I'm Finally Gonna Do It!

James, forgive us if we are wrong, we can accept it if we're wrong, and quite honestly I hope we are. But just realize we've seen lots of folks come in here who think they get it, and yet they haven't even come close to realizing what they are getting into - if we can soften the initial blow that they are going to get, we will do what we can to do just that. When we try to give them some advice, and they react like you do it usually gives us a cause to be concerned that you are really not prepared yet. We are not expecting you to prove anything to us, we just want to make sure you understand what it is you are getting yourself into.

Recently Redgator had a great post on this very subject when she had to return the student she was training to their house, because after all the schooling they had gone through, and all the research they had done into this career, they all of a sudden had an epiphany while out there on the road learning to do the job - they realized they couldn't handle it. We really don't want you to be another one of those failed statistics, otherwise we wouldn't even be bothering to donate our time and efforts to help you.

I hear what you're saying, OS, and completely understand the reasons why. Let me worry about being ready to do this. I've already had this "do you know what you're getting yourself into" discussion with two truck driver friends, my mother, and other friends. I'm just not interested in that conversation any more because I've already crossed that bridge. Let's move on, shall we?

I'd like to make a few observations.

1. The medium of text can be clumsy - it's easy to "read into" somebody else's text, or inadvertently further somebody else's misperception with your own text 2. Folks on this forum have a genuine desire to help 3. The sequence of this thread shows that certain posts were made without reading prior posts, albeit unintentionally. Easy to do when you're typing a response and another person is typing a response - all at the same time!

Having made those observations, the tone of some responses made me raise an eyebrow.

James, this forum has a lot of experienced drivers on it. I've learned a lot just reading posts. I cannot recommend enough the High Road Training material.

Wow. James, I have only posted here ONE time before and that was to ask a question.I have been on here for more than a year reading links and practicing the high road test.One thing I have retained is the importance of how you interact with people.Those of us (me and you) that really want to be a truck driver have to be VERY humble and take the professional advice that is given by people voluteering their time and expertise.I suggest reading and absorbing all the great information available.

James:

You do realize you sound like a complete idiot right now. Brett posted 5 links for you. That's right, FIVE!

That's Daniel. He used to be a diplomat before he began his truck driving career.

James, forgive us if we are wrong, we can accept it if we're wrong, and quite honestly I hope we are. But just realize we've seen lots of folks come in here who think they get it, and yet they haven't even come close to realizing what they are getting into - if we can soften the initial blow that they are going to get, we will do what we can to do just that. When we try to give them some advice, and they react like you do it usually gives us a cause to be concerned that you are really not prepared yet. We are not expecting you to prove anything to us, we just want to make sure you understand what it is you are getting yourself into.

That's OldSchool. He was obviously a mentor/teacher in his former life. You can see it in his tone.

Wow. James, I have only posted here ONE time before . . . One thing I have retained is the importance of how you interact with people.Those of us (me and you) that really want to be a truck driver have to be VERY humble and take the professional advice that is given by people volunteering their time and expertise.I suggest reading and absorbing all the great information available.

That was Ben P. He just gave some really good advice. You should read it more than once.

1. The medium of text can be clumsy - it's easy to "read into" somebody else's text, or inadvertently further somebody else's misperception with your own text 2. Folks on this forum have a genuine desire to help 3. The sequence of this thread shows that certain posts were made without reading prior posts, albeit unintentionally. Easy to do when you're typing a response and another person is typing a response - all at the same time!

That was Bill. He is obviously an intellectual with an artists' perspective on life.

