> What would you say to a guy who says your footings look too big?
I don't do footings but the same thing happens with machinery and
weldments. Make sure that clever but dismissive response doesn't come
back to bite you in the ass. A polite answer and maybe a brief, non-
patronizing explanation, if you know one, along with some thanks for
showing interest may get you a friend in the shop. An extra pair of
eyes can get you out of trouble and be a go-to guy for fab-related
issues. OTOH, a reputation as a know-it-all horse's ass, could leave
you wondering why no one bothered to mention an obvious mistake
before it made you look like an idiot.
It doesn't cost anything to treat shop workers with respect, even if
they're not big-shot engineers and even if they really don't know
what they're talking about. I was lucky enough to get nagged to death
by a couple of guys at different shops who really ended up giving me
a pretty fine practical education. I thought they were intentionally
driving me nuts but I learned to field questions effectively and I
learned enough shop practice to make me a better designer. Best of
all, working together rather than as competitors made my job and
theirs a lot easier, and one guy in particular bailed me out of some
real situations.
The example here (like 'Uncle' John Sedgwick's reply to the soldiers
ducking at rifle fire) is the construction of the first Hyatt skywalk
in Kansas City. Workers who complained that they seemed too bouncy
were told to keep off if they didn't like them. Too bad no one listened.
Christopher Wright P.E. |"They couldn't hit an elephant at
chrisw@skypoint.com | this distance" (last words of Gen.
.......................................| John Sedgwick, Spotsylvania
1864)
http://www.skypoint.com/~chrisw/
******* ****** ******* ******** ******* ******* ******* ***
* Read list FAQ at: http://www.seaint.org/list_FAQ.asp
*
* This email was sent to you via Structural Engineers
* Association of Southern California (SEAOSC) server. To
* subscribe (no fee) or UnSubscribe, please go to:
*
*
http://www.seaint.org/sealist1.asp
*
* Questions to seaint-ad@seaint.org. Remember, any email you
* send to the list is public domain and may be re-posted
* without your permission. Make sure you visit our web
* site at: http://www.seaint.org
******* ****** ****** ****** ******* ****** ****** ********