20 Questions!
Copy and paste these questions into your reply. Should be a lot of fun!
1) Where do you work? (Can be vague...we all know how paranoid we all are! 
)
2) How long have you been a dispatcher? How long at current job?
3) Do you dispatch for everything (fire, police, ems) or do you specialize in one certain area?
4) What do you love the most about being a dispatcher?
5) What do you dislike the most about being a dispatcher?
6) Do you get paid what you are worth?
7) What shift do you like working? And what shift are you on?
8) What was your most harrowing call?
9) Can you remember one of your funniest calls?
10) Have you ever talked to anyone famous in the course of your job? Care to elaborate?
11) Relating to diet: What is the hardest thing you have or think you will encounter regarding having the wls when back at work?
12) What is the favorite junk food in your comm center?
13) Are you a water drinker at work, or do you tank up on coffee or soda?
14) Do you find yourself distrusting of other people...being in work mode? Or do you think you haveh a pretty normal perception of others?
15) Do you like to watch Cops on TV or any of the other emergency reality programs?
16) Do you like the other reality shows (i.e. Survivor, etc)? If so, why?
17) Do your co-workers know you had or are going to have wls?
18) Are the people in your life (co-workers, family, friends) supportive of your choice for wls?
19) Do you have a pretty informal comm center, or is everything kept very professional? (Clothing, protocol, etc)
20) What is your strongest ability?
)
2) How long have you been a dispatcher? How long at current job?
3) Do you dispatch for everything (fire, police, ems) or do you specialize in one certain area?
4) What do you love the most about being a dispatcher?
5) What do you dislike the most about being a dispatcher?
6) Do you get paid what you are worth?
7) What shift do you like working? And what shift are you on?
8) What was your most harrowing call?
9) Can you remember one of your funniest calls?
10) Have you ever talked to anyone famous in the course of your job? Care to elaborate?
11) Relating to diet: What is the hardest thing you have or think you will encounter regarding having the wls when back at work?
12) What is the favorite junk food in your comm center?
13) Are you a water drinker at work, or do you tank up on coffee or soda?
14) Do you find yourself distrusting of other people...being in work mode? Or do you think you haveh a pretty normal perception of others?
15) Do you like to watch Cops on TV or any of the other emergency reality programs?
16) Do you like the other reality shows (i.e. Survivor, etc)? If so, why?
17) Do your co-workers know you had or are going to have wls?
18) Are the people in your life (co-workers, family, friends) supportive of your choice for wls?
19) Do you have a pretty informal comm center, or is everything kept very professional? (Clothing, protocol, etc)
20) What is your strongest ability? 
OK, I'm Game, I'll be the first to play along
1) Where do you work? Northampton County, North Carolina
2) How long have you been a dispatcher? How long at current job?
Dispatcher? that is a wordy durd! I am a telecommunicator & have been one for 17 years. (Dispatchers work for Cab companies, we do far more than dispatch!!!!)
3) Do you dispatch for everything (fire, police, ems) or do you specialize in one certain area? We do it all for our entire county, Fire, Police, EMS, Deputies, Public Works, Animal Control, I would go on, but if you are reading this, you already know!
4) What do you love the most about being a dispatcher? That after 13 years, they made me the BOSS - I tell you, after all of those years of saying "If I could change _________ I would do it this way" Well, now after 17 years, I made it to Director. Not all of my ways are perfect, but Thank GOD I know enough to make it easier for my staff.
5) What do you dislike the most about being a dispatcher? Dealing with the public when they are abusive! I could never understand how someone can call another person for help, and then curse at and threaten them. But it is a part of the job, so I adapt and deal with it!
6) Do you get paid what you are worth? NO! NO! NO! and in my opinion, there isn't a single one of us doing this job that are paid what we are worth!
7) What shift do you like working? And what shift are you on? Currently on 8:30 - 5 and on call 24/7 worked all shifts, loved them all.
8) What was your most harrowing call? WHEW, How many am I allowed to list here? I can think of some doozies! I would have to say that it would be the elderly man that walked into our office in the middle of the night, looked me in the eyes and told me he had just killed his wife. I was squirming! LOL!
