Originally Posted by
hoya saxa
I believe what may rub some (me included) the wrong way is your implication that because SOME reservists MIGHT be RUMORED to abuse the system, the rest of us should hang our heads in shame.
While I did say that one guy abusing the system might lead to rumors that paint everyone in a bad light, I did NOT imply that the rest of us/you should hang our/your heads in shame. I believe av8r4aa was overreacting to a rumor about abuse that likely grew from a small incident, or even a misperception, that came to sully the reputation of all Reservists/Guardsmen, at least in his eyes. If I were one of the innocent Guardsmen unfairly cast in av8r4aa's stereotype, I wouldn't feel a need to hang my head in shame. On the contrary, I'd be mad at the guy who placed the black mark on our reputation in the first place.
Originally Posted by
hoya saxa
That somehow this (mis)perception of abuse smears all of us together.
Yeah, that's how it works in real life. A couple of pilots spend all night partying in the hotel bar and try to fly 5 hours later with a Blood Alcohol level that's through the roof. Like it or not, people who witness or learn of the incident will adjust their perception of you based on that incident. Whether you drank right up to the limit, or didn't touch a drop, people will wonder if you're like the "other" drunk pilots.
Do I hang my head in shame when I hear of pilots trying to fly drunk? No. It makes me angry. I don't like being smeared just because some moron doesn't have the judgment to stop drinking before he flies. (I know, that was redundant.)
Originally Posted by
hoya saxa
In my view it's a self-correcting problem. I.e., if someone is gaming the system outside the legal boundaries, they're going to pay the penalty.
If they get caught, true. Apart from an ACP calling the unit to double-check, I know of no mechanism that can be used to police abuse. Do you?
Originally Posted by
hoya saxa
I lose no sleep whatsoever worrying that these so-called abusers will "ruin" this peach of a deal for the rest of us.
Interesting wording.
Originally Posted by
hoya saxa
We've got a little thing called the Federal Government backing us up in the form of USERRA. All so we can lose untold thousands of dollars a year for the privilege of working harder, aggravating our wives, and ****ing off BOTH bosses in the hopes of a miniscule retirement stipend twenty years down the road. Stop second-guessing us.
hoya
Listen, I'm thankful for your service, and glad you're willing and able to fill the billet. But you might be overdoing it just a bit when you whine about how tough it is. Remember you volunteered, right? Thank you for your sacrifice.
.