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(BBC) Dumbass Not News: A City banker gives up a high paying job to become a carpenter. Fark: Finds out he is allergic to wood   (news.bbc.co.uk) divider line 50
More: Dumbass  
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50 Comments   (+0 »)


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UNC_Samurai [TotalFark] 2008-04-26 09:38:16 AM  
Let's get it......ACHOO!

 
whatshisname 2008-04-26 10:32:57 AM  
So is my wife

 
jso2897 2008-04-26 10:33:44 AM  
You know who else was a carpenter, and turned out to be fatally allergic to wood?

That's right.

 
Abattur 2008-04-26 10:37:27 AM  
jso2897: You know who else was a carpenter, and turned out to be fatally allergic to wood?

That's right.


+1

 
soy_bomb 2008-04-26 10:38:46 AM  
You know who else was allergic to wood?
img74.imageshack.us

 
anonimo 2008-04-26 10:40:51 AM  
whatshisname: So is my wife

Niiiiice

 
Gobobo 2008-04-26 10:41:47 AM  
Needs 'Ha Ha' kid.

/Damn, stealing bankers.

 
Lando Lincoln [TotalFark] 2008-04-26 10:46:18 AM  
jso2897: You know who else was a carpenter, and turned out to be fatally allergic to wood?

That's right.


But...Hitler was a painter.

 
Lando Lincoln [TotalFark] 2008-04-26 10:48:30 AM  
Maybe living here in the U.S. we have different common wood types, but...

African hardwood? Isn't that a little pricey to be starting your career in carpentry? Wouldn't you practice on some other wood, like...pine?

This guy is a tool. No pun intended.

Okay, it was a little intended.

 
productiveslacker 2008-04-26 10:50:18 AM  
jso2897: You know who else was a carpenter, and turned out to be fatally allergic to wood?

That's right.


I have never thought of the irony of that, well stated.

 
sickicarus [recently expired TotalFark] 2008-04-26 10:50:21 AM  
At least he chased something he really loved - good on him, its a shame it didn't work out.

 
portscanner 2008-04-26 10:50:51 AM  
Notice that he is allergic to AFRICAN wood.

(someone insert "That's Racist" kid here)

 
fadeaway 2008-04-26 10:51:37 AM  
Wow.

You don't just "decide" to be a carpenter. Especially not a finish carpenter that makes fine furnature.

He just discovered that he was allergic to wood? That tells me that he hasn't spent any amount of time actually learning the craft. It takes years of training and experience before any reasonable person would consider striking out on their own in the fine carpentry business.

His plan.. not so cunning, obviously not thought through.

For the best, I say.

/follow your dreams.. but at least get an apprenticeship under your belt first.

//No, you can not "DIY".

///trades get no respect

 
strife 2008-04-26 10:52:55 AM  
so he's a dumbass for following his dream?

 
sickicarus [recently expired TotalFark] 2008-04-26 10:54:22 AM  
fadeaway: You don't just "decide" to be a carpenter. Especially not a finish carpenter that makes fine furnature.

Actually, you can.
Sometimes you just have a knack.
I remember reading about a gut not too long ago that was doing his woodworking as a hobby, when he started getting commissions for his work.
At that point he realized he may be better than he thought, and quit his dayjob to do it full time. Now makes quite a bit of money.

/of course, he wasn't allergic.

 
TheHappyCanadian 2008-04-26 10:55:08 AM  
jso2897: You know who else was a carpenter, and turned out to be fatally allergic to wood?

That's right.


would have been funnier if the banker was Jewish to boot

 
Ravens357 2008-04-26 10:55:32 AM  
DulceEtDecorumEst: portscanner: Notice that he is allergic to AFRICAN wood.

(someone insert "That's Racist" kid here)


Dude...

 
troppo gonzo 2008-04-26 10:56:01 AM  
i215.photobucket.com

 
Abattur 2008-04-26 10:57:00 AM  
www.hiarchive.co.uk
I don't think so Tim.

 
jspenguin [TotalFark] 2008-04-26 10:57:48 AM  
s3.jspenguin.org

I'm a lumberjack and I'm OK ...

 
jso2897 2008-04-26 10:59:12 AM  
On a serious note, back in the seventies, when I was in the jewelry trade, I met a man with a most unusual art/hobby. He made objects out poisonous woods. He scoured the world for exotic species of toxic plants that produced wood or woodlike tissue. He made little snuffboxes, humidors, netsukes, that sort of thing. Some of the woods he worked with were so nasty he had to wear rubber gloves and respirators and so on to work with them - and he had to formulate his own special sealers and finishes that would render the objects safe to handle. I thought it was fascinating, and regret having lost track of the guy and his work.

 
fadeaway 2008-04-26 10:59:46 AM  
sickicarus: Sometimes you just have a knack.
I remember reading about a gut not too long ago that was doing his woodworking as a hobby, when he started getting commissions for his work.
At that point he realized he may be better than he thought, and quit his dayjob to do it full time. Now makes quite a bit of money.


I've met people with natural talent, sure, but to quit your job and strike it out on your own in a field without any training? Lunacy.

