Questions for our American friends - Page 426

**palo5** · March 23rd, 2018, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepsepia

Note that median age of 56 years -- that means that half the farmers are older than that; this is not a population that's going to walk up and down rows of, say, avocados bending over and picking them, day in, day out.

It's defensible to think that, but it's not necessarily true. I'm easily in the geriatric range, but still work regular 8-hr days in city parks. Much of my time is spent on my knees or bending, often in sub-zero conditions

**SanteeFats** · March 23rd, 2018, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palo5

It's defensible to think that, but it's not necessarily true. I'm easily in the geriatric range, but still work regular 8-hr days in city parks. Much of my time is spent on my knees or bending, often in sub-zero conditions

Are you plowing fields, sowing crops, harvesting them, baling hay, feeding livestock, repairing or putting up fence line, etc? I ask this because I have worked in my city's parks for over five years and it is not nearly as hard as farming by far.

**Rogerbh** · March 23rd, 2018, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palo5

I may have asked this before, but if I did, I can't remember the answer

Blame my Alzheimer's & dementia

Anyway, it's about an American expression "to pull yourself up by the bootstraps"

I get what it means, but mechanically pulling yourself up by the bootstraps sounds unimaginably difficult. Is it really possible? If so, how do you do it?

I never thought of it as meaning physically impossible. I thought it meant improving yourself by your own efforts. https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/...ootstraps.html As opposed to sitting on your ass and expecting the world to provide for you. I always imagined a guy with one wooden leg going up a ladder, he would have to use his hands to secure the wooden leg on each step as he went up.

**Arturo2nd** · March 23rd, 2018, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palo5

I may have asked this before, but if I did, I can't remember the answer

Blame my Alzheimer's & dementia

Anyway, it's about an American expression "to pull yourself up by the bootstraps"

I get what it means, but mechanically pulling yourself up by the bootstraps sounds unimaginably difficult. Is it really possible? If so, how do you do it?

It actually is impossible, except that Americans are exceptional. Or is it that Americans have special needs, I forget which.

Most of us are too busy putting our heads up our asses to be grabbing any bootstraps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by palo5

It's defensible to think that, but it's not necessarily true. I'm easily in the geriatric range, but still work regular 8-hr days in city parks. Much of my time is spent on my knees or bending, often in sub-zero conditions

Quote:

Originally Posted by SanteeFats

Are you plowing fields, sowing crops, harvesting them, baling hay, feeding livestock, repairing or putting up fence line, etc? I ask this because I have worked in my city's parks for over five years and it is not nearly as hard as farming by far.

Hell, he's a Russian who lives in freakin' Siberia, for Chrissakes. Of course, a 70 year old American farmer is probably much stronger and more fit than us city folk. We would be wolf chow in palo's neighborhood.

**deepsepia** · March 24th, 2018, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian249x

Of course, a 70 year old American farmer is probably much stronger and more fit than us city folk.

People are pretty battered by farm work, by the time they get old . . . its a very high rate of industrial injury and accident, much more dangerous than factory work.

**palo5** · March 24th, 2018, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian249x

We would be wolf chow in palo's neighborhood.

No, you'd wear the same clothes as us, and be much the same

**SanteeFats** · March 24th, 2018, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian249x

Hell, he's a Russian who lives in freakin' Siberia, for Chrissakes. Of course, a 70 year old American farmer is probably much stronger and more fit than us city folk. We would be wolf chow in palo's neighborhood.

Palo does not wish to have his place of residence made known so suffice it to post he does not live in Siberia. He does live in a cold climate though but I believe the gardens are only worked when there is no snow around, at least most of the time.
PLEASE do not post such stuff as it will only increase his EGO.