August 09, 2007
Chuck Norris / Bruce Willis, Call Your Office
There was a time, not so long ago, when every dangerous activity in the world had a GoTo Guy. For example, say one of your oil wells caught on fire. You called Red Adair. No one else came to mind; there was no second place finisher. You called Red, he put the fire out. Done.
Technology has removed a lot of dangerous activities from our lives, but the mine disaster in Utah reminds me that we still need "goto" guys. There should be a guy who gets the call at 3AM when there's a cave-in. He's 50ish, a little cynical and surrounded by outcast guys who happen to be the best in the business. You've seen this movie, probably 20 or 30 times; the latest example is "Armageddon", in which Bruce Willis takes a group of oil workers into space to blow up an asteroid. Uh huh.
The mine crew would show up at the mine as the sun peeks above the horizon. GoTo Guy, who is always in trouble with the federal mining safety officials, immediately gets into an argument with the on-scene commander that ends with, "Do you want to save these guys!!!??? Then get out of my way and let me do my job!" He then punches a reporter in the face and heads into the mine. He also works the phrase, "F*&k you and your lawyers!" into the conversation, which earns him my undying respect.
Of course, GoTo Guy was killed by lawyers, political-correctness and the Oprahfication of the American male. The century that brought us barnstorming failed to bring us tort reform. I suppose that, one thousand years from now, the GoTo Guy will have achieved the mythic status of Zeus and Apollo for his rarity.
Once again, born too late.
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GoTo Guy exisits only in the movies. Red Adair was the exception, not the rule. And he was ultimately a corporate guy that founded his company which is now the Boots & Coots mega corporation.
It is not a question of lawyers, political-correctness and the "Oprahfication" of the American male. Go to any Fire Company, EMS or Rescue Squad. NO ONE wants the Macho brash adrenalin junkies, no matter how good they are / think they are. Entering a burning building without an SCBA with your bunker coat slung half open, looks good on Backdraft. But is a sure fire way of ending up DEAD, and Killing a few of your mates who have to go and get your sorry ass out. They are good for TV and we are fine with them belonging there. Unfortunately they make our job incredibly difficult because Joe Six pack now expects instant results like they see in a 30 minute show.
The real GoTo Guys are the ones that show up when you dial 911. For example the Mine Rescue squad that is currently working this incident. Over 75% of them in this nation are still volunteers - who have mundane blue collar day jobs. I will take a small group of dedicated professionals / volunteers over a GoTo Guy any day. And so will your firechief.
Hash
Posted by: Hash![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.opaquelucidity.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at August 9, 2007 09:49 AM
There's that box again
Posted by: Jomerica at August 9, 2007 11:18 AM
"There's that box again"
Yawn... There's that useless marital advice from the unmarried marriage counselor again.
at August 9, 2007 12:48 PM
Hash,
They exist. They are macho without having to act macho. They are serving as first responders and in our military. Try fighting a fire in a pair of dungarees and button up shirt! Motivation to put it out quick! Hope to hell the guys that are gearing up in OBA's and fire suits get there quick.
Posted by: SLY at August 9, 2007 03:24 PM
Sly,
I think in a round about way we are saying the same thing. There are a bunch of dedicated professional guys who are the REAL GoTo guys in real life. Matt gave the example of Red Adair. He worked with explosives his whole life but didn't walk around lighting dynamite with a cigarette like Clint Eastwood. You stated in your own response about hoping the "guys in fire suits get there quick". I notice you didn't say "hoping that cowboy Bill shows up with his 10 lb. fire extinguisher - since I know he can get stuff done!".
I'll give you another example. Take the case of confined space rescue. It is physically demanding, and technically challenging. And very very time consuming. When a lay person sees us do it, they think we are idiots. The Jomericas of the world. The normal reaction is "Why don't y'all just jump in there and get the guy out?" Because more than 60% of confined space fatalities occur among would-be rescuers. Then I got two down.
Now take confined space recue and multiply the degree of difficulty 100 fold - and you have cave/mine rescue. You don't want John Wayne in there. You want someone who is professional, methodical and experienced. Doesn't mean they can't be creative. You have to be because no two recues are ever alike and you have to deal with the cards you are dealt.
Matt touched upon beauraucratic impediments getting in the way. I understand the sentiment, but that is usually not the case in my experience. I don't punch reporters in the face at a traffic accident. I politely tell them to talk to the IC/Firechief as I have a patient to extract out of a car and work to do.
