ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Questions you get asked

Most of these come from supervisors in a factory who just want production out the door. I know there sarcastic answers, but, after a few per day from the same ones week after week, you think they would get a clue.

Question: Can I help you?
My reply depending on time of day, "Sure, climb up there and....."
Then the direct answer, "No" or "Im sure your not qualified"

Question: What's wrong with it?
Answer: Well, what is it "supposed" to do?

Question: You ever done that before?
Answer: Nope, hope I get it right.

"I'm booking you for not wearing your hat" said the jumped-up Safety Man to me. "I don't think so." says I.
Oh! and why would that be? says he taking out hos pen.

Sorry pressed the wrong button!

And spelled "wrong" wrong!.

I have to go with the afore mentioned "when will you be finished", sometimes before you have even put your tool bag down.
"Shortly after you stop bothering me" is not a bad answer.
I worked with a guy who had a great way to get people to get away from him. If they got in too close he would hand them something real dirty and say "hold this". Pretty soon they would decide they had something else to do.

I second GA76's feeling on materials - although I wish I was the "un-official material man" - I'm pretty sure mine is an official title.

Questions:

1) Can you get me "insert material item" from the trailer?, and don't let any other journeyman stop you, I need it now.

Then when I return - "oh I don't need it now, I found a box of them on my cart- but bring those back to the trailer so we know where they are.

Repeat, repeat, repeat.

2)Can you tell them that I want my Bacon, egg and cheese with the bacon burnt, the eggs over easy and don't melt the cheese - also with pepper, no salt and only a little ketchup.

Repeat that for 15-20 guys and coffee orders.

Keep in mind the guy at the deli speaks almost no ingles and I speak no spanish - Your lucky what you get resembles breakfast at all!!

Gotta love being an apprentice

Most common question I get asked by homeowners is:
"How many shocks have you had??."
Usually followed by:
"Were any of them really big?."

People here seem to assume that for some odd reason, Electricians are always getting shocks.
I blame cartoons for this to a certain degree.

The answer for the shock question is " Yes, just the other day, I worked in somebody's house and they did not ask me that question. I found that very shocking"

Asked by apprentice: "How come the fish tape is always longer on the way out?"

Not me but the boss:
Q: "I don't have much money, could you do it for less?"
A: "no, I don't know you, what makes you so special that I should give you a discount?"

I'll be in a store with a trough wide open and wires hanging everywhere. "wow, how do you know where all those wires" .I like to say back, can you tell me color this is, I'm color blind