Author Topic: Educating the "Youngin's"  (Read 5665 times)

Offline steamer

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Educating the "Youngin's"
« on: August 09, 2018, 01:53:01 AM »
OK

Besides being a Principal Engineer, I'm the companies machinist...so I walk into the shop at work, and walk right in on our Co-op working on a test part made of plastic.    He's cutting circles out of a piece part for testing.   He's cutting the circles with a Leather punch....OK......He's cutting them on top of my brand new Starrett Surface plate..... :zap: :killcomputer: :rant: :rant: :rant: :rant: :rant: :slap:


OK.....He's a bright kid, no doubt about it...but he's clearly ignorant...and I have to over come my basic urge to choke the kid out, and turn it into a opportunity to teach.   


Now this is a REAL situation, and I've dealt with it...and I think it was a very positive way to do it...but I'm interested in your take....what SHOULD I have done?

Go!

Dave
"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
Damned ijjit!

Offline b.lindsey

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Re: Educating the "Youngin's"
« Reply #1 on: August 09, 2018, 02:16:02 AM »
Make him research and write a paper on the accuracy, use, and care of surface plates. They hate to write!!! I had a kid once that needed a cut off tool for the lathe and not finding one took a parallel and ground it to suit.  :lolb:

You can't make this stuff up.

Bill

Offline Johnmcc69

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Re: Educating the "Youngin's"
« Reply #2 on: August 09, 2018, 02:22:11 AM »
Not real clear about what you did do to handle this.
But...
 If you don't point it out, he'll do it again.
 I had a lot of those moments in my early days, but I have nothing but respect for those who told me NOT to do it "that way".  :hammerbash:

 John

Offline steamer

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Re: Educating the "Youngin's"
« Reply #3 on: August 09, 2018, 02:22:30 AM »
No you can't make this up.....I really wish I could!   his "Supervisor" told not to worry, the divit wasn't too big.... :cussing: :Mad: :slap:

He got the same response from me....

Keep it coming...
"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
Damned ijjit!

Offline steamer

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Re: Educating the "Youngin's"
« Reply #4 on: August 09, 2018, 02:23:54 AM »
Not real clear about what you did do to handle this.
But...
 If you don't point it out, he'll do it again.
 I had a lot of those moments in my early days, but I have nothing but respect for those who told me NOT to do it "that way".  :hammerbash:

 John

I can assure you ….he's been educated! and it won't happen again....    I'm just curious how everyone else would do it  is all.

Dave
"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
Damned ijjit!

Offline steamer

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Re: Educating the "Youngin's"
« Reply #5 on: August 09, 2018, 02:28:51 AM »
The reason I ask, is this generation is just ...out there!....bright as hell....and dumb as a rock..all at the same time....and I'm learning how to mentor them in a way that I can keep them listening.


So again...looking for different perspectives....

I'll spill the beans in a bit... I promise

Dave

"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
Damned ijjit!

Offline Johnmcc69

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Re: Educating the "Youngin's"
« Reply #6 on: August 09, 2018, 02:31:14 AM »
Not real clear about what you did do to handle this.
But...
 If you don't point it out, he'll do it again.
 I had a lot of those moments in my early days, but I have nothing but respect for those who told me NOT to do it "that way".  :hammerbash:

 John

I can assure you ….he's been educated! and it won't happen again....    I'm just curious how everyone else would do it  is all.

Dave

 Then you did good.
 Bad habits are bad habits until a "gentle reminder"

Offline steamer

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Re: Educating the "Youngin's"
« Reply #7 on: August 09, 2018, 02:32:07 AM »
How would you have done it John?

Dave
"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
Damned ijjit!

Offline Johnmcc69

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Re: Educating the "Youngin's"
« Reply #8 on: August 09, 2018, 02:41:35 AM »
I would have explained that a surface plate is NOT a work surface.
 ONLY for layout & gauging purposes. I'm sure there are differences on the subject.

 I also cringe when I see a precision vice held in a milling vice.

Offline crueby

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Re: Educating the "Youngin's"
« Reply #9 on: August 09, 2018, 02:41:54 AM »
Verbally, loudly, on camera, rip a few new through holes, post online...
Then hand him the bill for a new plate.


At least 'accidentally' turn on the mic for the PA system?


That would be the modern equivalent of hanging the pirate at the entrance to the harbor...

Offline 10KPete

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Re: Educating the "Youngin's"
« Reply #10 on: August 09, 2018, 02:42:43 AM »
I won't claim to be good with that sort of thing, but one thing I have learned over the years was to get over the anger before educating the apprentice. Sometimes you only have a minute to do it but teaching cannot occur when either party is angry or frightened.

Pete
Craftsman, Tinkerer, Curious Person.
Retired, finally!
SB 10K lathe, Benchmaster mill. And stuff.

Offline steamer

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Re: Educating the "Youngin's"
« Reply #11 on: August 09, 2018, 02:47:13 AM »
I won't claim to be good with that sort of thing, but one thing I have learned over the years was to get over the anger before educating the apprentice. Sometimes you only have a minute to do it but teaching cannot occur when either party is angry or frightened.

Pete

Completely agree Pete....I think I had about 15 seconds.....

Approach?


Dave
"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
Damned ijjit!

Offline steamer

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Re: Educating the "Youngin's"
« Reply #12 on: August 09, 2018, 02:50:34 AM »
Verbally, loudly, on camera, rip a few new through holes, post online...
Then hand him the bill for a new plate.


At least 'accidentally' turn on the mic for the PA system?


That would be the modern equivalent of hanging the pirate at the entrance to the harbor...

The problem with that is something my wife keeps telling me.   I have Stupidity of Knowledge!....I think everyone should know this stuff...like it's basic!....but I've learned that is FAR from the truth.   That said, I could have dressed this kid down HARD, and been in my right...but I didn't...because he never would have listened again....the generation, generally speaking, are pretty fragile.
"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
Damned ijjit!

Offline zeeprogrammer

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Re: Educating the "Youngin's"
« Reply #13 on: August 09, 2018, 03:14:51 AM »
There's what I would have done in the moment and what I would have done if I'd taken a moment to think about it.

My preference is to ask questions and try to make them think rather than telling them what to think.

Example:

"That's a surface plate. It's used for measuring, etc. It requires a perfectly flat surface. You've ruined it"

versus

"Do you know what that is? Do you know what it's used for? Do you know how to take care of it?"

I'm okay if they say "I don't know. What?". That is, if they are interested in learning.

If I get a "Whatever" answer...they are toast.
Carl (aka Zee) Will sometimes respond to 'hey' but never 'hey you'.
"To work. To work."
Zee-Another Thread Trasher.

Offline Johnmcc69

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Re: Educating the "Youngin's"
« Reply #14 on: August 09, 2018, 03:20:57 AM »
I guess it's time to learn how to "scrape"...

 

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