9) Can you remember one of your funniest calls? Again, am I limited here? I keep promising that I am going to write a book! Let me see...hmmm, well it would have to be the elderly man that called to report that someone was stealing stuff from his garden. When we asked what was being taken, he said his marijuana plants. Fortuantely, there were 33 left when the deputies arrived.
10) Have you ever talked to anyone famous in the course of your job? Care to elaborate? YEP ~ that call that you just read about got calls from Jay Leno and David Letterman!
11) Relating to diet: What is the hardest thing you have or think you will encounter regarding having the wls when back at work? The reaction of all of the officers & responders as the weight comes off.
12) What is the favorite junk food in your comm center? Anything that can be eaten 1) fast & 2) packed easily into the jaw while talking on the radio.
13) Are you a water drinker at work, or do you tank up on coffee or soda?
Soda and water at work, imagining that it is something MUCH stronger (Just joking there, I don't drink. THANK GOD!!!!! If I did, I would be such an ALCOHOLIC)
14) Do you find yourself distrusting of other people...being in work mode?
Or do you think you haveh a pretty normal perception of others? I am leary of most people until I get to know them.
15) Do you like to watch Cops on TV or any of the other emergency reality programs? I thought the first year of rescue 911 was a farce. Producers don't realize how much the public believes of what they see on TV. So the first year of this show, everyone dialed 911, and they or their loved ones were saved. Come ON! we know that is not reality. I was happy to see that in the 2nd season, it showed a more accurate portrayal.
16) Do you like the other reality shows (i.e. Survivor, etc)? If so, why? Nope..........I watch TV to take my mind off of Reality.
17) Do your co-workers know you had or are going to have wls? Yes, and they are so supportive!
18) Are the people in your life (co-workers, family, friends) supportive of your choice for wls? I could not ask for better support from my family or friends! I wish everyone could have a support group like mine!
19) Do you have a pretty informal comm center, or is everything kept very professional? (Clothing, protocol, etc) Very informal. And I adore it. No uniforms, no backstabbing! This is the greatest place to work!
20) What is your strongest ability? Keeping calm in all situations. In addition to 911, I am also working on my Paramedic. I'm very calm and in control throughout a crisis. - - - > Now, after all is said and done, I'll most likely be a basket case for a few minutes! Pamela -
It's funny that you don't like the word Dispatcher! I'm not overly fond of telecommunicator because although we know it to refer to a calltaker or dispatcher for emergency services, I have also heard it used to refer to a person who works for the phone company. The feeling it generates is one of being a telemarketer. Ewww!!!!
On #5 it's interesting because I was just talking to my sister the other day. She is a nurse and just moved from N. Cal to Palm Springs area where she went to work at the medical center that houses the Betty Ford Clinic. She commented how you have to kiss butt with the patients who are really wealthy and they are surly when they are sick. But she said that was okay - she could understand that because they were sick and didn't feel good. What she couldn't hack was the backbiting amongst co-workers. She came from a place where 150 people threw her a going away party to a place where everyone backstabs. She said she was finding a few folks to befriend but she can't get over how unsupportive the nursing staff is of each other. She has a point. I think I can cope with the abusive callers okay as well. Doesn't really bother me to be called a beeyotch or worse by the public...but when it's a co-worker, that stings!
Dina
I think that my dislike of dispatcher comes from the smarta$$ way that the Officers here say it. It often comes out of their mouths sounding as appealing as Bubonic Plague! To us, they use the word as a slam. So, I make a point when I teach Comm. classes either to Basic Telecommunicators or Basic Law Enf. that it is a wordy durd.
No matter what you call it, it is one heck of a tough job that most people just cannot do. It takes a super special breed! Glad that I am one!!
As for the backstabbing, I just cannot tolerate it. It is ridiculous to go to work and have to endure that type of environment. We have hired a few into my system (found out what they were like after hire), and I have had a few talks (ranging from gentle to "Come to JESUS"), and I just make it plain that I will not tolerate it. Here, staff is on 9 month probation, and retain their position during that time at my discretion. I cant say that I would (or have) let someone go because of that, but I do make it clear that it isn't welcome here.
