Update (kinda)...
> ...I'm still a bit confused on whether he contacted you for some help, or just to vent his frustration and put his ignorance on display.
Me too. I don't know exactly what I said to him when he first called, but I'll bet you money it was along the lines of "what can I do for you?" or "what do you need to know?".
I do remember his reply however was, "This is a joke, right?".
Not a good way to start a conversation.
Update (kinda)...
I was left with the impression that I had halfway insulted a senior surveyor back in my whippersnapper days when I asked a question that he did not have an immediate answer for. I meant no disrespect. It was just a common question. Don't even remember what it was, now. The remainder of our discussion was cordial but not at all friendly. It was one of those things that sticks around in the back of your mind over thirty years later.
I hope the doofus that called you learns of his poor behavior and modifies it in the future.
Update (kinda)...
Personally, I despise the arrogance some surveyors show towards members of their own profession. Actually, I despise arrogance period. There is never an appropriate time to be arrogant. We must always be prepared to be wrong.
Me. "What's the difference?"
T.C. Carroll "It's the difference between right and wrong!"
:good:
Wow. What a jerk. I bet he didn't mind "the old surveyors" when he was looking for experience and a reference for his license. I would say he should take a few continuing education courses on professionalism.
Ugh, awful situation.
Ran into one job in Santa Barbara which is a very old city. All corners occupied with fence posts. Fortunately the city used 5' block offsets where a spike and tag could be set.
I did shoot the center of two steel pipes at corners and gave a position off the center of the pipe for where the lines intersected for the corner and labeled it "FTC", (from true corner"). A designation that was used to define actual position of found points here for a time. They were very plumb so it was a decent way to create offsets for offset string lines for construction and setbacks later.
But the surveyor that called definitely needs a course in respect or avoiding running with assumptions to the point of complaining. And of course the fact he didn't go outside the lot to round up other control indicates a lackadaisical approach.
> Posting this might not be the best idea, but it will make me feel a helluva lot better...so here goes....
Having worked in Paden's neck of the woods I feel compelled to offer a little "inside baseball" perspective.
There are plenty of old dog surveyors in Paden's area that are, ... ahem ..., not very professional (this certainly does not include Paden). They couldn't survey their way out of a wet paper bag and don't think it worthwhile to do so. It seems there was a time when it was pretty easy to get an OK Surveyors license. When contacted to share information they are either unwilling or unable to do so - if not completely unresponsive. Their corner records, on the rare occasion they file them at all, are a joke.
Again, this in no way describes Paden. And I don't condone this whipper-snapper's manner. But I feel his pain.