When people ask what you do for a living

[Tugs]

If you were to take a trip on one of them now a days, O bet it would be hard to find anyone not staring is their phone!

[Ctony]

@Snusmumriken

Los Angeles is a good example of how truly oblivious people are. I mean, the nearby neighborhoods/towns were built because of the industry. Ships of all types are an hourly sight.

So true. Italian and Croatian fishermen built San Pedro, for example. Since there are a lot of longshoremen born and raised there, i think a lot of people there have at least a mild understanding.

however, get outside of san pedro/wilmington and long beach and you don’t have to go too far, most neighboring communities are oblivious.

it’s scary how many people in the south bay don’t know that catalina is only one of eight islands off our coast.

[Lee_Shore]

And the only reason most of them know about Catalina is because of a song. New Yawkers aren’t much better.

[Snusmumriken]

I live in San Pedro. It was actually a Norwegian town as well. Hell, there still exists a Norwegian seafarers church here, from the old times; now a Scandinavian center of some sort. Even here, trust me, I’ve met a ton of people who have no idea. It’s really bizarre. Wilmington? No chance. This town/area has gone from that of sailors to longshoremen.

[ombugge]

It is till an active Norwegian Seamen’s Church, or more correctly theses days; “Norwegian Church Abroad”, since it mainly caters to Norwegians in living, or visiting, LA area, which still includes the odd seaman:

Norwegian Seamen's Church, San Pedro

Snusmumriken; with that nick I assume you would be welcome there??

There is also a (mainly) Norwegian club in the LA area:
http://nansenfield.org/

[blaineatk]

I wonder how we all got so far from common knowledge? It is as though we do not exist… All of the products that people use daily just arrive here in some mystical way…

[skip_jiblet]

I just tell everybody that I’m a heavy equipment operatoe on the water. Keeps it simple.

[Kennebec_Captain]

@blaineatk

I wonder how we all got so far from common knowledge? It is as though we do not exist… All of the products that people use daily just arrive here in some mystical way…

There is a new book out about that: The Knowledge Illusion: Why We Never Think Alone

Haven’t read it yet but here’s a blurb:

We all think we know more than we actually do.

Humans have built hugely complex societies and technologies, but most of us don’t even know how a pen or a toilet works. How have we achieved so much despite understanding so little? Cognitive scientists Steven Sloman and Philip Fernbach argue that we survive and thrive despite our mental shortcomings because we live in a rich community of knowledge.

More on topic, here in Maine almost everyone seems to have active, retired mariners or fisherman living in their neighbourhood or nearby.

[NFPilot]

I always answer, “Maritime Risk Management”. That seems to keep people real quiet next to you on a plane. What could be more boring than THAT?

[Reduxalicious]

Explaining that I run as engineer on a Ship Assist tug is like pulling teeth sometimes first to explain what a ship assist tug does and why and second explaining that I’m more or less just a jack of all trades maintenance guy who works by his lonesome self maybe with a wiper at rare times but usually the Chief gets them.

(I just have a DDE so in my own opinion I’m not an engineer and would never refer to my self as such especially in front of anyone with an unlimited license)

[injunear]

@Reduxalicious

(I just have a DDE so in my own opinion I’m not an engineer and would never refer to my self as such especially in front of anyone with an unlimited license)

You’re an engineer. DDE is a step or your platform. It’s up to you if you want to advance. Most limitations are self imposed. Take advantage of any training, schools, self study, ect and upgrade as soon as you get the sea time.

[catherder]

@Reduxalicious

(I just have a DDE so in my own opinion I’m not an engineer and would never refer to my self as such especially in front of anyone with an unlimited license)

Please stop. You are an engineer. It’s a license. I have DDE unlimited and 2A/E with a limit. I have had criticism over that. But, I got the limitation because of where I work, so as far as I am concerned, they can pound sand. Everything I have, I worked and studied hard for. Are you no different?

[Tugs]

When I worked for the Dragon Lady in NY, I used to tell people that I worked on a small Tanker that dumped Poison in the Ocean.

I almost got kicked out of a class that I was taking at a University for saying this. LOL

[Lee_Shore]

Reminds me of the small private fishing boat in a Florida marina with the name “Dolphin Killer” painted in big letters on the side. Women would gasp and look horrified when they saw the name. They obviously didn’t know some fishermen refer to mahi mahi or dorado as dolphins.
I suspect the boat’s owner knew exactly what he was doing and thought it was a joke but it probably didn’t help him much in getting dates.

[cmakin]

@Tugs

When I worked for the Dragon Lady in NY, I used to tell people that I worked on a small Tanker that dumped Poison in the Ocean.

I almost got kicked out of a class that I was taking at a University for saying this. LOL

Dragon Lady. . . haven’t heard her referenced in years. . . .

[Tugs]

Not much about her after she was convinced, I bet when she died they had to screw her into the ground! LOL