I'm sure it is tough in hospitals, especially in one like your sis works in. She has my admiration!!!!!
Our probation is 1 year but I think the thing about probation that sucks is everyone is usually on their best behavior then. Not always, but many times. I would like to see more discipline handed out for the backstabbing that goes on. Our comm center is pretty good - I like most everyone in there. But there is definitely some covert backstabbing that goes on and has been viewed I guess as "well, there is nothing we can do about it" rather than something they can take a proactive stance on. I think it is borne out of a sense of it always being that way and management not seeing it as something that will happen no matter what.
I guess while I was gone someone got in trouble for sending full page messages on the CAD. Well, someone was able to search them and got offended at a conversation a couple of people were having about her, so they banned non-business related conversations on messages. That's good and bad, but I'd rather see it dealt with and banned than to let it continue. It's been going on for years...finally took someone figuring out how to search it to get it to stop though. That's what I don't like....we always have to wait until there is something really bad that happens before something changes.
Dina
Guess I can answer my own questions now!
1) Where do you work? (Can be vague...we all know how paranoid we all are! ) **I work in Southern Oregon and I dispatch for the state police.
2) How long have you been a dispatcher? **Since 1988 How long at current job? **Since 1991 - 12.5 years.
3) Do you dispatch for everything (fire, police, ems) or do you specialize in one certain area? **We dispatch for mainly just police.
4) What do you love the most about being a dispatcher? **The feast or famine aspect to it. I like mixing it up and having it highly stimulating one minute and quiet and boring the next. I love being challenged when it is busy....I do my best work then.
5) What do you dislike the most about being a dispatcher? **The overtime. Hands down, the overtime. I could live the rest of my life without 1 more hour of overtime and I would be a very happy person.
6) Do you get paid what you are worth? **No, and they keep monkeying with our pay. I am getting the shaft twice over in the last year. Too long to go into, but suffice it to say the Union made a judgement error and created a disparity where people with less seniority than others can end up with a higher pay scale, and then they are voluntarily freezing that for 2 years. 
7) What shift do you like working? **GRAVEYARD! And what shift are you on? **GRAVEYARD! I am just not a morning person unless it's the end of my day. I actually am one of those people who wishes she could be up 24 hours a day, but since I have to choose, I choose to sleep during the day.
8) What was your most harrowing call? **It is twofold. Christmas eve one year I had a trooper involved in a pursuit. He ended up in a small town and there was no backup to be had anywhere. I couldn't find a soul to help. I ended up calling a local police department that was about 5 miles out of jursidiction to back him up. They wanted pc for the stop while I was telling them to just go. All I could get from my troop while he was now in a foot pursuit was the code for emergent backup and then what I heard as "help me, help me.." He was in hand to hand combat with this guy for 15 minutes before help arrived. It ended up he was trying to give me a good location for his fight which was "Elm Street" and not "help me" but regardless he still needed emergent backup. Then less than a week later we had a man come to our door and commit suicide by cop. The standoff lasted hours and I had just put his estranged wife on hold in time for her to not hear the hail of bullets that ensued as he pulled out what he told them was a gun. Turned out to not be a gun 
You can imagine the press on that one. Our agency didn't fire any shots, but it didn't matter. These 2 incidents so close to each other sent me into a tailspin for over 6 months. I couldn't do anything right.
9) Can you remember one of your funniest calls? **You know, I can't remember specifically anything that stands out. I asked the stupid question, and I know there are lots of hilarious moments but the ONLY thing that stands out in my mind is an exchange by two troopers that went like this: "21, you want me to come sit on your tow?" 21 responds "Nooooooo! But you can come wait for my wrecker!"
