67 Comments
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Pat Wetzel's avatar

This is one of the best posts I've read in some time. Risk is what life is about. You can choose your own level of risk, but a life without it is a life not lived. Be free! This is a message that deserves to be spread!

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Rob D's avatar

Thanks so much Pat. I got triggered when I saw the high school marquis and just had to say something! Haha. Thanks again for your comment.

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serafino bueti's avatar

I agree, awesome post that really resonates with how I'm seeing this shit.

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Howard's avatar

Heartily agree. Sick of hearing STAY SAFE!!

I have just had a supposedly significant birthday, and I hate that we attach such importance to age as well.

It's no significance to have reached a certain age.

What IS significant is what you have done with the years .

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Rob D's avatar

I recently had one of those birthdays as well Howard and I completely agree... though it is amazing and wonderful that we have been given the gift of life for another year... doing something with that life makes a much bigger impact than a date on a calendar. Thank you for being here.

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The Word Herder's avatar

Almost forgot to say, I love the skydiving photo!

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BHerr's avatar

It's one of my top 10 things I hate to hear. I get it on the jobsites, for sure, because they're dangerous places. I used to drive a commercial water truck into steel mills, power plants, etc., to deliver bottled water, and one tiny wrong move or careless decision can literally shut the entire operation down, and you don't want to be "that guy".

However, in day to day life, it's one of the most ridiculous things to hear. Like when you're getting on an airplane to fly..."stay safe!" I have zero control over what the pilot is going to do or all of the potential things that could go wrong.

But ESPECIALLY now, stay safe really is a way of saying "do the right thing", which, of course, means all the covid voodoo. It's too much.

Good article.

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Rob D's avatar

Absolutely agree with you 100%. Thank you, BHerr. :)

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Tarn - mutual eye-rolling's avatar

Another trendy thing that people do is to go all serious concerned face when they meet one and say. *How ARE you?* with crazy emphasis.

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The Word Herder's avatar

It's almost like a silent mantra-- Fear, Fear, Fear, Fear...

Gross!!

Nice to see you, Cairn, haven't for a while. ^_^

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Tarn - mutual eye-rolling's avatar

Hi Word Herder.

Ron's post still reads brilliantly.

Good update is that people have stopped saying it.

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Tarn - mutual eye-rolling's avatar

Sorry Rob.

I don't know what the Ron person has got to do with it.

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Rob D's avatar

Haha. No worries. It was so neat to see a bit of action on one of my oldest (and probably my best) post. I wish I could write the way I wrote this one all the time, but for some reason... Always good to see your comments on a post of mine. And yes, I haven't heard "be safe" in a while. Though I do hear it from time to time on the phone with people I speak with on the East Coast. Long story. Sad! Thanks for stopping by!

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Rob D's avatar

Where are you BHerr? It's been months since I've seen an article from you. Hope things are going well for you.

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Rachelle's avatar

This was the most perfect article. I'm going to follow your lead on this. The next person that says, "stay safe", I will politely say thanks, and then I will say, "have a nice day and stay free!".

If that won't get people to "think", I don't know what will.

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Rob D's avatar

Brilliant idea Rachelle! I love the way you think outside of the box. :)

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Pancake Princess's avatar

It was really cool hearing about all the fun things in your life's history, Rob! I know there are many more to come because you know that there's more to life than staying safe.

Like others commenting on this thread, that phrase really irks me. Back in the spring of 2020 when it started to be "a thing" around the VA hospital (where I worked before I got banned for declining to be in a medical experiment), I started replying "I'd rather stay free". It did not go over very well. I did enjoy seeing folks rear back a few inches as if they'd been slapped when I said it.

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Rob D's avatar

Thanks Pancake Princess! And I sure respect your choice to say *no* to experimentation. I, like yourself, chose freedom over fear and that, in many ways, is why I'm no longer in my previous (and much loved) profession.

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Tarn - mutual eye-rolling's avatar

A candidate for the city council here had a hit piece done on him in the national Pravda newspaper.

What a terrible thing he had done. He is a viola player in the NZSO and shock horror he once wore a tee shirt to rehearsal with the word "Freedom" on it.

The MSM was implying not to vote for him.

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Brian Lincoln's avatar

Rob, I think you are getting the hang of this writing stuff. Love it. Stay free my friend and thanks for writing.

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BHerr's avatar

I think now and forever, unless it's completely in the right settings, when someone says to me "stay safe!" I'll respond with "Thanks, stay free!"

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Rob D's avatar

Thanks as always Brian. You've been here supporting my rants from the very beginning. It's good to know you're out there!

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Fat Rabbit Iron's avatar

I know some well-meaning ignorant people use that sacred phrase without realizing just how ridiculous it sounds.

