Negative Pressure

Yeah; it is used to suck the smoke and heat from structures, but it’s also used to suck any promise that many future leaders will offer new perstpective to the old hard-line ways of a traditional fire service.

I read on fire discussion boards about concern that the “old guard” isn’t passing it down to the new guard. Along with that come complaints that the new guard isn’t interested in old stuff. They want new stuff; that is, unless it deals with the same old approach to firefighting.

There is a subculture in the fire service who believes that, since firefighting isn’t an exact science, then it isn’t right to exact a strategy that calculates risk instead of just taking them. I think that there is this fear that, if we contemplate it for too long, we will be overcome by fear and a decision-risky or not-will not be made.

The fact that some departments operate differently from others is simply the opinions of those who are willing to express them. Typically, they say that it’s wrong, because it clashes with THEIR ethos.

Think about this; why would you care about what someone whom you have never met and never worked with has to say about your department’s tactics? You can be anything that you want to be in cyberspace. Validation DOES NOT come from some internet chat group; it comes from the men and women in your area that train together and respond together for any number of emergencies. They don’t have a book deal or are on the lecture circuit. They are people who are absent of ego and they don’t succeed at someone else’s expense. They don’t have an agenda, other than a training agenda.

I found out some time ago that the internet fire service has its bullies; much like our schools and local taverns. Before you know it; you are catching it from all sides by others in service to their communities. A mob mentality takes over. With so many telling you that you are full of crap, you tend to believe it.

Hey; that picture of a DEAD bin Laden that I saw on the internet was REAL; right?

You become so pre-occupied by the pronouncements of these pyro-wizards that you lose your personal perspective and along with it your identity.

Negative pressure from your “peers” can cause us to make bad decisions.

I will only take advice or training from people that I know and trust of which there are several.

You have to ask yourself: do you want to be impressed or do you want to be taught? Many good instructors will make it clear from the beginning that their heart and mind is in the right place. They will limit their words so as not to confuse. They will be positive. They won’t suck the air out of the room to fill their puffed out chests or egos.

Their websites/blogs will be insightful, informative and intrinsically invaluable.

They have taken what they have learned and put their thumb-print on it. The skill set is what it is, but they are looking for more effective teaching methods. They don’t want to mess with the message; just the delivery.

There are too many out there willing to shake and bake their leather lid to accelerate their ascent.

They believe that their crusty lid is in direct proportion to the respect that is enjoyed by a crusty jake.

They want to climb down from their little soapbox and climb up to the big podium, even though their experience doesn’t pass the smell test.

Thermal insult?

Hell; they think that an all out thermal assault is the true test of a firefighters’ mettle.

They wear their “I survived the back draft simulator” T-shirt with pride.

So, are these “legends in their own minds” making the fire service better?

Or are they forcing us to pay them attention while diverting our attention away from more pressing matters?

What could be more important than ferreting out the wannabees and pretenders from the hallowed halls of our legion of mercurial mentors?

There is no question about it; I question their motives, their skills and their commitment to our fire service. Their certificate says that they are qualified to instruct, but it doesn’t say that they are CAPABLE.

Don’t let their negative pressure cause you to make poor decisions.

YOU have to make decisions based upon the intel that you gain at the scene. Many of us love to read about and discuss incidents that have occurred and offer critical insights of the successes or failures. Your closeness to the incident allows you a different vantage point than of those who weren’t there. However; each CAN offer perspective to a discussion. The “you weren’t there so you can’t say anything” argument doesn’t flush with me.

Because the lightweight-constructed structure was under heavy fire-load upon arrival, you couldn’t do a primary search, but did do a defensive search. In the eyes of the internet elites, you didn’t risk enough, so now, they must question your heart; even though they have done the same and have yet to perform a rescue, except in their dreams.

They have built their reputation from bravado; not bravery. They will punctuate their statements with “I, me and mine” to let you know that they are the most important person in the room.

But, it all gets them noticed. It does widen their audience. It creates more opportunities for them to spread a message that is short on substance, but long on lip service. They borrow and steal from others’ hard work to pass it off as their own and without it; they wouldn’t make a pimple on the butt of a good instructor.

Hey; they can TALK a good game.

Before you buy into and adopt their mantra, ethos or philosophy, know what you’re getting. It truly is “buyer beware”.

I’m positive that it’s negatively affecting us.

TCSS.