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Comment by FireCat on February 23, 2008 at 12:25am

I am very thankful to all of you and pray daily for all of you to be safe! I am a person who does whatever I can to help my local Firefighters with charities, and fundrasiers. I believe in giving back to the people who sacrifice so much for everyone else. I feel safe knowing that you guys are out there! Try to keep in mind that there are people that do appreciate you! Be safe out there! :-)

Comment by jmillsaps2204 on February 15, 2008 at 9:13am

Just don't let it get to you man. I run into people like that and you could argue with them until you were blue in the face. The only thing that would come out of that is raising your blood pressure. We gotta look out for each other as fireman and try to do the job as professionally as possible

Comment by Mike on February 15, 2008 at 12:29am

You cann0t control the thoughts of the ignorant. Rather than harbor resentment, I would choose to give my best at every call. Act professional, provide expert service and give them no foothold to say we are less than our paid brothers and sisters. Words hardly ever change my mind. Actions will form opinions subconsciously... good and bad. My $.02

Mike

Comment by ffbam24 on February 14, 2008 at 10:46pm

You're young. You'll run into people with varying opinions.
Pick your battles. Save your breath.
Like Joe stated, some people haven't had need for our services and have formed their opinions.
Others may have had a bad experience and focus on you.

I've actually had an experience like that once. While riding the bus a couple of years back, there was this guy who was visibly upset with us and flagrantly yelling and communicating digitally at us. I had to stop and ask why.

We actually talked at great length there in the parking lot and I found out his mother had a bad experience with our company. She had since passed away and now he harbored that resentment, since he was now dealing financially with the company.

In talking with my partner and me, he was able to put a face with the company. He saw that we were out there to try and help people. Only now it wasn't the evil corporate beast he had imagined. I think we all walked away feeling a little better.

This was a unique situation. I doubt another like this will ever come up again for me.

With that, I'm not saying try to educate every person out there that voices a negative opinion, but try not to let it get to you.

Comment by Joe Stoltz on February 14, 2008 at 9:31pm

From my experience a very large percentage of the population really appreciates us. People who say they don't have most likely never been in a jam where they had to ask for help. People like that aren't worth arguing with - they are in the small minority. Ignore them.