The scariest job you ever had?

[Muse]

I was a volunteer firefighter for 31 years. Found myself in some situations where I recognized at the time this could go really bad very very fast. Training and backup from equally trained firefighters, and we all walked away. Worst I got was some 2nd degree burns and some broken ribs.

Most rewarding thing I ever did? The same thing. There is a bond with the people you go through these things with. Firefighters are a brotherhood, unlike anything else I experienced. I am proud that my grandsons are firefighters, and yes I also worry about them.

It boggles my mind seeing that on TV and we've had the worst wildfire season here in CA in history and the season's just ramping up. Could be a bad week, actually, dry northly winds are forecast for the next several days. The TV images show men dressed head to foot if yellow in 100+ degree weather and fighting flames. I don't know how they do it. And they say they are doing this for extended hours, like not getting much rest/sleep.

I heard that a high percentage of the people fighting those fires are inmates. I have no idea how they get those guys to do it.

 

[Muse]

I work retail and that is the scariest job you could ever have. Not because of Covid but because of all the entitled motherfuckers who if they don't get there way pitch a fucking hissy fit and carry on like a 3yo child.
Boomers are the goddamn worst when it comes to this shit but GenXers aren't to far behind them.

If you haven't worked retail in the last 5 years or are gonna go all "Heyz I worked retail when I was 16 so I understand" then gtfo because you don't get it. You're already one of them you just haven't realized it yet.

I have never worked retail. I have applied for retail jobs, but never hired.

Of course, I see it from my own point of view. One time someone said a few decades ago to me that I was probably one of those people who's a bitch to serve in a store. I don't know if it was true or not but ever since I have made a great effort to not be a PITA for people who work in stores. Also people who serve me on the phone. I realize they are a captive audience and deserve my respect. I can and do occasionally go off and get angry and loud. But very rarely. Most of the time I'm a gentleman and patient, doesn't matter how ridiculous the situation is. I realize they have to deal with a lot of shitty people and that I have a responsibility to not be one of those.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Working in a morgue! That would have to be order of magnitude more ghoulish than a mortuary, where the body's already in a casket. Being a mortician or coroner. How sunny a disposition could you have?

I remember going in the morgue when I worked IT at the hospital. Really oddball doctor, almost mad scientist type look, he wanted to install a web cam inside so he can stream stuff to other hospitals. I remember being left in there alone for a bit as he had other stuff to go do while I worked on his computer to install the drivers etc. Something eerie about seeing all the instruments, trays, and stretchers with a cover over them around the room, and the hum of the freezer fans. Each freezer door also had a label with the name of the deceased person that was inside. I was visually snooping around from where I was sitting and there was a bunch of thermoses on one counter labeled "human eyes". I don't know why, but the fact that it says "human eyes" and not just "eyes" made it more freaky. It was kind of eerie but yet cool to be in there. Not exactly a place you get to see very often.

 

[Muse]

I grew up in the nursery business. I know exactly what you are dealing with. The things people want to return are insane, and the ideas people have of how growing plants should work is incomprehensible.

Working in a nursery would be strange and sometimes frustrating, for sure. I rarely go into them and usually feel weird exiting them. I really need to work on the landscaping around my house. I have lived here decades and my strategy has been to manage what I have, but mostly I don't even know what it is. Most of my gardening energy goes into growing edible plants. The rest I just try to keep from getting out of hand, but I often seem to be losing the battle. I need to call some tree trimmers/removers but have been putting it off for years. I should also sharpen my electric chainsaw and have at my neighbors' trees.

I wish I knew what I was doing. But going into a nursery and talking to the staff just seems like it would make me (and probably them) feel weird. I figure I should take some classes, but haven't pursued the idea.

 

[Muse]

I remember going in the morgue when I worked IT at the hospital. Really oddball doctor, almost mad scientist type look, he wanted to install a web cam inside so he can stream stuff to other hospitals. I remember being left in there alone for a bit as he had other stuff to go do while I worked on his computer to install the drivers etc. Something eerie about seeing all the instruments, trays, and stretchers with a cover over them around the room, and the hum of the freezer fans. Each freezer door also had a label with the name of the deceased person that was inside. I was visually snooping around from where I was sitting and there was a bunch of thermoses on one counter labeled "human eyes". I don't know why, but the fact that it says "human eyes" and not just "eyes" made it more freaky. It was kind of eerie but yet cool to be in there. Not exactly a place you get to see very often.

Got me thinking, I don't know how appropriately, but:

 

[Muse]

I remember going in the morgue when I worked IT at the hospital. Really oddball doctor, almost mad scientist type look, he wanted to install a web cam inside so he can stream stuff to other hospitals. I remember being left in there alone for a bit as he had other stuff to go do while I worked on his computer to install the drivers etc. Something eerie about seeing all the instruments, trays, and stretchers with a cover over them around the room, and the hum of the freezer fans. Each freezer door also had a label with the name of the deceased person that was inside. I was visually snooping around from where I was sitting and there was a bunch of thermoses on one counter labeled "human eyes". I don't know why, but the fact that it says "human eyes" and not just "eyes" made it more freaky. It was kind of eerie but yet cool to be in there. Not exactly a place you get to see very often.

Also this quote comes to mind:

Death is a very dull, dreary affair, and my advice to you is to have nothing whatever to do with it. - W. Somerset Maugham

 

[MtnMan]

It boggles my mind seeing that on TV and we've had the worst wildfire season here in CA in history and the season's just ramping up. Could be a bad week, actually, dry northly winds are forecast for the next several days. The TV images show men dressed head to foot if yellow in 100+ degree weather and fighting flames. I don't know how they do it. And they say they are doing this for extended hours, like not getting much rest/sleep.

I heard that a high percentage of the people fighting those fires are inmates. I have no idea how they get those guys to do it.

As a volunteer firefighter, we are the first in on forest fires, working with hand tools and chain saws, simply because we are the closest. Forest service crews, typically state unless it was on federal land, then came in to assist with more manpower, plus dozers and air support.

Bridge crews also were brought in from minimum security prisons. These men volunteer for this and are trained and equipped for wildland firefighting. Think they got paid a little, but I think most important to them is they got out of the prison for a while. I've spent many a long day or night working with these crews on the side of a mountain, and they are no different than a crew from a different fire department.

 

[Amol S.]

Finding my first job as a full-time non-contract. <---This is my current job, and its starting to look scary. I am scared not to find one. I have a masters in science degree.