My name is Stephen. I go by Jopa. I want to add my two cents here. Let me - without offence, I hope - throw some thoughts your way. I read your first post and I enjoyed what you said and related to it (believe me there was more than one wicked witch of Southern California). I understand what you said somewhat and why you said it. Now you asked for some very specific info (which you got even if you didn't recognize the links at first) and some advice you felt you didn't ask for and actually (based what I saw in your responses) resented getting. You must have thought Brett was taking liberties with your information and making assumptions you didn't want or need to hear about. Let me say one thing about that. I'm not sure I am going to say anything you want to hear either but I'll take a stab at it. You have dropped into a world that is the brain-child of the guy who created and nourishes this little world known as Trucking Truth. Brett has made an untold effort here to create a tool of very unusual utility that you (or me or anyone else) can use to our advantage. I have no idea how much time you spend on the web but I am a virtual web expert if time spent on it counts for anything. This website is a real gem. I think you have already acknowledge that fact, and rightly so. Here's where I think you may have gone wrong. When Brett offered his perspective on your determination, he was sifting through what you had said and comparing it to the untold posts that have come though this site and making observations that he has accumulated over a long period of time. He offered up some wisdom that is of a general nature but that could also apply very specifically to you - I don't know and maybe Brett didn't know for sure, but it is a big part of what he does here. I have been reading his posts (and many others as well) daily for weeks and he is generally spot on. Here's the deal. Like Ben said, a little humility goes a long way. As an outside observer, I didn't see a bit of humility in your attitude but I did see a lot of hair raise up on the back of your neck. Personally, I would have ignored my first response and made an attempt to get the dialogue a little further down the road before i responded with a "I don't give a whatever about your advice, I asked for blah, blah, blah." Uh, not the best way to show respect for someone's efforts. And believe me, what you are experiencing here in the way of information and advice (asked for or otherwise) deserves your complete respect. SO, maybe feathers got ruffled and the dialogue didn't go just right. However, you are the one who came here to ask for something. That obligates you to kick the mud off your shoes and hold your hat in your hand at least until you feel the welcome that truly exists for you here. Maybe, rethink your response to something you felt was a bit inappropriate (it really and truly was not) and kick the tires a bit more before you "tell it like it is" and what you really think. Just my humble opinion, and I sincerely mean humble. What I have gained and witnessed others gaining from the collective wisdom of this site - and particularly from the man who created this useful tool - is worth it.

Jopa

P.S. I'm just glad GuyJax didn't chime in yet . .

P.S. I'm just glad GuyJax didn't chime in yet . .

...Wait for it...

Ya know, if all you well intentioned volunteers had spent half as much of your time posting on the questions I asked rather than analyzing my state of mind, this afternoon would have been much more productive. Feel free to post amongst yourselves in this thread, but I'm not wasting any more time on this nonsense. Feel free to PM me if you have anything useful pertaining to my question.

My problem more so is his reaction to the answers. He got his answers in the best way he could have gotten them but chose to respond in extremely rude ways. Brett was simply letting him know that he needs to really want it this time because based on his history, trucking wasn't top of the list like it should have been.

The struggles you have to go through in order to become a solo driver is out of this world and difficult to understand unless you've done it. You'll be beaten up emotionally and there's going to be plenty of times where you'll lose confidence in yourself. Giving a nice reminder to stick with it no matter what this time was needed based on the history.

Look, I love to help people the best I can. In fact, no body really knows this. But I actually have a few people on this site that I actually call and chat with on the phone - In an effort to help them the best I can. I also get numerous emails with a long list of questions. That's cool and I'm happy to help. Its why I devote my time here. In fact, only Brett and OS know this. But I'm actually going to be building a new "feature" on this website for all to use that will take a few months of my time. We don't want anything in return except some kindness from the person we are making an effort to help.

But when you get a good answer and come back with multiple smartass and rude responses is when I have a problem and will lose all interest in helping you out. Attitude is the biggest thing in trucking. It will make or break you.

Ya know, if all you well intentioned volunteers had spent half as much of your time posting on the questions I asked rather than analyzing my state of mind, this afternoon would have been much more productive. Feel free to post amongst yourselves in this thread, but I'm not wasting any more time on this nonsense. Feel free to PM me if you have anything useful pertaining to my question.

Ya know, if you spent half as much of your time actually trying to understand why we were saying what we were saying rather than thinking that you know it all then this thread would have been a lot more productive.

You got your questions answered and more bonuses from Brett. You come back displaying nothing but rudeness.

You were in a fighting stance this entire thread.

Ya know, if all you well intentioned volunteers had spent half as much of your time posting on the questions I asked rather than analyzing my state of mind, this afternoon would have been much more productive. Feel free to post amongst yourselves in this thread, but I'm not wasting any more time on this nonsense. Feel free to PM me if you have anything useful pertaining to my question.

Ya know, if you spent half as much of your time actually trying to understand why we were saying what we were saying rather than thinking that you know it all then this thread would have been a lot more productive.

You got your questions answered and more bonuses from Brett. You come back displaying nothing but rudeness.

You were in a fighting stance this entire thread.

What a crock. You're the only person on this thread who has called anyone else an idiot and a smartass, and you have the nerve to lecture me on rudeness? Physician, heal thyself. I didn't come here looking for your friendship, and I certainly don't give a damn whether you like me or not.