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Archaic?

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not-my-real-name
(@not-my-real-name)
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I was reading another forum (apologies), and the word "chainman" came up more than once.?ÿ

First of all, chain, and man should be two separate words. Second, what they refer to is no longer a part of modern surveying. For an example, what if your intern is a woman?

Other than that, it makes me wonder how many generations will it take for surveyors to stop using this language? Are there any other archaic names in use? Are the persons operating the survey instrument being called a transit man?

Historic boundaries and conservation efforts.

 
Posted : January 14, 2023 5:06 pm
michigan-left
(@michigan-left)
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Probably a lot less time than it took for "people" to get woke and be offended by words.

Archaic or not, chainman is/was a real thing.

There's nothing making you continue to read the "other forum" and then bring those "problems" here.

If I didn't know better, I'd say you're fishing and borderline political?

 
Posted : January 14, 2023 5:17 pm
not-my-real-name
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@michigan-left?ÿ

Of course...

There is "Unchain My Heart" by Bobby Sharp (made popular by Ray Charles); "Chain of Fools" by Don Covay?ÿ (made popular by Aretha Franklin); "Chain Gang" (performed by Sam Cooke who was also the composer); "Unchained Melody" with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret (performed by Elvis Presley and the Righteous?ÿBrothers).

Couldn't find any references for "chainman" though. Do you want to defend "transitman" next?

By the way it has nothing to do with being "woke" as you wrote. Our language evolves, and that should be a good thing. We don't say "horseless carriage" when referring to our vehicles or "ice box" to mean refrigerator.

?ÿ

?ÿ

Historic boundaries and conservation efforts.

 
Posted : January 14, 2023 5:59 pm
(@dave-lindell)
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A surveyor's steel tape will always be called a "chain", archaic or not.

The instrument will always be called a "gun" (not a very good term to use around airports though).?ÿ And the instrument operator will always be called the "I-man" or the "gunner".

The city I used to work for called these positions "Field Engineering Aide" and "Land Surveyor Assistant".?ÿ Awkward at best, but that was their civil service title.

 
Posted : January 14, 2023 6:07 pm
not-my-real-name
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@dave-lindell?ÿ

No. That is just reactionary. I have never used any of those terms especially the "gun" word. These days it is just too dangerous to be yelling "gun" in public, and it was never really sophisticated anyway.

I have an intern who is a woman, and I am sure she would not appreciate being called a man. If you respect your employee it will be rewarding to both of you in the long run.

Historic boundaries and conservation efforts.

 
Posted : January 14, 2023 6:18 pm

michigan-left
(@michigan-left)
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I'm not advocating one way or another for any of the terminology (historical, archaic, or otherwise) that you take issue with.

Only the most selfish of people feel compelled to incite, instigate, and attempt to disrupt an online forum through thinly veiled nonsense for what ever self serving reasons they may have.

 
Posted : January 14, 2023 6:22 pm
(@on_point)
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The instrument will always be called a "gun" (not a very good term to use around airports though).?ÿ And the instrument operator will always be called the "I-man" or the "gunner".

Perhaps the term ƒ??gunƒ? stems from the EDM ƒ??shootingƒ? distances? Also, staking ROW with the TS is sometimes called ƒ??Run N Gunƒ?. Start having trouble getting ƒ??fixedƒ? with the GPS, just set two points and ƒ??run n gunƒ?.?ÿ

 
Posted : January 14, 2023 7:34 pm
not-my-real-name
(@not-my-real-name)
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@michigan-left?ÿ

So do you mean that you are one of those selfish disruptive people? If it really bothers you that much just stop reading my postings. I didn't ask for your personal attacks or for you to psychoanalyze me.

Historic boundaries and conservation efforts.

 
Posted : January 14, 2023 7:44 pm
paden-cash
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?ÿ

list

It appears that chainman, moundman, axman & flagman are all one word...at least according to official government survey records.?ÿ And although missing from this list, the term compassman seems to be a little more appropriate than "gunner".?ÿ 😉

Seriously, we did use the term "gun" & "gunner" in the years prior to EDMs.?ÿ My guess is it evolved from the generation of surveyors that was permanently dyed with the colloquialisms of WWII.

