Am I being curmudgeonly?

climbingsingle · January 2014

I was thinking more about this last night. I have a huge fear of a fire starting in our house. If the fire dept. showed up at my house and had to "rescue" me from the top floor, I would be freaking the fuck out. I'd also be crying and freaking out about getting my dog out too. And then to be proposed to after all that. I would be irate.

pinkcow13 · January 2014

I hate over the top proposals. If my FI pretended to set my house on fire I would be PISSED off.

PolarBearFitz · January 2014

It just seems like irrational behavior to propose to someone under fake duress...

especially at the expense of the rest of the public.

bmydesigner · January 2014

That's not even romantic or cute at all. I would be so pissed / scared that my house was supposedly on fire that I wouldn't really enjoy the proposal.

It's also a definite misuse of resources - I would definitely report it.

rajahmd · January 2014

@HisGirlFriday13, be sure to update us if anything comes of your anonymous report or if something else happens.

firebabe6519 · January 2014

In all likely hood permission had already been granted up by the chiefs. In addition, had there been a real incident they would have been required to respond to it. The trucks would very likely not have been taken out of service. And lastly many volunteer departments see this as a way to boost their PR. Its a way to get their name out there and try to boost donations for badly needed equipment.

HisGirlFriday13 · January 2014

@firebabe6519: I know the deputy chief did grant permission. And I'm still not OK with it. This municipality recently began requiring a fire tax to pay for equipment and services. If I live in that municipality, I would be LIVID that my fire taxes are paying for some schmuck to propose to his GF.

Hell, I'm livid and I don't live there!

ETA smartypants phone auto correct fail

Belthil · January 2014

I don't like over-the-top proposals, but I know some people do. If that's the case do it so that you're not wasting other people's money or terrifying the person you love. If H had done something like that I would have been more inclined to slap him then say yes.

I'd definitely report it. Even if they did give permission prior it would let them know that the public didn't agree with their decision and maybe they'd make a different decision next time.

ETA: grammar is hard

MrsDeRuyter87 · January 2014

HisGirlFriday13 said:

S/O question: The municipality in question has a "report a concern" section of their website, where I could submit this story anonymously.

Should I?

I would, and I'm sure you won't be the only one if that story is printed. I agree 100%, very irresponsible...what if an actual emergency happened during all of this and people were late in responding because of this over the top proposal?

aurorajanette · January 2014

I would totally report that. It's a misuse of resources, and absolutely ridiculous. The last thing that we need is more over the top jackassy proposals.

Two co-workers of mine got engaged on Christmas Eve (it is against company policy for them to even be dating, so things got awkward on Thursday last week when they both came to work). He is a volunteer fire fighter and had been circulating her neighborhood dressed as Santa on the fire truck. When he got to her house, she was outside with her family watching, and he jumped off the truck and proposed. He wasn't allowed to break character, so they couldn't kiss, and he couldn't remove any part of his costume. Vomit. The whole thing made me sick just thinking about it.

jdluvr06 · January 2014

I have to admit I do enjoy watching the over the top proposals but I wouldn't like this one because of the safety risk. I do think the flash dance ones, and some of the geeky computer or video game ones are cute. I wouldn't like it if FI did that for me but we're low key people. I just like seeing how creative some people can get.

photokitty · January 2014

I'm going to be the dissenting voice here:

I don't think it is a waste of resources bc no resources were really used. Did they hose the house down with water or something? The crew was all together and if a call had come in they would have abandon the proposal and responded. Most crews drive through their neighborhood to be seen or just to get out of the house. They go in their gear so they are ready to resound if a call comes in. Also they routinely check their gear and the equipment, like running the ladder and whatnot.

I don't think they really did anything to endanger the public or cost tax payers anything. IMHO

And I am a HUGE advocate of proper use of taxpayer dollars. Really I am, but I don't see this as a big deal.

lc07 · January 2014

I'm pissed about this! Not only do firefighters in our area respond to fires and could potentially not be able to respond to a real one, but they also do EMT work. My husband was injured once and the fire department made it to him faster than the ambulance did and were able to assist him. Another close friend of mine had an aneurysm while driving but got herself to the fire department (which was much closer than a hospital in her rural area) who saved her life. She would NOT have survived without them.

I think this behavior is absolutely appalling.

Lily9911 · January 2014

I agree with you, I'd be pissed off about this if I paid taxes in my town.

Emmy1493 · January 2014

I don't think that is a nice proposal at all. Why does it even have to be related to his work? That's like a doctor pretending to "save" someone and then proposing afterwards. It just seems pointless and like the focus is more on pulling some huge prank than proposing.

Not to mention, like you say, it's a waste of resources. I don't mind firetrucks going to events that are educational, or even driving around with a fireman on them wishing everyone a merry christmas. That's fine. But faking a fire seems super irresponsible, and like it's trivializing how traumatic it is for people who really have lost their homes to it burning down/lost loved ones.

IN THE BOX:

I have to agree. I mean, what if someone's house was actually burning down at the time? I get wanting it to be cool and whatever, but sitting down at dinner/at home is just equally special to me. No need to waste resources or be showy and possibly create an uproar in the neighborhood. I would be pissed if I was rushed outsidedue to a fake "fire" in my jammies (and in God-only-knows-what-temps outside) for a proposal of all things.

Chipmunk415 · January 2014

@photokitty, regarding resources, an argument can be made for the wear and tear on the vehicles, as well as the cost of the gas to drive over there, etc.

Fire dept visiting a dying child in a hospital for his one wish to be a fireman and alerting the hospital in advance/the hospital sending out an announcement for everyone not to panic? I'm ok with that.

Making it seem like Rome is burning just to propose to your girlfriend and scaring the crap out of her? No. Just no.

photokitty · January 2014

Chipmunk415 said:

@photokitty, regarding resources, an argument can be made for the wear and tear on the vehicles, as well as the cost of the gas to drive over there, etc.

Fire dept visiting a dying child in a hospital for his one wish to be a fireman and alerting the hospital in advance/the hospital sending out an announcement for everyone not to panic? I'm ok with that.

Making it seem like Rome is burning just to propose to your girlfriend and scaring the crap out of her? No. Just no.

I see your point but I still disagree

Not if they go out on rounds regularly and the destination is within the area they service. I have friends how are firefighters and they are extent to drive the vehicle around in the community to have a presence and check everything is in working order. I just don't think the "resources" is a valid complaint.

ETA after researching it and finding out he is a volunteer firefighter I have to agree with the chief who said the use of the truck was minimal, they would have been able to respond to real situation more quickly bc they were already suited up and -- "The number one thing is, we are volunteer service, so anything we can do to try to keep (firefighters) involved" the company tries to do, he said.

I think the time this young man has GIVEN his community out weighs the minor resources used to propose to his girlfriend. Again, that's JMHO

Am I being curmudgeonly?

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