Now I'm paranoid

[Jstpssng]

So many accidents happen when people are tired. Not a good idea to try to do that last whatever it is with a power tool or tractor when its just about quitting time.

Amen. Nearly every dumb thing I've done starts with "I was tired."
The rest of them start with "There was this woman"...

 

[MTGreen]

In the immortal words of the bard: This way lies madness...

Everything in life involves some level of risk: driving, walking out your front door, taking a shower, just existing involves a remote chance of getting hit by random debris from space, etc. Taken to absurdity, one could go to the extreme of spending one's life in a bunker Faraday cage with padded walls and a gas mask hanging around one's neck at all times in an attempt to minimize risk. However, I can't imagine that would be good for one's mental health, happiness, or well-being.

I think one has to become comfortable with accepting a certain level of risk in order to be reasonably content in life. Reasonable choices taking reasonable precautions seems the order of the day for most people.

As an aside, it does seem that "reasonable precautions" for my generation growing up is entirely unreasonable for the current kids. Things like playing in sandboxes now suddenly causes silicosis, 1 infant car seat now requires 3 separate car seats, and riding a bicycle now requires a helmet or the parents are negligent, etc. come to mind. It seems like "reasonable precautions" is a societally defined moving target over time

 

[lman]

Amen. Nearly every dumb thing I've done starts with "I was tired."
The rest of them start with "There was this woman"...

I've known some people that have done some really dumb things when they're drunk or drugged.

 

[scootr]

I've known some people that have done some really dumb things when they're drunk or drugged.

Who? Not me - no. Never.

 

[Eagle1]

I've known some people that have done some really dumb things when they're drunk or drugged.

Hold my Beer........

 

[tacticalturnip]

Drink in one hand while smoking your daily carton of unfiltered Marlboroughs

I miss unfiltered cigarettes.

 

[Torvy]

I miss unfiltered cigarettes.

Had a friend that only smoked unfiltered Pall Mall. I wonder if he is still alive...thanks for the reminder, I'll need to search the web for him.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Had a friend that only smoked unfiltered Pall Mall. I wonder if he is still alive...thanks for the reminder, I'll need to search the web for him.

Pall Mall, did it even have flavor?

When I was in Afghanistan I spent time on a French FOB and had access to unfiltered Lucky Strikes, I bought them in bulk when I left to another FOB. If they'd of been available in the States it would have made quitting a lot harder.

I really liked them.

 

[bigtiller]

LSMFT

 

[scootr]

Camel rags in my youth. Cigarillos in midlife. I quit smoking about 25 yrs ago

 

[DGF]

The whole fatialist safety (especially "public safety") thing that drowns us in beauracy and unnecesary expense has become out of hand. A few of the other guys have said it pretty well. If it looks wrong it is and if it looks like it might, it will and if you can make it a little better, just do it.

Being safe means you have taken a little extra time to do the extras that keep it all from coming apart.

"It'll do for now" is a great thing but like anything it doesn't apply to everything. In general the whole post 911 saftey craze over complicates everything so you have to read between the lines and understand what is important and what is fluff and showboating. Its like the old carpenters saying, measure twice, cut once. Always take a minute to check your work as you go.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

Age tends to bring wisdom. Sometimes it's from surviving our own mistakes, sometimes from seeing the mistakes of others. One thing I've learned is to always have someone knowing where I am. Cell phones generally make that possible--though in the mountains, maybe not.
One of my friends, who hunts deep-woods, succumbed to his wife and kids' pleadings and got some kind of sattelite based location system so he can call for help--or they can at least find the body.

 

[tjandrews]

Just getting out of bed every morning carries a risk. But for most of us, NOT getting out of bed every morning carries an even bigger risk.
Avoiding all risk is impossible. Safety is all about learning how to choose which risks to take.

 

[Bentrim]

Started "driving" a 8N Ford before I could reach the pedals, Dad sat me on the seat and hold the steering wheel while they loaded baled hay on a wagon. In my teens I helped dad on the farm plowing disking, mowing meadow and wheat stubbles, baling hay, unloadinga wagon of corn, etc. Mom was always afraid I would get hurt but trusted dad. For some reason I was always able to consider what my actions with machinery could do and realized that if I did something wrong I could get hurt. Went on to work as a tech at a farm equipment dealer working with all the toys dad couldn't afford at home. Yes the BIG stuff that was heavy and dangeros. Even hauled combines and later mobile homes. Seems today most things are too well guarded and those guards make servicing equipment dangerous compared to the equipment made in the 50's and 60's. But they I need to remember, most that operated equipment back then did it for their living and realized what dangers were involved. Even then some "took a chance" and came out on the wrong end.
My only thought on all this is yes equipment is dangerous, but the operator is what makes it safe or dangerous, and has been said before engage your brain before operating equipment. Consider before operating or doing something what can go wrong, then don't do that! As manu of the manuals used to say "Safety begins with you".
I am now in my 7th decade of life and still have all my fingers and toes, although my body is failing me and disease has taken it's toll I have never been badly injured working with machinery and mobile homes. Yes pllenty of cuts and bruises though. Yes I still want to go out and play with my tractor and equipment----Safely.

 

[scootr]

My wisdom is the accumulation of the experiences from my poor judgement.

 

[Eagle1]

My wisdom is the accumulation of the experiences from my poor judgement.

Yup painful and/or expensive lessons stick longer. 60+ and still have all my body parts (ceptin some teeth). Worked with aircraft, vehicles (tractors too) and 20+ years on high speed production machinery.

 

[scootr]

I'm so wise ... It's a wonder I lived as long as I have

 

[Shenandoah MF1760]

When everything is made as safe as possible people lose respect for how dangerous something can be.

And when people start depending upon safety devices to keep them out of trouble they'll likely end up hurt or worse when that device fails.

When safety folks tell me that all accidents are preventable I wonder if they know what the word accident means.

 

[Omega Woods]

In my experience, almost everything I have to do can be done safely. But - and it happens more than I like to say - when I feel rushed or tired I tend to think of using shortcuts and then the danger is 5x greater.

That is when I have to say stop. This can wait until tomorrow.

At least 5x. More like a hundred x for me. I’m old enough now to stop when I get “that feeling” and go to the house.

 

[Jstpssng]

One of my friends, who hunts deep-woods, succumbed to his wife and kids' pleadings and got some kind of sattelite based location system so he can call for help--or they can at least find the body.

We have been issued these.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/garmin-inreach-mini-handheld-gps-satellite-communicator?ds_e=MICROSOFT&ds_c=Cabelas%7CShopping%7CSmart%7CCatchAll%7CGeneral%7CNAud%7CNVol%7CNMT&&&&&msclkid=8241395a0e801c210b1e5c3543d1a31b&gclid=8241395a0e801c210b1e5c3543d1a31b&gclsrc=3p.ds

It syncs with my phone so that I can send simple text messages easier.

Some of them even will send a bread crumb trail so that somebody with the password can tell where you are.

Like anything though, they aren't fool proof. You have to remember to plug it in, and also to put it in your pocket when you leave the truck. It also can take a while to send messages... sometimes several hours or even a day.