Quote Originally Posted by cigarsarge View Post
Shelby...Your decision to stop the lady was a snap decision and you did right. But people that work arouind high violtage lines, or go into a burning building to put a fire out, or go to a violent domestic assault with a gun involved on a daily basis have stress you would not imagine. It literaly makes you weak in the knees after it's over. I saw a guy that completely froze up...His muscles...After a life and death situation. He got completely stiff. He spent the night in the ER.

You're comparing apples to oranges. Yes...There is stress in the corporate world. It's usually not life and death...Mostly it's about profit margin.
Unless you've walked a mile in someone's shoes - you can't possibly understand what their situation is like.

I was in the public sector, having just retired. Now I'm in the private sector. I'm really starting to understand both sides...

The way Sarge is describing it is spot on - except it is really a very simplified explanation. The stress (sheer terror at times) on the LE side is something that you can't even possibly imagine unless you've been in that position - and been in that position time and time again. Remember - most call the police because they can't or don't want to deal with the problem. The public asks LE to deal with that which they don't want to deal with and expects LE not to back down even though the danger is beyond comprehension (i.e. - World Trade Center - the cops and firefighters were running in while the occupants were trying to get out!).

I am currently under stress in the private sector - and have a very responsible position (much as you describe, shelby). However, the stress is entirely different. Yes - it is stress, but it is not even comparable to what I previously experienced. As a matter of fact - I would suggest to you I'm able to handle the current stress I deal with much easier now because of my previous experiences.

...and I don't even want to know the stress Kevin feels. I hate electricity and heights - both cause me extreme stress. I suppose I could learn to deal with it - but I really would not be inclined to do so unless I absolutely had to.