even further off topic

Some us 'know' each other because we've been around awhile and have.......maybe.......shared some personal information; usually at times of loss of/for a member (Shorty Dear, Mike Hanley, etc............does anyone know for sure what happened to indydirtfarmer?) Anyway, ever try to figure out what folks do for a living......based on their posts/philsophy? Academia, working stiff, in business for themselves, union man, on-the-dole, educated, uneducated, etc. For example, 7 of us played Friday-night-poker for 12 years; 2 mechanical engineers, a druggist, 2 school teachers, retired Army officer/JROTC instructor and a dirt farmer. I think that a neutral observer could've told.......just by listening for a few minutes and without any specific information being given.........who was who, just based on what they believed the role of the government to be........

I've been so embarassingly wrong making assumptions about peoples backgrounds I have stopped and let them prove themselves out in full.

So many people in the public think of farmers as lazy handout taking drains on society. Maybe there are some, but most I know are smart, hard working, resourceful, and loath a handout unless its to do something the government is making them do not by their own choice.

I'm an engineer by education and day job, and in my work it regularly leads to people discounting me as an unpractical theoretical guy. Turns out I'm a real hands-on guy with a background in doing all sorts of things other than designing things from a desk. I have to prove this over and over again to people and it get tiring that engineers are labelled as such.

Anyways, I find not prejudging people tends let people surprise you with their abilities, political stripes and well, all sorts of things.

I am really Bill Gates.

I always wanted to be a farmer, but mommy made me take other things in college.

Most of the conceptions of engineers are caused by non other than....engineers. Too many live in a theoretical world. It may work on the drawing board, but it has to work in the real world, with real world end users. I"ve ran across several really knowledgable engineers who would be well served by spending a few years in the field, tools in hand, and grease on their clothes. When an engineer is working with "non engineers", they sometimes tend to lord over the "nons", seeminly trying to intimidate others. To me, a GOOD engineer can design, manufacture, and operate whatever it is he"s dealing with, as well as communicate on a one to one level with those he"s working with. Not everyone has those skills.

You have to be a jack of all trades, and a master of AT LEAST one.

Back when I got out of high school, I decided farming wasn"t my cup of tea. After 4 years in the military, I went to work as a carpenter. The contractor I worked for offered us assistance in going after more education. I took advantage and finally got a degree. I still work for the same company some 37 years later. I"m now an estimator and project supervisor.

Oh yeah, along the way I bought some ground and became a weekend wonder farmer. Nothing big, nothing fancy, just dirt under my feet. You can take the boy out of the country, but.......

MF Poor, Did you ever have an architect working "with" you? The same comments about engineers would apply to several I've worked with.

indydirtfarmer- IDF or the person who played IDF on YTMAG.com is alive and well. There is one person at the Tractor Tales board who personaly knows him and met with him after his faked death.

I'm surprised on the age difference on this forum. Anything from high school to retired folks. I enjoy reading or "chatting" with anyone on tractors.
I'm a building inspector now but grew up on a farm. I did some time on subs in the Navy after high school and got a degree in Ag enginnering. I'm hoping to buy some ground in the near future just for fun. I also have a small collection of case tractors but with three little ones, I don't find much time to work on them. I agree with the last statement below.
You can take the boy off the farm but...

So you're the one! I'm really Steve Jobs,founder of Apple you son of a ........

I'm a Mechanical Engineer by education. Couldn't handle desk/office work. Became a Journeyman Tool & Diemaker, and a Master Electrician. I've worked for the same company for 44 years. I went to college right off the farm, and learned more from 2 old farmer toolmakers than anyone. I don't think either one got past the 8th grade, but they had so much natural ability and confidence in themselves. I am very proud to have worked and learned from them.
Paul

I was a GM service technician (read "mechanic")for 25 years. Before that, raised as a share cropper's son with tobacco, beef cattle and enough corn and hay to feed the livestock. For the past 10 years, after going back to college and then seminary, I am a Baptist pastor. I will never get over my love for the farm, though.
Good Luck and God Bless.