VERY close to 40 now, worked an average of 70 hours a week since 20 years old. I work hard but when I’m ready to go home I’m headed home. Always been that way. Funny how when you work hard nobody questions when you leave.

I find myself ignoring authority more and more lately. Not in a disrespectful way, maybe I’ve learned a little tact, maybe I just keep my mouth out of the equation the older I get but I find myself simply saying, “No, we’re not doing it that way”.

Those of you that know I’m active duty, please understand, I love my chain of command and support them 100%. Never would I ignore them, I respect them and if I ever disagree if approach the situation as I should.

But my day job (OPS), working with a bunch of civilians…I’m more and more just doing what I think is right and ignoring the rest of it.

I don’t know why it’s weighing on my mind recently, I don’t think I’m wrong or unjustified, maybe I’m just now realizing that’s what is best.

ETA: I guess I really don’t have a good talking point, or a question. Maybe I’m just venting. Thanks for listening fellas.

Wait until you reach 50. In the great words of my mom: "It's liberating!"

And she's right. There's no disrespect intended; it's just that by that point, you tend to filter out the BS more readily.

I found I thought the same way as I grew older in the service. Probably didn’t help that I left AD after 10 years and stayed in the reserves. Becoming a cop and having to make my own decisions in a split second didn’t add to my being able to sit back quietly while serving in the reserves.

But I was a Chief and the rules say 1. The Chief is always right.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
I found I thought the same way as I grew older in the service. Probably didn’t help that I left AD after 10 years and stayed in the reserves. Becoming a cop and having to make my own decisions in a split second didn’t add to my being able to sit back quietly while serving in the reserves.

But I was a Chief and the rules say 1. The Chief is always right.

Mike, I always respect my more Senior Enlisted and Officers. I've never had a bad relationship except one, and that one was hated by everyone. This isn't disliking orders, I feel it's more not having time for the BS, like Dan mentioned above.

As stated, this is very much a civilian problem and nothing to do with my military interactions.

If I worked 70 hours a week no one would want to even be around me.

Authority used to suggest more experience and knowledge. It’s become now more synonymous with tyranny. I can be supervised, managed or led. But I’m averse to being controlled by authority.

I think what you are describing is pretty normal in the military environment.

Each time I changed roles by going to a new command there was a progression over time that, as I got more competent in the job, i cared less and less about what people who didn’t know as much about the job had to say. In the military you will get cut more slack while ignoring people when you are "The" guy.

The older I get, the less of a deterrent a life sentence is. I'm in year four of working for myself, fewer hours and more money than ever before. The length of my hair is inversely proportional to the number of fooks I have left to give. Haven't had a real haircut in six yrs.

quote:

Originally posted by Rick Lee:
The older I get, the less of a deterrent a life sentence is. I'm in year four of working for myself, fewer hours and more money than ever before. The length of my hair is inversely proportional to the number of fooks I have left to give. Haven't had a real haircut in six yrs.

Rick,

I am bald and impervious to the musings of those who have read the recent funny memes thread. What are you offering to substantiate your place amongst those who don't need to give a shit is what I am after.

Nothing really. I just don't have to answer to anyone, can take off whenever I want, don't really look at prices anymore except for on big stuff I don't need and, well, life is too short to worry about BS.

quote:

Originally posted by Rick Lee:
The older I get, the less of a deterrent a life sentence is. I'm in year four of working for myself, fewer hours and more money than ever before. The length of my hair is inversely proportional to the number of fooks I have left to give. Haven't had a real haircut in six yrs.

It's even worse when authority reveals itself to be corrupt.

Damn, I think you guys need another engagement survey. Lol, going to be 60 soon and have felt like Otto for about the last 15 years or so. At this point in time, with the kids out on their own and most of the retirement still funded, I know at any moment that straw that broke the camel’s back will come along and someone’s getting the full treatment of my disregard.
That’s actually a nice place to be and may just get me across the finish line.
Hang in there guys.

All my life I have questioned Authority... lately I've understood to respect Authority but still always question it.

Once got the look from a parent when I inadvertently told their son: "Don't believe everything they tell you." This was after making the statement that I had been eating raw beef for over 50 years.

What is this Authority you speak of?? 65 and piss off

Mrs. Flash worked for the county and was developing an attitude much like the OP.

I told her than when she went over 20 years and was fully vested in her retirement account, management would get off her back and life would be good.

They did. They know who to mess with and who not to mess with.

OttoSig, I have spent my life resenting authority.

I would suggest that you read a couple of books that I have found as a grey beard to solidify my views on the subject. the first is Rose Wilder Lane's The Discovery of Freedom: Man's Struggle Against Authority. You can download it for free from the Mises Institute

https://mises.org/library/discovery-freedom

The other is a collection of writings by Ayn Rand, https://www.amazon.com/The-Vir...oks%2C108&sr=1-1]The Virtue of Selfishness

RWL is considered to be one of the founders of modern libertarian thinking. She is the daughter of Laura Ingles Wilder. Lane was intrigued with the idea of communism and moved to Russia following the revolution. It did not take her long to discern that it sucked.

Of course, Rand should need no introduction.

I'm with you OP, I will note that the tendency will increase as you age.

I think the reason is because the more you see of Authority, the more often you realize that those in authority are no more capable, competent, or knowledgeable than those they seek to control. Add wise and honest to that list, and you can see how respect might erode over time.

And on an unrelated note, it is great to see a post from AppBrad in this thread, seems like forever.

I'm right there with you Otto. In fact, I hold resentment for those who blindly do what they are told.

Otto

you be a youngin' at 40

wait until you hit your mid 60's and then you will really start to abhor 'authority' - especially political 'authority' - my usual answer is rope will solve just about every problem - as you can tell I have ZERO, absolutely ZERO respect for politicians