 
Posted : January 14, 2023 8:03 pm
(@on_point)
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Seriously, we did use the term "gun" & "gunner" in the years prior to EDMs.?ÿ My guess is it evolved from the generation of surveyors that was permanently dyed with the colloquialisms of WWII.

Interesting ?????ÿ

 
Posted : January 14, 2023 8:08 pm

bill93
(@bill93)
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I missed what terms you are using with your crew.

?ÿ

 
Posted : January 14, 2023 8:17 pm
(@on_point)
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Woah. This thread is getting outta hand. Cƒ??mon ppl, just take a breath. ?????ÿ

 
Posted : January 14, 2023 8:18 pm
not-my-real-name
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@bill93?ÿ

My employee is an intern. That term is both respectful, and contemporary.

I am fortunate to be in private practice so the she can get experience in all aspects of the profession. I never liked how larger organizations held you to one particular part of projects.

I studied English for two years after becoming disillusioned with engineering education, so language is both interesting, and important to me. I went back to complete my undergraduate studies when I discovered Civil Engineering.

Historic boundaries and conservation efforts.

 
Posted : January 15, 2023 7:22 am
michigan-left
(@michigan-left)
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@bill93

Are you familiar with the terms "virtue signaling" and "narcissist"?

One is old and archaic, while the other is contemporary and modern.

Neither are important or particularly interesting, but they appear to be a formidable part of today's dangerous lexicon where people think words are violence.

 
Posted : January 15, 2023 8:10 am
dave-karoly
(@dave-karoly)
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I never liked the term ƒ??gun,ƒ? never use it. Instrument or Total Station are more appropriate and less likely to get you shot with so many trigger happy fools both in and out of uniform. I try not to say shoot or shot but those are more ingrained.

People make like getting offended by mere words is silly but Iƒ??m betting those same people would be offended if I loudly proclaimed they are a Male Anatomy-head in a public place or anywhere, Iƒ??m just saying.

itƒ??s not that hard to be respectful of other people, thatƒ??s what woke is all about. People who freak out about woke seem to be the most thin skinned people out there. Just consider the feelings of others.

 
Posted : January 15, 2023 8:19 am

(@on_point)
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working with a lot of different ppl throughout my career Iƒ??ve heard ppl use multiple terms for the same equipment. ƒ??Gunƒ? or ƒ??instrumentƒ?, ƒ??ribbonƒ? or ƒ??flaggingƒ?, ƒ??tapeƒ? or ƒ??chainƒ?, etc. I honestly couldnƒ??t care less what terms they use since I generally understand what they mean. I care more about the intended use of the word then the word itself.?ÿ

 
Posted : January 15, 2023 8:51 am
holy-cow
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@not-my-real-name?ÿ

FYI. You should find it interesting that the term "Civil" engineering came about as the alternative for Military Engineering.?ÿ Anything that was not directly aimed at supporting the military was deemed to be civil.?ÿ Thus, the name.?ÿ So, virtually every other name associated with engineering from agricultural to?ÿ nuclear grew from that early label of Civil Engineering.?ÿ ASCE was formed in the 1850's.?ÿ ASME and the earliest form of IEEE date to the 1880's.?ÿ Other such organizations did not form until the 1900's, some as late as the 1960's.

 
Posted : January 15, 2023 8:58 am
nate-the-surveyor
(@nate-the-surveyor)
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I honestly couldnƒ??t care less what terms they use since I generally understand what they mean. I care more about the intended use of the word then the word itself.?ÿ

I think that is a solution.?ÿ

Ok, man?

😉

N

 
Posted : January 15, 2023 10:53 am
Norman_Oklahoma
(@norman-oklahoma)
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I honestly couldnƒ??t care less what terms they use since I generally understand what they mean. I care more about the intended use of the word then the word itself.?ÿ

It is OK to use jargon when speaking to others who dig your rap.?ÿ

Airplane! jive

 
Posted : January 15, 2023 2:23 pm
(@murphy)
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Even field crew is outdated.?ÿ How about photon catchers? Light warriors might be going a bit far but it sounds tough.?ÿ Frequency modulated interceptor, FMIs for short? Light tuners? Satellite analyst? We should embrace and flaunt the fact that no one knows what we do or how we do it.

 
Posted : January 15, 2023 2:33 pm

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