Despite the way I’m sometimes judged by my posts, I’m pretty receptive to other’s opinions. I got a lot of feedback from readers on my 9 Reasons Not to Join the NAVY post. Some of the comments were from people completely agreeing with what I wrote, while others said the reasons were technically true but I was dwelling on the negative aspects instead of fairly presenting both sides. Then there were the few people who just thought I was an idiot. After my latest comment from a guy named Chuck, who just happens to be the father of a friend and coworker of mine, I’ve started to have a different line of thought.
He’s not really saying anything that I haven’t heard before, but it’s more in the way he said it. I’m a pretty cynical and sarcastic person so I tend to be more receptive to criticism when it’s delivered in the same kind of tone. Chuck wrote an e-mail to his son where he mentioned my site as well, and from a sarcastic standpoint it’s pure gold:
I’ll make a short story long and relate how I stumbled upon a blog by a guy who, I think is an IT on the Shiloh. (Jim at FEWL .net?) A guy on the HVAC Talk forum that I frequent, posted about taking a Tiger cruise on his son’s ship … that got me thinkin’ about you …so I googled Shiloh and Jim’s blog came up about # 4 …. I read just about all his posts and saw where you replied to one of his posts on his 9 reasons not to join the Navy.
When I clicked on your name on the reply it took me to the “PlanetBarlow.com ” site that you showed me last year …. looks like he hasn’t touched it since he created it…..
Is this Jim guy the one who created the farciful PlanetBarlow.com????He seems to be bright, expresses himself well and has a sense of humor… but does sound to be somewhat of a whiner.
(Paraphrase)….. “Oh, woe is me …… I have a tough job working on antiquated shit for ingrates who don’t appreciate me and am stuck in a confined space with assholes,losers,alcoholics,perverts,idiots,thugs,thieves,adolescents,pompous officers and an endless array of unsavory human detrius…… and port visits to supposedly exotic lands really suck….except for Brisbane, where I met Sarah and had fun….but it sux cuz I had to leave her….. boo hoo ..woe is me!!!
In my humble opinion…. his conditions greatly exceed those of the unfortunates who find themselves exiting the planet as an eviscerated, smoking hulk on some Bahgdad street.
It’s all about seeing your glass as half-full instead of half-empty. Every time I get to feeling sorry for myself, I try to remember the saying ” I felt bad because I had no shoes, til I saw the man who had no feet”. It may sound trite and simple …. but there’s truth in it.. We could have been born with a 60 IQ in Sri Lanka where you eat flies until the monsoon with your name on it washes you out into the Indian Ocean.
Aside from being hilarious, he’s exactly right. I have been a whiner. I’ve realized it for some time, but it was only until I recently that I admitted it wasn’t doing me much good. I think the major factor in my negativity is my negative attitude. Instead of seeing something that’s fucked up and thinking of a way to make it better, I would just bitch about it. In the end, nothing was made better, and if anything, I just pissed myself and other people off. This was about two weeks ago, and since then I’ve pretty much turned my entire attitude around.
We’re currently haze-gray and underway and instead of being pissed off and miserable, and I’m actually feeling pretty good. I’m getting a lot of work done, and our division is really looking good in the eyes of the powers that be. I’ve also accepted that I’m a leader and my attitude directly affects those who work for and with me, so when I’m having a bad day it only causes more stress for them. I’m not getting pissed about the things I have no control over, and instead I’m prioritizing things a lot more which is bringing a lot of positive results. We also have a lot of new people on board and the last thing I want to do is spoil their opinion of the Navy by being a whiny bitch. With that being said, expect to see more posting from me going on here…now with less negativity™
Comments 7
We’re all entitled to have a whine now and again Jim. It’s all well and good other people letting people play the martyr act, lecturing those who dare to be human, but if you repress your feelings so as not to upset someone else you’ll end up seriously depressed.
I’m not saying that it wouldn’t be good to see some more positivity from you, and some of the old geeky posts (maybe?), but don’t force a “happy happy smile” all the time just for the sake of it.
Posted 08 Oct 2007 at 10:08 am ¶Jim…what can I say, other than I hope to see an equal mix of negative and positive posts. I’m pretty sure you can see both sides of the coin but you make for some pretty interesting arguments in your posts. Sure, lets shit on the enlisted life and blah blah blah, but we all chose this path, and the less fortunate had to serve by force.
Well I hope you enjoy your underway with SN Coley. Oh, nice sponge-bob car, I knew the LCDR who owned it before you. Well bro, take care.
Posted 08 Oct 2007 at 9:21 pm ¶I enjoy reading your blog. Any tour at any command has it’s ups and downs. There is a time and a place for everything my man. If no one ever criticized or questioned anything, nothing would ever change; and even that is a double edged sword. I think you hit it on the head when you mentioned how other Sailors, especially ones that are junior to you, perceive your actions and words. Tom Hanks nailed it in Saving Private Ryan… you voice your concerns up the chain up command, not down it.
Posted 10 Oct 2007 at 6:37 pm ¶Good luck, Jim. Your life has just begun.
Posted 16 Oct 2007 at 4:45 am ¶I like reading your blog and knowing your opinion. I haven’t noticed any whining…keep up the good work!
Posted 21 Oct 2007 at 7:26 am ¶kinda creepy, i was supposed to go to the shiloh. Have fun with that!!!
thanks for your blogs. they keep me happy
Posted 06 Dec 2007 at 11:29 pm ¶Jim.. I agree with what you wrote in the “9 reasons” blog..I also agree with you that trying to be positive about the situation is a better way to go about it…..BUT…for some reason I am thinking some chief or officer on your ship has threatened you somehow and now you are going to change your tune? I could be wrong but with all the eyes on the “9 reasons” blog..I would find it funny that noone has “counseled” you on it….anyway keep it up and have fun in the Navy whenever you can.
Posted 08 Jul 2008 at 2:08 pm ¶Post a Comment
Feel free to use formatting, such as <strong></strong> for bold text and <blockquote></blockquote> for quoting text.