I’m Furious! This Online Comment Crossed the Line

Hey everyone, Cody here. Today, I need to vent about an online comment that really got under my skin. While browsing TikTok, I stumbled upon a video where a union heavy equipment operator criticized self-employed operators like me for not keeping our machines spotless. This guy has it easy, sitting in a brand-new machine all day with no extra responsibilities, while we juggle multiple roles and endless tasks just to keep our businesses running. Join me as I share my thoughts and take you along for my daily chores on the homestead. Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

[christhomas]

I have my own home Maintenance business, and I am a one man band. people will not understand what that takes. I try and keep all my tools clean, and Truck Serviced as often as possible. Sometimes that coffee stain is just going to be there until it slows down! But I hear you.

[cj_m]

“The jobs not done until the tools are cleaned”…taught to me in my youth by a great mechanic.

[probuilder]

"Operator Ass"
Good diagnosis!

[alexguigui]

One thing i learned the hard way, is that if you don’t take care of your tools, machines, vehicles, workshop or your home, it’ll end up failing on you
Cleaning is the first step of maintenance. If you don’t do it, you shorten your tools life.
I even dismount once a year my cordless tools to wipe them from the inside and change the grease on the gearboxes just so they last longer

[Dusty-Rugbern]

Just a tip is, keep your equipment somewhat clean so it lasts longer. That's all you gotta do. Keep stuff clean enough so it's not gummed up with rock concrete and clay gumbo. Not so clean it's showroom fresh. having watched family replace parts on a skid steer because it was never cleaned. EVER. it was so gummed up and so abused.

[rongray]

None of us would ever think this way of you and what you have shared with all of us! Blessings to all you and every other owner/operator working on their own day in and day out!

[ChronicAndIronic]

those same people will see cleaned and conditioned work boots and say “you’re not working unless your boots are falling apart you’re not working”

[Secret_Squirrel_Scottishgamer]

your outfit has some seriously good YMCA vibes going on!!!

[deaner]

Just an fyi- you cant cut a 5 gallon plastic bucket in a pinch for a culvert coupler. It fits perfectly as a male connection inside the culvert female hub

[ThisTall]

It’s really a shame they force you to build right on the road, instead of way back along the creek, away from the noisy street

[sanfranciscobay]

7:02 Why not leave the wrong Shingles on the Roof and ask for a discount? Some people are too fussy with insignificant matters.

[mikewilcox]

I personally would not re- shingle that just because of the color. It looks fantastic, it looks like a great professional job, and I would praise the roofers for that job. Let it go Cody, let it go. The whole thing looks fantastic. God bless you. You may bring a lot of ill feelings or bad feelings to those workers. Just make them smile and say GOOD JOB. You never know, that might just change one guy's heart, and change the world. God Bless.

[xNeato]

Straight facts. I used to work on a unionized grounds crew and one of our "operators" was so fat that he could no longer get into the wheel loader. And the other one was well on his way to the same condition. Dude thought adding a banana to his other 2800 calories he had for lunch every single day was gonna help.

[jrthetravelingsalesman]

My dad always told me, take care of things and they last longer and I live by that decades later. Tools, health, relationships, etc.

[BretteCaldwell]

I’ve made a habit of trying to clean up and stay somewhat neat when working on something. It’s made everything I have to do more enjoyable as a result. Takes a little more time I think but less headache is worth something.
Regarding culverts I’ve got a wash-out that needs a 24” pipe. Gonna be an interesting project with a shovel and a farm tractor.
Cabin is looking great, God bless y’all.

[llamawizard]

“How the US Forest Service slowly morphs into one of the village people.”

[bryanmarks]

The best way to clean those windows is with a squeegee like at the gas station or they sell nicer household squeegees at Lowe’s or home depot for cleaning sliding glass doors in the home or any window. and lots of windex or water. Wiping with a towel or rag will scratch the window over time. Stay safe my friend. Great video!

[taruirarra]

I used to work as a supervisor and an engineer in a plastic pipe production factory and I couldn't believe the markup on those things. 350$ retail.... probably like 20-30 bucks in raw material. :D cool cabin

[Kdstt.]

My experience with operating really started with a hand shovel in a ditch.
I worked with various equipment operators, observing them helped me when I began operating myself.
I learned respect, and how to make things easier for my hand laborers.
I enjoy operating to this day.

[derekrobbens]

Take no notice of ignorance you are your own boss and looking at things you have done very well for yourself and family Godspeed