You guys are Navy boys. Why do you think all those Protocols / Procedures were drilled into your skull? You ever tell your XO that he was an idiot, and that you should just push the button and release the ICBMs? Wouldn't that be the easier way to get the job done?
Posted by: Hash at August 9, 2007 04:50 PM
I guess I should've been more clear in my post. My description of the "goto" mine guy was written tongue-in-cheek; I understand that most people who come off like that are idiots.
I have the utmost respect for policemen, firefighters, EMT, etc...that is, people who work in the service of their communities every day. What I should have said was that in extraordinary times, we need extraordinary people who are imaginative, brave and smart. My argument is that while we have many brave, smart people around us, that clear leap of imagination that makes someone do something that may be against the rules but saves lives is being bred out of us by our society.
Maybe I'm wrong. Thus this comment area.
Posted by: Matt_D at August 9, 2007 05:28 PM
Matt,
I get your drift. But I wonder if the cause is the PC/Oprahfication or just apathy. Most heros are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. But to do that we have to care. I see a general drift towards the "Someone ought to do something about this" - while sitting on the couch phenomenon. You see it in politics, work and in general life. The media blitz and lawyers have definitely contributed to the "don't get involved" phenomenon. The real issue I see with the "Oprahfication" - love that word BTW, is the constant cycle in the media to build up and tear down.
A 10 y.o. boy climbs a tree to rescue a cat - He is a hero with TV cameras and book deals. Tomorrow it is "Remember the 10 y.o boy who saved the cat ? He was arrested for DUI" Next on Oprah - The feel good story of how a cat helped Jim get over his alcohol addiction.
This is NOT the stuff heros or GoTo Guys are made of. I am sure that is a whole different Dattilo post for another day.
;-)
Hash
Posted by: Hash at August 10, 2007 07:58 AM
We are basically saying the same thing. I also think there are less go to guys because of the reasons Matt stated. I just finished an excellent book by Marcus Luttrell called Lone Survivor. He actually talks about decisions that were made worried about legal consequences. It was an excellent book about our go to guys.
P.S. I do like your idea bout the ICBMs!
Posted by: SLY at August 10, 2007 01:16 PM
"P.S. I do like your idea bout the ICBMs!"
Heh... Sly talks big when his feet are on Terra Firma. I would pay good money to see him suggest that to his senior officers on the boat!.
Matt - Do we know where to contact Sly's prior XO/CO to check how "brave" he really is/was?
;-)
Hash
Posted by: Hash at August 10, 2007 03:08 PM
Hash, those guys are probably retired by now. Sly was on the last of the old "boomers"; the subs that preceded the current Ohio-class ballistic missile subs. That was back when the ships were wooden and the men were steel.
Sly's Captain/XO are probably in retirement homes now, hitting nurses on the ass with their canes.
Posted by: Matt_D at August 10, 2007 11:06 PM
Hey,
I had no problem telling them we should save one torpedo for the hospital ship and then suggest we surface to shoot the survivors! So why not ICBMs?
Posted by: SLY at August 11, 2007 10:15 AM
That box again. Come out Hash.. I like how you challenge everything on the blog. There are people that really do what they say. What state do you live in? That might answer my question about how the environment you are around causes you to think this way.
Posted by: Jomerica at August 11, 2007 11:11 AM
Jomerica,
If you are referring to my comment to sly, it was meant in jest.
That's what this winky symbol ;-) means. Judging by Matt's and Sly's response they both GOT IT.
As far as what state I live in, my environment, etc, ... do you have anything of value to contribute to any discussion other than personal attacks against me?
Yes there are people in this world that "do what they say". You have long since convinced me that you are NOT one of them. I will repeat what I have said numerous times before on every topic - Put up or Shut up.
This will be last direct response to you. I am done defending myself against your asinine insults.
p.s. I live in Paducah, KY. YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT?
p.p.s "Think outside the box" is the most hackneyed phrase in the world of problem solving. You will be laughed out of any meeting today if you used it.
Posted by: Hash at August 11, 2007 07:31 PM
I had a feeling you lived in a place like that. That answers my question. Now stay in your box because your not ready for the big world. Thanks
Posted by: Jomerica at August 12, 2007 09:33 AM