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OT Kibitzer Rant

J

John T

Well-known Member
Anyone other then myself experience this problem and what do you do, if anything, about it?

Kibitzer "An onlooker who offers unwanted advice"

In my RV Retirement Park and many others I visit, if you dare raise the hood on your RV or Car, HERE THEY COME IN DROVES (its like radar, the whole park knows about it in 60 seconds from hood raising) You know the "Old Farts" like myself lol loaded with questions and more questions driving you nuts and you should do this or that and how to fix it or you're not doing something right and they're all experts. I've had dudes stick their head or get right in the way of where I'm trying to work so bad I cant even get in there myself so I just walk off or go inside lol

At a buddys park he was fixing the roof on his storage shed and here they all came (none of whom were able or offered to actually do any physical work to help) WITH LAWN CHAIRS AND LEMONADE JUGS PLANNING TO STAY THE DAY telling him he needs to do this or that or he's not doing something right until he has to just quit and go inside.

Other day I'm out in front of my shop fabricating a home made combination tow dolly and golf cart trailer and here they come "You sure that tongue is strong enough" to which I reply "NO not the way it is now and that's why I going to reinforce it" Then "I would have placed the golf cart farther back" to which I reply "Well if so then the car runs into it and smashes it, I sort of measured for that you know" Then, "How is the car tied down" to which I reply " With the new DOT rated tie down straps I bought which are at the house until I get to mounting them"

One more gripe lol For the convenience of neighbors I keep a 25 ft air hose on a nice hook loop where its all rolled up nice and neat with an air chuck and tire gauge and a blow gun on the side of the shop on a gravel drive just off the road. So far so good for me or neighbors right??? BUT I OFTEN GO DOWN AND FIND SOMEONE HAS USED IT (which Im glad) BUT INSTEAD OF TAKING 30 SECONDS TO ROLL IT UP THEY LET IT LAY IN THE DRIVE OR ELSE ALL KINKED UP grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Okay, on this site PEOPLE ASK FOR ADVICE and that is different then the above. Years ago an older buddy told me I would grow up to be a grouchy old man like he was lol Maybe I'm just as guilty as some of the above but try not to offer advice until I'm asked.

Nuff said

Old Fuddy Duddy John T
 
Being mechanics, over the years both Dad and I have had folks like that standing around as we tried to work. In most cases the folks in question were the operator, or crew not able to work due to the machine being down, and they are usually pretty quite. As for some owners and other management types, it's often a different story.

Dad ran into one owner that kept telling him what was wrong, and what he needed to do to fix the problem. He finally started loading his tools back on the truck to the point the guy finally asked what he was doing. Dad's reply was that he seemed to know exactly what was wrong and what needed to be done to repair the problem so it appeared he wasn't needed....so he was going back to the shop. The guy finally got the hint and shut up and left.

For me it was a "Safety" idiot at one of the quarries. He kept questioning the things we did, and then demanded I 'tie off' when working on top of the machine. Thing is there was nothing over top of the machine to tie off to but open air, nothing on the machine had the required strength to tie off too, and the machine was not tall enough for a shock cord to function so you'd still have the shock of hitting something if you fell. Basically tying off was more hazardous than not. That being the case I stood and looked upwards for a second and said that since I didn't see a skyhook to tie off to safely, and that tying anywhere else would guarantee I swung into the machine and hit it if I fell, not to mention I'd be dealing with trying not to trip on the safety straps along with everything else it wasn't going to happen. I think my exact words, beyond the skyhook comment was basicslly that "I'll load my sh!t on the truck and carry my a$$ home before I do something that I know is going to get me hurt." Given that their crane was sitting there with the upper separated from the lower, the lower nearly gutted, and the upper not far behind, he took what I said to heart and Dad and I had no more problems with him the rest of the time we were there.

As far as the hose thing, one of my pet peeves is someone not taking the time to put tools back when they are done with them. Personally I can have half a dozen projects going on in the shop, and tools left at each project, and I know where they all are to get if needed. But if someone else borrows something it better go back where it came from, whether it was in the box or lying with one of my projects.
 
I wouldn't put up with that kind of thing, John.

Sell that silly motor home and buy a new tractor. 'Course, you'll have to kick in a couple hundred thousand. :>)

Allan
 
Maybe get some mean dogs and set up around the place you work ?
Or break out the pressure washer and have the junk a flying !
 
In the late 50's, I remember my dad telling me this story. My dad was one of those guys who would take his car into a repair shop and then hang around watching what the mechanic was doing. He really wasn't a busy body, it's just that he liked to "watch" (usually at close range). He knew everyone well at this one particular place and was friends with the owner and the staff etc. but one day he became a bit too annoying and got a bit to close during a tune up on his car. The mechanic rapped the old man's knuckles with a wrench and told him to step back and let him work, sort of a scary situation apparently. That night, the mechanic and his wife had a bit of a set-to during a drinking session at home and the guy put her out of her misery with a whisky bottle over the head, went to jail for a few years on a manslaughter charge. My dad probably avoided getting too close to mechanics after that little incident.
 
