I am amazed by the ignorance of people

[retired nuke]

Shoot, you guys have it easy. I work in Vermont, and live in western Mass, near Northampton and Amherst. When the fruits start anti-nuking me, I ask what they do. Then I generally get to state " I no longer argue technology with Art History majors, it hurts my head" and walk away.   

But really, even here, I have found most people are open to at least discussing it, and as long as I am patient and knowledgeable, I find that at worst, we agree to disagree. Like BZ, I represent my employer wherever I am, and being obnoxious does nothing beneficial to our operation.

[GLW]

......Like BZ, I represent my employer wherever I am, and being obnoxious does nothing beneficial to our operation.

that is the best attitude to take away from all the answers to the OP,....

[Marlin]

Shoot, you guys have it easy. I work in Vermont, and live in western Mass, near Northampton and Amherst. When the fruits start anti-nuking me, I ask what they do. Then I generally get to state " I no longer argue technology with Art History majors, it hurts my head" and walk away.   

But really, even here, I have found most people are open to at least discussing it, and as long as I am patient and knowledgeable, I find that at worst, we agree to disagree. Like BZ, I represent my employer wherever I am, and being obnoxious does nothing beneficial to our operation.

   I did one outage at VY in the late 70s and was shocked at the number old hippies living in the area, not a nuclear friendly crowd. I was told that talking to many of the locals was not a worthwhile effort, this was in the publicity shy phase of nuclear power when law suits for being stung by an ionized bee were settled rather than go public in court. Perhaps if there was a more aggressive public information effort early there would be a more positive view of nuclear power and realistic understanding of radiation. 

[peteshonkwiler]

When asked what I do for a living, I usually responde with "as little as possible and still get paid."  Most often, that's enough of a joke to let go of occupations and move onto other, more fun type topics.  When I get pressed further, I'll inhale deeply and exhale.  Then I'll tell them I work in Health Physics which, in layman's terms, is Radiation Safety.  That will take out another 20% or so.  After that, it's free form discussion until my patience gets tried.  Then I'll let them in on the hormesis theory and how cave men evolved faster than plains dwellers due to the extra radiation they received as a result of their receipt from the 360 degree NORM geometry during mating activities.  That usually ends the discussion.  

[spikeree]

After > twenty years in this field, I lie! i tell them i pump the turds out of porta-jons.

[Already Gone]

Why not?  It pays better.

[stownsend]

After > twenty years in this field, I lie! i tell them i pump the turds out of porta-jons.

If you work at Pilgrim you would be telling the truth. How many marinelli's does it take to release the porta john swill?

[Wojo]

Steve,

It depended on who you knew.  The number changed daily depending on who had the desk

Wojo