RE: Firefighters strike – a review.

Coanda,

“but really none of those jobs apart from nurses in A&E and ambulance drivers really compare to being a police officer. the pressure and work load is immense.”

I’m not a supporter of the firefighters strike but there are many occasions in many areas where fire engines have to be escorted precisely because they are attacked. I believe you come from a nice rural area (I’d like to live there anyway) and perhaps don’t see this first hand.

Work loads and pressure? A bad argument. It’s not only nurses in A&E who bear the brunt of violence. Try working in an elderly care unit or with those who exhibit extreme challenging behaviour, or with the terminally ill, or in the community with those who have learning disabilities or life threatening or life limiting conditions when you are largely on your own. Or how about a child with no communication, is autistic and just to cap it all has ADHD and sleeps less than two hours in twenty-four? And those are just from my limited experience. (I might also surprise you to know that in the course of that work I was stabbed twice, had my wrist broke once, my nose twice, was knocked unconscious twice and was finally the victim of an assault which contributed to my no longer being able to work.)

“you always work, there is no sitting in offices or in station for police officers(except if/when they get to eat) unless they are seeing to a prisoner or doing paper work.”

The same applies to the nursing profession (except the bit about the prisoners). I was an undiagnosed diabetic for years, principally because my repeated low blood sugars were constantly attributed to the fact that as a nurse/carer/team leader, I rarely got chance to eat during my shifts. And now I am suffering the consequences. And as for the paperwork, that just proves their is far too much.

“I suppose you could say that you shouldnt have joined the job if you didnt want to DO the job, but then thats not the point here is it?”

That is exactly the point. If the firemen are so desperately unhappy with their £21,000 a year why don’t they leave? With the income the majority of them generate from their second jobs, why don’t they go and do something less dangerous to make up their money. If fire service pay is so poor, why is there a waiting list for applications?

I have no doubt many Police Officers do good work and are under considerable pressure, but like so many jobs, it goes with the territory.

Regards,

kev35

RE: AW Forum Meet??

There’s one being arranged on flypast at the moment with the venue being Duxford. One for AW could work, especially if you got someone with airline involvement who could perhaps arrange a tour round a maintenance base? Or conversely just meet up at an airport viewing lounge somewhere.

Regards,

kev35

RE: The Washington Sniper —- Death???

Arthur.

“But keeping murderers in luxury? I’m not familiar with the prisons in the UK, but the same argument is brought up here in the Netherlands over and over again. Yet you can believe me, that luxury exists mostly in the imagination of people bringing it up.”

UK prisons are grossly overcrowded. But the people we are talking about, serial murderers, child molestors etc., are effectively given far more priveleges to keep them safe from other inmates. They do not share cells and many are kept in secure hospital units where they are even allowed out on supervised shopping trips! They are given access to literature, tv, education and other hobbies. The person they murdered has access to the inside of a coffin lid!

“And add to that the fact that imprisonment means imprisonment. Being locked up. Unable to leave.”

You commit the crime you should have a rudimentary idea of the punishment you are liable to receive. You are a multiple murderer or child killer you should expect to die. As simple as that. You forefeit any right to be treated with humanity or consideration.

“Knowing that when you get out, you’ll be there empty-handed.”

Not strictly true. The Moors Murderer, Ian Brady, has had book published about serial murderers. He cannot receive the money he earns as he is serving a whole life tarriff. But the beneficiaries of his will are going to profit. In other cases, prisoners can have that money on release.

“If you’ve ever spent one night in a cell you might understand what i’m talking about.”

If you’ve ever spent one night on a ward with just three staff to care for 34 patients, twenty of whom need turning every two hours, six are on half hourly observations, two are wanderers and have to be watched and two who are on death’s door and should, really, be taking up much of your time, you might understand what I’m talking about.

You, nor I, are likely to change our views but it is interesting to debate them.

Regards,

kev35

RE: Duxford get-together Sun 5th Jan

Ashley,

I’m in. Should be OK barring any more health problems and am very much looking forward to putting faces to names. I’m sure, however, I shall never remember to call you Rebecca.

Regards,

kev35

RE: The Washington Sniper —- Death???

Arthur.

“That’s a sick argument. Then why not kill elderly, disabled and ill people as well?”

Here in the UK we are. Grossly inadequate health care and resources for the elderly and disabled in the UK are bordering on the criminal. Having worked in the health? service I have seen first hand waht a lack of resources does. I know I would rather see the money we waste on keeping murderers in luxury diverted to the people who need it most. I know it’s emotive Arthur, but have you ever had to watch someone die because there are no intensive care beds available?

“You can’t exile these people to Australia any more…”

Surely it’s not full already?

Regards,

kev35

RE: Go On….Ask Me Anything!

Mixtec,

that’s true but still doesn’t explain the mysteries of leg before wicket, a decision which is given in an instant on the word of one man who has to correctly judge whether the ball would have hit the wicket if the batsman hadn’t put his leg in front of it (I think.)

regards,

kev35