Comments

Episode 2314- Listener Feedback for 10-22-18 — 6 Comments

  1. Jack

    Your audios are not playing in the order of your commentary. Medallion audio played just before weather shift comments and weather shift audio before medallion comments.

  2. Re: kids and butchering animals

    Someone here told me Mongolian herding families often don’t let the younger children be around for the slaughtering of the sheep, goats, and what-not. And I do remember my father-in-law would shoo the grand-kids away from the garage before slaughtering a goat a while back. But undoubtedly the kids do see the meat being prepared and cooked, along with the making of the blood sausage (admittedly one of my least favorite foods), and so they understand where the food is ultimately coming from. There was also something said relating to Buddhism in that it was to isolate any taint of the act of the slaughter to the butcher, but I suspect it is as much practicality as that explanation (after all practicing Buddhism was not common during the Communist period).

    I don’t know exactly what age range kids here get exposed to the butchering, but I suspect that just knowing and learning where the meat ultimately comes from is the most important step, with the butchering part just coming naturally whenever the kid seems ready.

  3. On average, children do not begin to grasp the concept of death until 2-4 years old. IIRC, typical age for questions about it is more like 7-9. I agree, wait until you can have a conversation about what is going on that the child can understand. But also, don’t go in the other direction and get all cute and talk about “freezer camp.” Adults can process euphemisms; children are literal.

    For John starting a new job, a couple more tips. I rate very high someone who comes across as teachable. Begin by addressing the boss by his/her title: Mr., Ms. He/she will tell you if first name is acceptable or preferable. Especially if the boss is older, this sign of respect is important. Also, when instructed in the duties of the job, write it all down. Ask questions then. This keeps you from goofing up or being a time hole later. On working beyond your job: this can be tricky. If you know it needs doing, do it. But don’t branch out too far at first or start doing things your own way rather than the boss’s way. There’s time to offer your suggestion down the road. If there is something like a weekly meeting, put it in your calendar with an alert such that you can be early. All of these are ways to show that you are teachable, willing to learn the way things are done in the organization.

    You never get too old for these basics of being a good worker. Right now, I’m farm sitting for a friend. I know my way around her farm, but I still wrote down her exact instructions for each group of animals.