10) Have you ever talked to anyone famous in the course of your job? **Yes Care to elaborate? **Won't go into details but I spoke to Art Bell (the UFO conspiracy theorist guy from talk radio) one night. I met Weird Al Yankovick sort of in the course of employment once. The radio station called for incidents and we chatted about funny songs and the DJ asked me to come sing one of my song parodies I did years ago while in high school before I ever heard of Weird Al. I did, and they did backup. I had a blast, but Weird Al is indeed quite weird.
11) Relating to diet: What is the hardest thing you have or think you will encounter regarding having the wls when back at work? **The planning part. It might be easier really thought because a Lean Cuisine will fill me up, but it's always hard when you have to wolf down your food and after surgery we have to chew really well. I will have to make sure to take my breaks and eat on them from now on. I used to like to go to the store and just clear my mind on my breaks then eat at my console. I'll have to revise that.
12) What is the favorite junk food in your comm center? **Well, there always seems to be candy in there, and although the cops don't eat donuts, the dispatchers do!
13) Are you a water drinker at work, or do you tank up on coffee or soda? **I drink coffee coffee coffee and soda soda soda. I have a hard time with water even though I'm supposed to drink it. I have been a bad girl and have been drinking my Diet Vanilla Pepsi on occasion here at home. If you put it in ice it takes a lot of the fizz out. I just love a soda from time to time. I've not had a lot of coffee lately though...funny!
14) Do you find yourself distrusting of other people...being in work mode? **I used to be very distrusting of people. I have either gotten used to that or I don't think I think about it much anymore. I remember a couple years after starting this job I lamented my innocence lost. Now I feel like I've gotten a better balance and am not so leery of people. I still am, and I still watch it more than other people but generally I'm not as paranoid as I was years and years ago..
15) Do you like to watch Cops on TV or any of the other emergency reality programs? **I really really don't like them. I watch them if our agency is going to be on, but generally I don't unless I'm desperate for something to watch.
16) Do you like the other reality shows (i.e. Survivor, etc)? If so, why? **I hate reality shows. The only "reality" shows I like are like Trading Spaces and the like. I do, however, rather enjoy Extreme Makeover. Probably because I see myself as needing one in about a year too!
17) Do your co-workers know you had or are going to have wls? **Yes, I've been completely open about it. I figure they know I'm out for 2 months while I did this and will come back thinner and continue to lose weight. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out!
18) Are the people in your life (co-workers, family, friends) supportive of your choice for wls? **Surprisingly, yes. I thought my mom would freak but she is very supportive. She realizes the weight will kill me and wants to see me healthy. There is only one person who is not totally thrilled with it and that is my brother. He is afraid of it...but still through it supportive as he can be.
19) Do you have a pretty informal comm center, or is everything kept very professional? (Clothing, protocol, etc) **It's pretty formal. For most of my career there we were very formal, but a few years ago they started letting us wear jeans on the weekends and holidays. It's not as bad as at the capital though. We follow set protocol and dress code, but we are generally happy. I think we'd be happier with a looser dress code though! I mean really - no one ever sees us except on the rare occasion the news comes in to do a story. If they would let us dress down, I'll bet everyone would agree to put a nice set of clothes in their lockers so they can spruce up when the press was in, or the governor etc.
20) What is your strongest ability? **I work very very well under pressure. I can hyperfocus and keep track of many things at once. My problem comes when things slow down...that's when I can make my mistakes. I don't make a lot of them, but when I make one, it's usually a stupid one.
Dina
1) Where do you work? (Can be vague...we all know how paranoid we all are! ) **I work in Southern Oregon and I dispatch for the state police.
2) How long have you been a dispatcher? **Since 1988 How long at current job? **Since 1991 - 12.5 years.
3) Do you dispatch for everything (fire, police, ems) or do you specialize in one certain area? **We dispatch for mainly just police.
4) What do you love the most about being a dispatcher? **The feast or famine aspect to it. I like mixing it up and having it highly stimulating one minute and quiet and boring the next. I love being challenged when it is busy....I do my best work then.
5) What do you dislike the most about being a dispatcher? **The overtime. Hands down, the overtime. I could live the rest of my life without 1 more hour of overtime and I would be a very happy person.
