How Many Men Does It Take To Resolve A Problem?
By Darkwing
@Darkwing (21583)
April 16, 2008 6:36pm CST
This is not a joke... it's a follow up to my Sleepless Nights discussion. If you read that discussion, you'll know that owing to the inability to complete works on a new sewer system in our Street, the workmen left two large pumps outside my home, to temporarily pump the sewage through, until the beginning of September, when they can resume work. The reason for this, is that the landlord won't let them commence work behind the pub, because it will result in loss of summer trade.
These two pumps are surrounded by a solid metal fence, and as there wasn't enough room in the layby, the fence touches the pumps, so that when they start up, there's this terrific rattling of fence against pump. This goes on all night, and is in the heart of the village, so people are unable to sleep. Complaints went into the Parish Council... and the resulting scenario went like this.....
Monday... two men from the Parish Council and a Surveyor of Works came to survey the site and determine the problem and solution. They were out there for forty minutes, observing and discussing the positioning of the pumps and fence.
Tuesday... two workmen arrived in a truck, surveyed the site again, took out their tools, undid one fence panel, put it back, and bashed it with their fists to move it away from the pumps. They then took a drink, and waited for the pumps to start up. I couldn't believe it... the same rattle as before, and what did they do? They put their tools in the truck and drove off, leaving the problem unresolved.
Wednesday... Ah, this must be the day. Two, more experienced looking men arrived at the pumps. They took out the end panel and entered the area, to check the problem. Then, they walked up the bank, and discussed for ten minutes how they could move this panel. Having decided what they were going to do, they returned to the pump area and took a hammer to the fence, bashing it, and attempting to bow it so that it didn't touch the pump. They closed the area, waited, and the pumps started up! 
The noise was worse than ever, so what did they do? They put their tools over their shoulders and walked away!
That's seven men have visited the site in three days, and none of them has resolved the matter.
Now, outside my flat, there's a grassy bank, and at the bottom of the bank, the layby where the pumps have been sited. If it were me... a woman, I would get a spade and dig away a couple of inches of the bank, so that the fence was away from the vibrating pump... well, wouldn't we all? No, not these guys! They just haven't got the brain power! So, the sleepless nights go on, and we wake up in the morning, wondering when this endless stream of fence bashers is going to end.
I suggest they send a woman next time. So, how many men does it take to resolve a simple problem? What would you do, in this situation?
The noise was worse than ever, so what did they do? They put their tools over their shoulders and walked away!
That's seven men have visited the site in three days, and none of them has resolved the matter.
Now, outside my flat, there's a grassy bank, and at the bottom of the bank, the layby where the pumps have been sited. If it were me... a woman, I would get a spade and dig away a couple of inches of the bank, so that the fence was away from the vibrating pump... well, wouldn't we all? No, not these guys! They just haven't got the brain power! So, the sleepless nights go on, and we wake up in the morning, wondering when this endless stream of fence bashers is going to end.
I suggest they send a woman next time. So, how many men does it take to resolve a simple problem? What would you do, in this situation?3 people like this
7 responses
@Darkwing (21583)
•
17 Apr 08
Precisely, which is what I suggested to Pyewacket in response 2 last night. They took the easy way out and stood the fence on the layby tarmac, and instead of cutting the bottom of the bank back by two inches, they tried to hammer the fence out, away from the pumps. Talk about beating about the bush!!! 
Anyway... watch this space, because I have the answer to th riddle, and will post it in the bottom response here, tonight.
Brightest Blessings, my friend, and thank you for your contribution. xx
Anyway... watch this space, because I have the answer to th riddle, and will post it in the bottom response here, tonight.
Brightest Blessings, my friend, and thank you for your contribution. xx1 person likes this
@wickedangel (1636)
• Dominican Republic
17 Apr 08
I'd LOL if it weren't so sad a situation. I can relate to this! Why can't they find an easy solution to this? They will probably say that they can't dig into the bank because it is owned by someone and they can't get permission etc.
I would DEFINITELY ring them up and complain. Get them to register the amount of noise the pumps and fence are making (the Council will have equipment for this) and then say that you are having health problems due to lack of sleep etc., and if necessary go to your doctor and explain the situation and see if he can give you a note backing this up (exhaustion due to lack of sleep). Send them a copy of this and they will have resolved the problem in no time at all.
Good luck Darkwing. There is nothing worse than not getting enough sleep. We are with you!
1 person likes this
@Darkwing (21583)
•
17 Apr 08
The bank belongs to the council, so I don't see any problem with digging into it. Besides, it can easily be replaced afterwards and made good.
I did think about asking for compensation, for the inconvenience, but I hate to make that much fuss. Your suggestions are good ones and I might just take them on board.
Thank you for your contribution my friend, and Brightest Blessings. xx
@wickedangel (1636)
• Dominican Republic
18 Apr 08
Tee hee, nice one, so 13 men finally got their heads around a problem in how many days? And you (as they say 'a mere woman') figured this out in a few minutes on day one! Well, what can we say? A lot of things that's for sure and probably unprintable here! Anyway, I'm glad that things have sort of got resolved (shame you still have the pumps there!)
1 person likes this
Big Hugs @Darkwing (21583)
•
17 Apr 08
Very true, but I now have the answer as to how many men it takes to solve a problem.
