you may see stigmas change.

I created a powerpoint to educate the taxpayer at the neighborhood level, showing what we do, why we do it, why we need so many people on scene, why we respond rigs as we do and so on. I further put a monetary value to them, I have a copy of my tax bill and show people where to look. Most people don't have a seperate fire dept tax and most just see the bottom line, yet after breaking down the numbers and EVERYTHING their dollars pay for, they find they may be only paying very little for all the services they get from us. In my case, and the example provided in the ppt, I pay $41 a YEAR for fire protection....I then ask the public what they pay for cell phone, cable/satelite, internet and so forth. After doing that, most people have no negative remarks about how overpaid we are. It puts a tangible value out there.

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