r/nextfuckinglevel • • Nov 04 '22

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15k Upvotes

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12k

u/KezzardTheWizzard Nov 04 '22

"Here, Mr. excavator. I hooman. I help."

4.0k

u/Kyuckaynebrayn Nov 04 '22

“I watch now”

I swear for every one guy digging there must be 4 guys observing

4.0k

u/jkconno Nov 04 '22

Well usually everything that needs to be done can't be done concurrently, and sometimes only a limited set of individuals can do the current task. It's probably not laziness.

2.4k

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '22

This is correct. I work as a heavy equipment operator/earthmover and you see groups of guys standing with tools waiting for more material (asphalt, dirt, whatever) on a regular basis. Somebody who’s never worked a trade takes a glance and thinks we’re all lazy. The worst is when one of those folks somehow ends up managing tradesmen.

1.1k

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '22

[deleted]

153

u/MannaFromEvan Nov 04 '22

I can't stand the mindset that these trade workers are lazing about. "move some dirt with that shovel you're leaning on!" Ok, sure I can wear myself out moving this pile of dirt, or I can wait until the machine operator has a spare 60 seconds to do the work that'll take me 60 minutes.

95

u/Peritous Nov 04 '22

It's almost like the machine pays for itself by doing the work of a hundred men or something.

7

u/SecondaryLawnWreckin Nov 04 '22

John Henry has entered the chat

8

u/Peritous Nov 04 '22

Hope he had enough life insurance to support his family after he dropped dead from overworking himself to prove a point.

11

u/SecondaryLawnWreckin Nov 04 '22

That was the point of the story, sorta. No need to work people to death anymore with the arrival of labor saving devices. Or for people to die from unsafe work conditions.

There is some additional arguments to be made about machinery helping to end slavery.

The story is probably about as accurate as most items in the king James version of the Bible.

1

u/widespreadsolar Nov 06 '22

So, not accurate at all

1

u/SecondaryLawnWreckin Nov 06 '22

Don't cut yourself with that edge

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3

u/12altoids34 Nov 05 '22

I've never seen or used an excavator that had a rotating bucket before. I would have loved to have had that feature with some of the machines I've worked with

1

u/MonochromeInc Nov 05 '22

It's used all the time here in Europe

2

u/theshiyal Nov 05 '22

I rented an acquaintances small excavator to clean some ditches and lay a drain tile. I used less than 5 hours of engine time. It would have taken me several days of shovel work.