Air Marshals: Sleep-deprived, medicated, and suicidal

[Formaldehyde]

So you think naval nuclear technicians sit around fantasizing with each other that they wish there would be a critical failure so they would have something exciting to do? Do you have any source at all to even suggest such behavior? That they even sit in chairs for hours on end staring at gauges for that matter?

Do these operators look like they are sitting around being bored?


Link to video.


Link to video.

Or is it the impression that watching The Simpsons provides? A nuclear power plant is an incredibly complicated system. It demands constant activity from the operators.

 

[Yeekim]

FWIW, I find Tim's description completely in line with what I'd expect would happen under the conditions he described.

 

[Formaldehyde]

FWIW, did you even bother watching the videos before rendering your judgment? Did you notice they mentioned that it takes many years of in depth training to become a reactor operator? That there is always 2 operators and a supervisor with an engineering degree in the control room at all times? That it is a highly technical and deeply satisfying job?

 

[Bugfatty300]

So you think they sit around fantasizing with each other that they wish there would be a critical failure so they would have something exciting to do? Do you have any source at all to even suggest such behavior?

Intrusive thoughts about a possible horrible danger, even elaborate mental "what if" scenarios to pass the time seems pretty normal to me. You shouldn't take it to mean that they literally wish and want terrible things to happen.

 

[Hygro]

Intrusive thoughts about a possible horrible danger, even elaborate mental "what if" scenarios to pass the time seems pretty normal to me. You shouldn't take it to mean that they literally wish and want terrible things to happen.

Do you even source bro?

 

[Formaldehyde]

Intrusive thoughts about a possible horrible danger, even elaborate mental "what if" scenarios to pass the time seems pretty normal to me. You shouldn't take it to mean that they literally wish and want terrible things to happen.

Did you bother to read what he posted?

I used to "operate" nuclear reactors for a living, which actually meant sitting in an uncomfortable chair staring at gauges that (if all went well) never moved for six hours at a time, recording what they had to say once an hour on the hour. Reactor operators routinely found ourselves quietly hoping that the thing would just catastrophically FAIL so that we would have something to do. No doubt air marshals have a similar experience, and it isn't healthy at all. Plus, I assume they don't have the opportunity to gather and talk about it, like we did, which would make it a lot worse.

Considering "what if" scenarios is a large part of what keeps this job from being anything but boring. Now you can certainly make a case that air marshal are likely one of the most boring jobs imaginable. But the same isn't true for nuclear plant operators. If you acted like you were bored or discussed it with others you would likely be out of there pronto.

 

[Yeekim]

a highly technical and deeply satisfying job

I'm sure that's about what the videos designed to recruit flight marshals say.

Did you bother to read what he posted?

Don't you think you're the one taking Tim a bit too literally? I second Bugfatty here.

 

[Formaldehyde]

So you still haven't watched the videos? It figures.

 

[Bugfatty300]

Do you even source bro?

So, like peer reviewed psychiatric studies or just whatever comes up first in google? Yeah. I might be able to pull something up about people daydreaming at work or when they're bored.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

How does that make any sense on flights that are typically only a few hours long?

It would make sense for the flights that are much longer, though. And as was mentioned, when flights are delayed, that can add hours to a shift that will result in the air marshal becoming more fatigued than usual.

 

[Formaldehyde]

So, like peer reviewed psychiatric studies or just whatever comes up first in google? Yeah. I might be able to pull something up about people daydreaming at work or when they're bored.

Be sure to find one that discusses people doing critical jobs that demand constant attention being so bored, and then discussing it with others doing the same job, without being fired as a direct result.

It would make sense for the flights that are much longer, though. And as was mentioned, when flights are delayed, that can add hours to a shift that will result in the air marshal becoming more fatigued than usual.

I'm sure they already do assign two air marshals to long flights so one can be assured to be active at all times while the other tries to rest.

 

[Joecoolyo]

How does that make any sense on flights that are typically only a few hours long?

I think we should train flight attendants to be armed killing machines instead. That way they can still serve drinks and be responsible contributing members of society who actually serve a useful purpose when they aren't beating passengers who give them lip to a pulp.

Well clearly you wouldn't do it on few hour long flights. For those, you'd shift up in between them. So people aren't you know, working so long they need medicine to stay awake.

 

[Bugfatty300]

Be sure to find one that discusses people doing critical jobs that demand constant attention being bored and discussing with others doing the same job without being fired.