That’s it. The vast majority of people don't think about / aren't careful about language. People just mindlessly go with the trend du jour. However, these phrases do shape our minds at an unconscious level, which is what makes them so dangerous.

Confucius advocated a “rectification of names” to make words correspond with reality. The upside down world of 2022 shows what an excellent idea that was.

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Rob D's avatar

Absolutely Fat Rabbit Iron! Words and phrases have meaning (overt or hidden). Mantras have power. As always, thanks for checking out The Rumble Strip.

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Tarn - mutual eye-rolling's avatar

Interesting about Confucius, Fat Rabbit.

BTW do you have rabbits?

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Fat Rabbit Iron's avatar

Haha, no. The current project is chickens. :-)

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JJ's avatar

My theory is that most of the population live their lives from a place of fear. It guides their decisions and their choices. That’s very sad. I do not comply. Stay free! Live life to the full it’s the only way.

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Rob D's avatar

Always the better choice JJ! Thanks. :)

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jacquelyn sauriol's avatar

Living with, and being aware of, risk is the only safe way to live.

To say any activity or product has been made safe is usually only

legal speak, and it makes people ignore associated and expected

risks.

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Rob D's avatar

Like the notice on a hair dryer to not use it in the shower? Or the warning on a bag of flour to not eat it raw or make play doh out of it? Utter insanity. Thanks Jacquelyn Sauriol.

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The Word Herder's avatar

WHAT A GREAT POST!!!!!!

I'm going to share it.

Stay free, brother man!

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Rob D's avatar

Thanks Word Herder. Your input always means a lot here. You add the bark that's missing from my bite. :)

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The Word Herder's avatar

You know I luv ya. xo

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The Word Herder's avatar

Rob, I really did a stooopid... I shared your post alright, but I called you RAY.

Daaaaaaaaaaamn.

I fixed it, but you get one free slap upside my head, next time I see ya.

(Feeling hangdog now.)

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Rob D's avatar

And I just got called Ron by Cairn Mutual Eye Rolling. Too funny!

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The Word Herder's avatar

Oh, Ron, stop complaining. ;) lol!! But the “n” key is right next to the “b.” Hey, check out the video from Frances Leader with Dr. Lee Merritt. Truly, truly EXCELLENT.

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Rob D's avatar

Hmm. Well, to be honest, I recall being called a *lot* worse in my lifetime. You are forgiven. This time! lol. Appreciate ya.

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Ray's avatar

i used to make the engines for those trucks, always wanted to drive one, looks fun

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Rob D's avatar

I have driven them... and they are fun. But I was in the drilling and blasting department for most of my career. I'd go back in a heartbeat (and was offered), but to go back to rotating schedules and long commutes along with the insane testing and crap they have to do now... Sigh. I'll live on the memories of an incredible experience.

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ZeeJay's avatar

Memories of “old IR tricks” you have?

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Rob D's avatar

More like nightmares. Haha

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Gene Adaway's avatar

I agree. It’s not Customer Service’s job to ring this bell. If I know how to mop the floor, I know how to walk on it.

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ZeeJay's avatar

That word is over used and highly abused in industrial settings. Mining is a massive offender, but in its defense it has to pound that word in. I still do as dealer field technician work in mining, I however did not participate in 2020 “safety” protocols, in fact I lived my life just as I did in 2019 and still didn’t get the “sniffle” until mid ‘22 and haven’t had it since. No I didn’t die 17 times as the “agenda” would have us believe. Nothing was more depressing then as watching a single person, alone driving their car…..wearing a mask. I’d see that and understand why we are 2 minutes away from midnight on the nuclear clock.

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Rob D's avatar

I haven't seen you in ages and didn't get notified that you commented on this post back in October last year. Interesting. It's hard to say how much we miss with this digital hell we are in. Hope you are doing great and thanks for the comment! Glad you didn't fall for the fear.

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dar's avatar

ta, RD...got this 'ere Earworm while reading Your post...youtube.com/watch?v=CN4JHP28s4U

Harold and Maude - If you want to sing out, sing out Cat Stevens

sykid77

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Perplexity's avatar

Well written and well said, Rob! Thanks for the excellent reminder.

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Rob D's avatar

Thanks for checking out my latest rant Perplexity. Always makes me smile to see you've been here. :)

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Perplexity's avatar

I have missed a lot of content due to being preoccupied with the hassles of life + hotmail keeps blocking my sub notifications. I keep unblocking but they do it at least every other day from what I can tell.

Was really grateful for this particular 'rant', as I often go off course. Thanks for the correction, Rob!

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Rob D's avatar

Sometimes a good rant can get us back on track. My pleasure. :-)

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Dollyboy's avatar

And that’s why you are different to a normie.

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