So Now You Just Have a bunch of old Farm, Tractor, old trucks Kibitzer telling yahow to deal with Kibitzers? Well least now, Ya know how we pell and ya don't have to look at us. lol.
 
Yeah, We can't be telling Him how to do stuff all the time!! Ell we have to get over to the Campground and tell them dang people stuff!!!
 
Hi John, here in the UK I run a small agricultral engineering buisness in some rented premises. It used to be a farm and now it is a RV park. Also we have another buisness in the yard who repair and service RVs and they trade as Star Spangled Spanner. We receve all the carriers parcels for both buisnesses and the RV park and when any goody parcels come for the RVers the perfectly good old item goes in the trash bin and over the years we have saved some very good items. MJ
 
(quoted from post at 06:25:51 05/23/14) Being mechanics, over the years both Dad and I have had folks like that standing around as we tried to work. In most cases the folks in question were the operator, or crew not able to work due to the machine being down, and they are usually pretty quite. As for some owners and other management types, it's often a different story.

Dad ran into one owner that kept telling him what was wrong, and what he needed to do to fix the problem. He finally started loading his tools back on the truck to the point the guy finally asked what he was doing. Dad's reply was that he seemed to know exactly what was wrong and what needed to be done to repair the problem so it appeared he wasn't needed....so he was going back to the shop. The guy finally got the hint and shut up and left.

For me it was a "Safety" idiot at one of the quarries. He kept questioning the things we did, and then demanded I 'tie off' when working on top of the machine. Thing is there was nothing over top of the machine to tie off to but open air, nothing on the machine had the required strength to tie off too, and the machine was not tall enough for a shock cord to function so you'd still have the shock of hitting something if you fell. Basically tying off was more hazardous than not. That being the case I stood and looked upwards for a second and said that since I didn't see a skyhook to tie off to safely, and that tying anywhere else would guarantee I swung into the machine and hit it if I fell, not to mention I'd be dealing with trying not to trip on the safety straps along with everything else it wasn't going to happen. I think my exact words, beyond the skyhook comment was basicslly that "I'll load my sh!t on the truck and carry my a$$ home before I do something that I know is going to get me hurt." Given that their crane was sitting there with the upper separated from the lower, the lower nearly gutted, and the upper not far behind, he took what I said to heart and Dad and I had no more problems with him the rest of the time we were there.

As far as the hose thing, one of my pet peeves is someone not taking the time to put tools back when they are done with them. Personally I can have half a dozen projects going on in the shop, and tools left at each project, and I know where they all are to get if needed. But if someone else borrows something it better go back where it came from, whether it was in the box or lying with one of my projects.
Click to expand...

Yep, those folks who won't put the tools back in the tool box, or take time to roll up the air hose are just a real nuisance. Guess the only cure for such behavior is to lock MYSELF out of the shop.
 
Quick ideas to discourage the geriatric peanut gallery:
1. Bait & switch: raise your hood, leave a fire extinguisher by the front bumper and walk off.
2. Bring out a CD player and play Chinese music or maybe Debbie Boone singing "You Light Up my Life" non-stop.
3. Critique their lawn chairs and mention amazing how they all seem to be of a feminine design. Repeat every 10 minutes.
4. Mention that some of the wives are looking for recruits to take up ball room or line dancing lessons and that maybe they should lay low somewhere else.
5.Everytime they show up to "visit", plug in an electronic bird repeller and tell them it is effective on misquitos, too.
6. If all else fails, ask them about how their love life is.
 
At the shop years ago one customer had a small fleet of 3-ton deck trucks.
One of his driver's fit your description to a tee.
Whenever the owner said he was sending the Topkick in for repair I would reply with the fly is coming I will mark that down.
He finally asked me why I called his driver the fly so I explained to him that whenever I worked on his truck the driver was in your face endlessly nattering on about how things should be done, when I finally had enough and was ready to swat him he would disappear just long enough to let me cool down before he would come back around with his next round of advise.
Told the owner I didn't much care shop work was by the hour.
Not long after that conversation the driver would drop off his truck and go for coffee.
 
Same at our park, there are a few dumpster divers who are always picking out throw aways and in a short time they are working perfectly. Its the difference between the City Yuppies who are in the park versus retired farmers and mechanics etc.

John T
 
Cone on down lol, we welcome and need more retired farmers and mechanics and blue collar workers to combat all them dern city dweller YUPPIES grrrrrrrrrrrr

John T
 
If I were to win the Lottery I may start farming again till I go broke I reckon lol

Take care Allan

John T
 
John , I know it was not your intention ,but, that's one of the funniest posts I have ever read on this site. I do feel bad for laughing, but it's still hilarious! I sure have no answers for that.
 
Hey dr, ITS ALL TRUE, been there done that and I bet you have experienced it?? If not you will someday lol

Take care dont get yer wires crossed Sparky

John T
 
You don't have to be in a trailer park, I have a barn/shop near the road. Open doors will draw a crowed anytime except when I need help then everybody is buisey.
 