Breathing is critical and requires constant attention from your brain. For some reason breathing alone would be still boring to most people like any other daily redundant task. I don't believe your claim that a job that is critical and requires constant attention can never be boring to anyone ever.

 

[Formaldehyde]

So now you are trying to compare autonomous brain activity to the operation of a nuclear power plant?

I take it you also didn't watch the videos.

 

[Borachio]

Doing nothing is really hard work. I know this since I've spent a lot of time doing exactly that, and at the end of the day you go home really knackered.

Some jobs make air-marshalling look really interesting and purposeful though. I knew a guy who spent 6 months "guarding" a warehouse full of empty sandbags, another who had to sweep up leaves in a forest before a royal visit, and another who had to paint green grass with green paint because it was originally the "wrong" shade of green for a film shoot.

I myself spent a "happy" month cutting the labels out of women's blouses, with a pair of blunt scissors. For some reason. Probably because someone said they'd pay me to do it, I guess. Well, actually, it's more likely they said they'd pay me, I said OK, and then they told me what they wanted doing, if you see what I mean. Sometimes a person doesn't really care (within some limits) what they do just so long as it's for money.

Anyway, what was I going to say? Ah yes. Those air-marshals ought to take up a hobby they can do while at work. Like distance-learning: you can mull over some problem mentally that you've been reading about during your time off. Or knitting: who'd object to an air-marshal knitting? Or transcendental meditation.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Unlike you Formy, I haven't squandered my credibility grabbing whatever side appeals in arguments about things I know nothing about. For you to pretend to have any clue what goes in control rooms of power plants because you can find videos on line is the most hilarious piece of nonsense I can recall seeing you post...and that is saying something.

This is positively the most ridiculous laughing stock you have made of yourself to date. You should get off the internet, or go find a site with a bunny slope.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Also, you claim I have done the same thing in the past. That I mentioned in this forum that a statement about another job you claimed to have held also didn't make any sense. Prove it.

The "once again" was a reference to displays of mind boggling arrogance on your part. Admittedly, this one was a new and unique form. Congratulations. Do you expect to ever "top" this one?

 

[Bugfatty300]

So now you are trying to compare autonomous activity to the operation of a nuclear power plant?

Yep. They're both critical jobs and both have automatic redundant systems which kicks in when no one's at the helm. No one ever gets bored watching over a system that mostly automatic to begin with?

 

[Formaldehyde]

Unlike you Formy, I haven't squandered my credibility grabbing whatever side appeals in arguments about things I know nothing about.

Yet you continue to do so in so many threads in this forum. This is just the latest example.

Operating a nuclear power plant is far from boring. It is actually just the opposite unless you get the impression from watching The Simpsons.

So you have no source to support these latest accusations? Just your own uncorroborated statements that you and other bored nuclear power plant operators dreamed of something going catastrophically wrong jsut so you and they would no longer be bored performing one of the least boring jobs on the planet? Statements which should have resulted in you being fired on the spot?

The "once again" was a reference to displays of mind boggling arrogance on your part. Admittedly, this one was a new and unique form. Congratulations. Do you expect to ever "top" this one?

Only that isn't what you stated. Now is it?

Once again, the arrogance of you claiming to know more about a job I actually had than I know about it is flat out staggering. Or would be if you had not already demonstrated similar so many times.

Yet you are still not willing to retract an obviously untrue statement?

So you also think the word "arrogance" means merely disagreeing with some of your more outlandish statements?

Yep. They're both critical jobs and both have automatic redundant systems which kicks in when no one's at the helm. No one ever gets bored watching over a system that mostly automatic to begin with?

You can continue to pretend that this job is "boring", as you have seen on cartoons on TV. Or you can take the word of those who actually do this job for a living. Those who have spent numerous years studying to know enough just to be able to perform one of the most demanding and critical jobs on the planet. A job where you clearly don't spend hours on end just sitting in a chair being bored out of your mind.

I think it is safe to say those with that sort of attitude would never make it past the years of study in the first place. That the training regimen is specifically designed to weed out those sorts long before they are entrusted with being a nuclear power plant operator.

 

[bhavv]

Well, if you just hand them the craziest insane dose of venlafaxine at 450 mg, they will never sleep or be suicidal again!

Oh, but also they'll be hooked for life.

Actually the government should do that to all citizens. Imagine the vastly increased productivity!