6) Do you get paid what you are worth? **No, and they keep monkeying with our pay. I am getting the shaft twice over in the last year. Too long to go into, but suffice it to say the Union made a judgement error and created a disparity where people with less seniority than others can end up with a higher pay scale, and then they are voluntarily freezing that for 2 years.
7) What shift do you like working? **GRAVEYARD! And what shift are you on? **GRAVEYARD! I am just not a morning person unless it's the end of my day. I actually am one of those people who wishes she could be up 24 hours a day, but since I have to choose, I choose to sleep during the day.
8) What was your most harrowing call? **It is twofold. Christmas eve one year I had a trooper involved in a pursuit. He ended up in a small town and there was no backup to be had anywhere. I couldn't find a soul to help. I ended up calling a local police department that was about 5 miles out of jursidiction to back him up. They wanted pc for the stop while I was telling them to just go. All I could get from my troop while he was now in a foot pursuit was the code for emergent backup and then what I heard as "help me, help me.." He was in hand to hand combat with this guy for 15 minutes before help arrived. It ended up he was trying to give me a good location for his fight which was "Elm Street" and not "help me" but regardless he still needed emergent backup. Then less than a week later we had a man come to our door and commit suicide by cop. The standoff lasted hours and I had just put his estranged wife on hold in time for her to not hear the hail of bullets that ensued as he pulled out what he told them was a gun. Turned out to not be a gun You can imagine the press on that one. Our agency didn't fire any shots, but it didn't matter. These 2 incidents so close to each other sent me into a tailspin for over 6 months. I couldn't do anything right.
9) Can you remember one of your funniest calls? **You know, I can't remember specifically anything that stands out. I asked the stupid question, and I know there are lots of hilarious moments but the ONLY thing that stands out in my mind is an exchange by two troopers that went like this: "21, you want me to come sit on your tow?" 21 responds "Nooooooo! But you can come wait for my wrecker!"
10) Have you ever talked to anyone famous in the course of your job? **Yes Care to elaborate? **Won't go into details but I spoke to Art Bell (the UFO conspiracy theorist guy from talk radio) one night. I met Weird Al Yankovick sort of in the course of employment once. The radio station called for incidents and we chatted about funny songs and the DJ asked me to come sing one of my song parodies I did years ago while in high school before I ever heard of Weird Al. I did, and they did backup. I had a blast, but Weird Al is indeed quite weird.
11) Relating to diet: What is the hardest thing you have or think you will encounter regarding having the wls when back at work? **The planning part. It might be easier really thought because a Lean Cuisine will fill me up, but it's always hard when you have to wolf down your food and after surgery we have to chew really well. I will have to make sure to take my breaks and eat on them from now on. I used to like to go to the store and just clear my mind on my breaks then eat at my console. I'll have to revise that.
12) What is the favorite junk food in your comm center? **Well, there always seems to be candy in there, and although the cops don't eat donuts, the dispatchers do!
13) Are you a water drinker at work, or do you tank up on coffee or soda? **I drink coffee coffee coffee and soda soda soda. I have a hard time with water even though I'm supposed to drink it. I have been a bad girl and have been drinking my Diet Vanilla Pepsi on occasion here at home. If you put it in ice it takes a lot of the fizz out. I just love a soda from time to time. I've not had a lot of coffee lately though...funny!
14) Do you find yourself distrusting of other people...being in work mode? **I used to be very distrusting of people. I have either gotten used to that or I don't think I think about it much anymore. I remember a couple years after starting this job I lamented my innocence lost. Now I feel like I've gotten a better balance and am not so leery of people. I still am, and I still watch it more than other people but generally I'm not as paranoid as I was years and years ago..
15) Do you like to watch Cops on TV or any of the other emergency reality programs? **I really really don't like them. I watch them if our agency is going to be on, but generally I don't unless I'm desperate for something to watch.
16) Do you like the other reality shows (i.e. Survivor, etc)? If so, why? **I hate reality shows. The only "reality" shows I like are like Trading Spaces and the like. I do, however, rather enjoy Extreme Makeover. Probably because I see myself as needing one in about a year too!
