07-25-2004, 03:00 AM
I'm a firefighter in my town, and have been for a few years now. Granted, It's not a career gig but It's no different in the end. I've got all the same pretty pieces of paper and I actually belong to a very progressive company.
Hitting the flask was't neccessary? The amount of career firefighters found to be abusing alcohol and or CDS while on duty within the past year is mindblowing. I'm sure there are just as many volunteers too, but the fact is it hasn't been reported on in such depth. It's a problem that affects teachers, lawyers, doctors, septic tank cleaners, and yes.....firemen. Bravo to Leary for actually having the balls to have such a social demon in the character.
You're 100% right when you say that the firehouse issues stay in the firehouse. Due to their unwillingness or inability to open that world to others, it's no suprise that there will be a few things a TV show will get wrong. Whether it be dialogue or sheer lack of research. doesn't matter,,,,,the show did alright in developing characters and setting plot lines. It's not a documentary on firemanics, it's a show on cable...
The ghosts are one of the more accurate things in my opinion. Not to the extent of having conversations, but I constantly see the faces of people I've seen killed in car accidents, suicides, and a 2 1/2 month old baby that drowned in the bathtub....while on duty for the PD I did CPR on her for 14 minutes and she still died. Let me just discard what that feels like......I've never had those people appear before me like a spirit or anything but I'll suddenly get a mental picture that sends a chill down my spine.
Leary's character is embellished.....and obviously so. I don't think that it sheds a negative light on firefighters because the show actually supports the notion that the world keeps zooming on and there he is with his whole life screwed up. He could be a stockbroker and have the same issues.
This post ranted a bit, and it's not a flame....by any means. I'm just sort of rambling on about how my opinion of the show measures up to others.
Hitting the flask was't neccessary? The amount of career firefighters found to be abusing alcohol and or CDS while on duty within the past year is mindblowing. I'm sure there are just as many volunteers too, but the fact is it hasn't been reported on in such depth. It's a problem that affects teachers, lawyers, doctors, septic tank cleaners, and yes.....firemen. Bravo to Leary for actually having the balls to have such a social demon in the character.
You're 100% right when you say that the firehouse issues stay in the firehouse. Due to their unwillingness or inability to open that world to others, it's no suprise that there will be a few things a TV show will get wrong. Whether it be dialogue or sheer lack of research. doesn't matter,,,,,the show did alright in developing characters and setting plot lines. It's not a documentary on firemanics, it's a show on cable...
The ghosts are one of the more accurate things in my opinion. Not to the extent of having conversations, but I constantly see the faces of people I've seen killed in car accidents, suicides, and a 2 1/2 month old baby that drowned in the bathtub....while on duty for the PD I did CPR on her for 14 minutes and she still died. Let me just discard what that feels like......I've never had those people appear before me like a spirit or anything but I'll suddenly get a mental picture that sends a chill down my spine.
Leary's character is embellished.....and obviously so. I don't think that it sheds a negative light on firefighters because the show actually supports the notion that the world keeps zooming on and there he is with his whole life screwed up. He could be a stockbroker and have the same issues.
This post ranted a bit, and it's not a flame....by any means. I'm just sort of rambling on about how my opinion of the show measures up to others.