I turned out very eerily in the end, as what I put as a suggestion in Pywacket's response, seems to have reached them by telepathy!
I've promised to type the answer in the last response, and it looks as though you may be the last one to answer tonight, so please excuse me adding it to your response area, my friend.
Brightest Blessings and thank you for your contribution. Love and hugs. xxxx
I've promised to type the answer in the last response, and it looks as though you may be the last one to answer tonight, so please excuse me adding it to your response area, my friend.
Brightest Blessings and thank you for your contribution. Love and hugs. xxxx2 people like this
@deeeky (3667)
• Edinburgh, Scotland
17 Apr 08
That reminds me of the oldie that Bernard Cribbins sang in the sixties !
Whether it be outside your house or on the motorway there always seams to a plether of individuals looking down a hole or keeping a fence up by leaning on it.
It's always been that way and will never change I suppose.
Hope you have quieter nights from Deeeky.
1 person likes this
@Darkwing (21583)
•
17 Apr 08
Would that be the famous Hole in the Ground, song? I call the workmen Doozers, from the old kids tele programme, although why, I'll never fathom, because as was the case here, there was one working, one sleeping in the digger whilst waiting to start, and four or five looking on and talking about the job! But, there's no reason why it should always be that way! Why do they have to bosh things... they only have to keep coming back?
Thanks for your wishes... I hope so too, because I doubt I can last out another four and a half months! I'll be a wreck! 
Brightest Blessings, my dear friend and thank you for your contribution. x
I call the workmen Doozers, from the old kids tele programme, although why, I'll never fathom, because as was the case here, there was one working, one sleeping in the digger whilst waiting to start, and four or five looking on and talking about the job! But, there's no reason why it should always be that way! Why do they have to bosh things... they only have to keep coming back?
Thanks for your wishes... I hope so too, because I doubt I can last out another four and a half months! I'll be a wreck!
Brightest Blessings, my dear friend and thank you for your contribution. x@deeeky (3667)
• Edinburgh, Scotland
17 Apr 08
four months is farrrr to long and I know myself that they make it that long so that they are kept in the job longer for the money aspect.
Bring the squaddy engineers in and the job is finished in days not months!
Have a great sleep from Deeeky
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
24 Apr 08
I think I'd be talking to some neighbours and taking my lil ole trusty shovel after the men have gone and doing the job myself. I can't envision the problem or the solution but I can hear the noise.
If I could get him to you, my friend would stick with the problem till it was resolved. If one of these workmen (and I use the term loosely) lived in the vicinity you would see the problem fixed in no time. Blessed be and I hope you get to sleep soon.
@Darkwing (21583)
•
24 Apr 08
The worst of it is righted now, but believe me, I would have taken my shovel down whilst they were still there... and clobbered them with it, had it gone on much longer!
Thank you for thinking of me, and yes, you're right, if one of them lived here, it would soon be fixed.
Brightest Blessings and thank you for your contribution, my dear friend. xx
Thank you for thinking of me, and yes, you're right, if one of them lived here, it would soon be fixed.
Brightest Blessings and thank you for your contribution, my dear friend. xx
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Apr 08
Oh my, my...since you came up with the solution of how to get this resolved it sure would do to have a woman come in and handle the problem...These guys sound as intelligent as my super and how he fixes things...like when he came up to change the entire faucet system and created a mini flood in the process..Then he decided to take a look at the faucets in the bathroom...he decided to change the washers as the cold water was dripping ever so slightly but still not THAT bad. So now they're changed...I can hardly move or turn the hot water on now, and the cold water faucet isn't much better...gee, thanks super
Sorry that you're going through this racket though Darkwing...wonder if people like this that work for such companies have to take any kind of common sense tests? Certainly doesn't sound like it
Sorry that you're going through this racket though Darkwing...wonder if people like this that work for such companies have to take any kind of common sense tests? Certainly doesn't sound like it1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
17 Apr 08
LOL surely it doesn't take seven men to solve a simple problem like that. Would they mind if the next time they send out men to do something about it, you step out and say something? LOL I know it probably isn't the right way to go about it but hey, it's worth a try. You could even send in a complaint and tell them you might have a solution for it. They might just listen ... or maybe not!
Sorry you have to go through this noise day in and day out, I know I would be most annoyed and probably rally a few neighbors together and head down to the Council to discuss it.
@Darkwing (21583)
•
17 Apr 08
Would you like to place your bets now, my friend, before I post the answer?
They always listen when you say something, but they are incapable of making a decision my friend. They pass you a telephone number and if you can get somebody to answer you make your grievance. Then, it's passed down the line! Honestly, they couldn't organise a p**s up in a brewery!
Anyway... I'm going to make a post in the final response here, tonight, telling you the answer to the riddle! You'll be amazed!
Brightest Blessings, my dear friend, and thank you for your contribution. x
They always listen when you say something, but they are incapable of making a decision my friend. They pass you a telephone number and if you can get somebody to answer you make your grievance. Then, it's passed down the line! Honestly, they couldn't organise a p**s up in a brewery!
Anyway... I'm going to make a post in the final response here, tonight, telling you the answer to the riddle! You'll be amazed!
Brightest Blessings, my dear friend, and thank you for your contribution. x1 person likes this