17) Do your co-workers know you had or are going to have wls? **Yes, I've been completely open about it. I figure they know I'm out for 2 months while I did this and will come back thinner and continue to lose weight. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out!
18) Are the people in your life (co-workers, family, friends) supportive of your choice for wls? **Surprisingly, yes. I thought my mom would freak but she is very supportive. She realizes the weight will kill me and wants to see me healthy. There is only one person who is not totally thrilled with it and that is my brother. He is afraid of it...but still through it supportive as he can be.
19) Do you have a pretty informal comm center, or is everything kept very professional? (Clothing, protocol, etc) **It's pretty formal. For most of my career there we were very formal, but a few years ago they started letting us wear jeans on the weekends and holidays. It's not as bad as at the capital though. We follow set protocol and dress code, but we are generally happy. I think we'd be happier with a looser dress code though! I mean really - no one ever sees us except on the rare occasion the news comes in to do a story. If they would let us dress down, I'll bet everyone would agree to put a nice set of clothes in their lockers so they can spruce up when the press was in, or the governor etc.
20) What is your strongest ability? **I work very very well under pressure. I can hyperfocus and keep track of many things at once. My problem comes when things slow down...that's when I can make my mistakes. I don't make a lot of them, but when I make one, it's usually a stupid one.
Dina 
Yes, I know all about how it's in the blood! I guess sometimes I **** people off because I don't give them an out. They start hem hawing about this horrible thing or that horrible person and I keep asking questions and nail them down until they hate me. ::sigh:: Hazards of the job! But yanno, I have a BS meter that just starts going off and I guess I just hate being played...
To answer your question, I had my surgery March 10th and have lost 33 lbs so far. I am hoping I drop a boatload here before next Monday so I can at least have 40 off by then. I'm due as I've been stalled for awhile, so we'll see!
I did have the open rny and feel wonderful. In fact, when I got out of the hospital after 2.5 days I didn't need any pain meds at all. I couldn't believe I felt that good, but I did.
Oh - and I went to Mexico for mine as my insurance doesn't pay for this. 
Dina 
1) Where do you work? (Can be vague...we all know how paranoid we all are! ) a private ambulance company
2) How long have you been a dispatcher? How long at current job? I have been an emt-I for 5 yrs now and dispatcher for 3 yrs.
3) Do you dispatch for everything (fire, police, ems) or do you specialize in one certain area? ems mostly with some emd thrown in too spice things up
4) What do you love the most about being a dispatcher? telling people where to go
5) What do you dislike the most about being a dispatcher? the noise of the radios, scanners, phones, etc
6) Do you get paid what you are worth? hell no
7) What shift do you like working? And what shift are you on? day shift with a couple seconds a week, works for me
8) What was your most harrowing call? babie calls are worst
9) Can you remember one of your funniest calls?not off the top of my head
10) Have you ever talked to anyone famous in the course of your job? Care to elaborate? not that I know of
11) Relating to diet: What is the hardest thing you have or think you will encounter regarding having the wls when back at work? when everyone orders out
12) What is the favorite junk food in your comm center?pizza and wings
13) Are you a water drinker at work, or do you tank up on coffee or soda?big coffee drinker than pop
14) Do you find yourself distrusting of other people...being in work mode? nope im as normal as a dispatcher can be, lolOr do you think you haveh a pretty normal perception of others?
15) Do you like to watch Cops on TV or any of the other emergency reality programs?somtimes but when you live it why watch it
16) Do you like the other reality shows (i.e. Survivor, etc)? If so, why?the ozzborne's, the dating and marriage onese are good
17) Do your co-workers know you had or are going to have wls? yes, 2 other co workers have already had surgery
18) Are the people in your life (co-workers, family, friends) supportive of your choice for wls? yes, mostly eveyone
19) Do you have a pretty informal comm center, or is everything kept very professional? (Clothing, protocol, etc)very professional including uniforms
20) What is your strongest ability? comunication and multi-tasking
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