My favorite case of kibitzers was on a Navy ship in the middle of
the Persian Gulf trying to fix our radar system so we could defend
ourselves should the need arise.
As you can imagine, I had a room full of kibitzers from the Captain
all the way down.
Anyway, I found the real problem with the radar and fixed it.

Then I made an obvious show out of taking the ink pen out of my
pocket, tearing it apart, stretching the spring out and "test fitting"
it. It wasn't quite right, so I stretched it a bit more, set it in a
safe place inside the radar's electronic control cabinet, closed the
door and fired the radar up.
The room was empty by the time I turned around! LOL
 
John its not age,

When we used to drag race, we called them the "bench racers". All they did at the track was sit in the stands.

But... as soon as you were in your shop working on your race car. You were doing this wrong, you are doing that wrong, thats not the way I did it, etc.

When you ask them where their car is at or why it is ever at the track, the excuses start flying.

We used to say to them, "those who can't, teach". It would really get them fired up. BTW, these were guys in their 20s.

Rick
 
John you mention yuppies quite often. Ever smell marijuana and also do you have many heavy drinkers?
Enjoy your posts.
 
We lived in a retirement community for 14 years; we moved to a all ages neighborhood - wouldn't move back to a retirement community for anything.

About 60 -70% of the residents in that retirement community started Happy Hour about 4:30 and drank until late into the night (without eating any food).

I told me doctor one day that, even though their meds label said: "Do not consume alcohol when taking this medication", most of seniors that she saw were heavy drinkers. She already suspected that, but there wasn't much she could do about it if they didn't take her advice.
 
NO on the Mary Jane, but there is good attendance at a daily happy hour of which I'm NOT a regular customer, although I do enjoy good cold beer in moderation or a tad above that at times lol

ACTUALLY our park is NOT one of the exclusive ultra rich type of parks, otherwise I wouldn't be there lol. There are indeed a lot of retired farmers there and good folks but of course, a few Yuppies. Were an equal opportunity park I guess.

John T
 
A couple friends have places in florida and have given them up because of this.They get letters from the parks about bicycles going to fast,
someone had an open shirt,and a party that lasted
beyond the 9pm time limit imposed.
 
I remember them well from when I was racing stock cars.

It's Sunday afternoon, you're going racing that evening, you have six hours of work to do, and four hours to do it.

There was ALWAYS some dork who would show up with a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. He'll always start out, "Well, I just couldn't think of anything else to do this afternoon so I thought I'd come over and see what you were up to".

Then he'd ask what you had for an engine. If you told him a 350, he'd tell you you ought to have a 348 'cause his nephew had one in an Impala and that old Impala sure would go. You could try to explain to him that a 348 was a good engine in its day, but as a racing engine it made a good boat anchor. He'd be unconvinced because his nephew's Impala sure would go.

And on and on.
 
We used to have an annoying shop supervisor. He would stop and annoy you while you were trying to get your job done. This guy was paranoid about getting dirty. The guys finally figgered out how to get rid of him. Just reach for the air hose and he was gone.

Areo
 
Not really a kibitzer tale, but.....

Years ago, I had a summer job turning a wrench at a equipment rental yard. They also had a "party store" where one could rent tents, tables and whatnot for parties. This stuff was delivered in Ford diesel box trucks.

Anyway, I was sent over to the party store to prime the injectors on a delivery truck. The driver had idled it out of fuel and now couldn't get it started. I went over and went to work and somehow managed to get it running again. I had no clue what I did, but it was running.

About that time, the driver came out of the air conditioned break room and asked me to show him what I did "so we don't have to bother you next time." I took him around to the driver's side door, opened it up and pointed to the fuel gauge. I said, "when that needle gets close to the E, put fuel in it."
 
The air hose gets me every time. Need 12 feet of hose, so we take 50 off the hanger, then we just slap it back on there any way it feels like fitting.
If you make big loops on the hooks, it takes about 14 loops to hang it all. But no, we gotta make 50 tiny little loops instead and it takes twisting it so many times that we get tired of doing it nice and neat and just toss a mess up on the hooks.
 
I thought for sure that was gonna happen to me today. I was having a little trouble with the marker switch on the planter today and the biggest dope smoking know it all in the county was right across the road. I didn't want to stop up by the road for fear that brain dead moron would be right over there with his "ahhh,welt,,,ahh,ya know,this is how it is,,ahh,,ahh,,ah,what are you working on?".
 
Put that hose on a manual reel. At least when you have to roll it up it takes only a few seconds.
 
(quoted from post at 17:02:21 05/23/14) You don't have to be in a trailer park, I have a barn/shop near the road. Open doors will draw a crowed anytime except when I need help then everybody is buisey.
Click to expand...
ortunately for me, my shop doors aren't visible from the road. Not sayin' I'm a cranky old goat, but....
 
Good Evening J T

When I worked in the Shop & Customers would get around my work bench , I would tell I am on the clock & I wasn t going to waltz around them to get to my tools & that I wasn t giving free lessons , if they wanted it fixed to get the hell out of my way & I would let them know the minute it was repaired .
John in AZ.
 
So true Goose, you have seen it too.

I am half tempted to gate my driveway when I am working.

Rick
 
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