His knack wouldn't save him when his inexperienced ass runs his fingers through a planer.

 
sickicarus [recently expired TotalFark] 2008-04-26 11:03:58 AM  
fadeaway: His knack wouldn't save him when his inexperienced ass runs his fingers through a planer.

LOL, aint that the truth

 
H31N0US 2008-04-26 11:07:01 AM  
It's not a bad time to get out of the investment banking business.

 
luckybastard 2008-04-26 11:07:10 AM  
fadeaway: I've met people with natural talent, sure, but to quit your job and strike it out on your own in a field without any training? Lunacy.



Yeah, but he was an investment banker for 8 years who did woodworking as a hobby. I'm going to guess he has money off of which to live while he develops his skillz.

 
Mike__Hunt 2008-04-26 11:13:04 AM  
Maybe he can afford to be a carpenter because he got a golden shower parachute from the bank job.

 
jbrooks544 2008-04-26 11:15:05 AM  
I wouldn't call him a "carpenter". I'd call him an aspiring furniture maker. /just sayin'

 
danar75 2008-04-26 11:15:57 AM  
He's sorta hot. Maybe he could do the furniture thing part time and work with a different kind of wood as a model. 8-)

 
Dr. Mojo PhD [TotalFark] 2008-04-26 11:16:52 AM  
fadeaway: sickicarus: Sometimes you just have a knack.
I remember reading about a gut not too long ago that was doing his woodworking as a hobby, when he started getting commissions for his work.
At that point he realized he may be better than he thought, and quit his dayjob to do it full time. Now makes quite a bit of money.

I've met people with natural talent, sure, but to quit your job and strike it out on your own in a field without any training? Lunacy.

His knack wouldn't save him when his inexperienced ass runs his fingers through a planer.


Woodworking and carpentry is a lot more like artistry, where a natural talent can make up a lot for no formal apprenticeship, than a typical trade like electrician or plumber. A whole lot of my family does woodworking for kicks (myself included) and none of us have ever been a carpenter's apprentice or anything of the sort.

If you truly care for it, it's not going to kill you to have no training.

 
pvd021 2008-04-26 11:24:55 AM  
I'm a man who's allergic to motor oil, so I'm getting a kick out of these replies...

 
rancidPlasma 2008-04-26 11:27:16 AM  
jemts.com

 
xuanzhiyouxuan 2008-04-26 11:30:45 AM  
jso2897: On a serious note, back in the seventies, when I was in the jewelry trade, I met a man with a most unusual art/hobby. He made objects out poisonous woods. He scoured the world for exotic species of toxic plants that produced wood or woodlike tissue. He made little snuffboxes, humidors, netsukes, that sort of thing. Some of the woods he worked with were so nasty he had to wear rubber gloves and respirators and so on to work with them - and he had to formulate his own special sealers and finishes that would render the objects safe to handle. I thought it was fascinating, and regret having lost track of the guy and his work.

Wow, that's like the puffer-fish cook of carpentry.

 
productiveslacker 2008-04-26 11:33:13 AM  
I was a carpenter for a few years and we hired my (then-new) brother-in-law when he got laid off. First day on the job and I hand him a hammer, and he just stared at it. He (in his mid-30s) literally did not know how to use a hammer. I really did not think that was possible. Needless to say, he did not make it two days. Also, we all realize he's worthless.

 
synep 2008-04-26 11:36:14 AM  
img160.imageshack.us

 
Too-Tall 2008-04-26 11:41:54 AM  
He needs to try welding now. Weld up some old scrapyard trash into some outsider art masterpiece to sit in the front yard and offend the neighbors with. If he's as big a tool as he seems he'd probably have fun with that.

 
Tali 2008-04-26 12:13:36 PM  
What, the one time someone could have correctly used the 'ironic' tag and they didn't? Bad subby. No cookie.

//surprised the Irony Police haven't already jumped on this...

 
bobsch 2008-04-26 12:43:48 PM  
He's got an allergy and lives in Mumbles. Must be a joke here somewhere...

 
MayoBoy 2008-04-26 01:46:22 PM  
fadeaway: Wow.

You don't just "decide" to be a carpenter. Especially not a finish carpenter that makes fine furnature.

He just discovered that he was allergic to wood? That tells me that he hasn't spent any amount of time actually learning the craft. It takes years of training and experience before any reasonable person would consider striking out on their own in the fine carpentry business.

His plan.. not so cunning, obviously not thought through.

For the best, I say.

/follow your dreams.. but at least get an apprenticeship under your belt first.

//No, you can not "DIY".

///trades get no respect


Sure you can. You find a niche product (high end adirondack chairs made from Ipe or the like) that are easy to produce, easy to sell and have a high profit margin. That will pay the bills. Then you can spend your spare time learning about other aspects. You can then move onto Shaker, Arts & Crafts, etc. and find the style(s) you like.

 
cryinoutloud [TotalFark] 2008-04-26 01:52:53 PM  
synep I always hate pictures like that one. Women have it rough as they get older, but I always feel so sorry for young men who have to deal with that for years, right at that awkward age.

/My son is at that age now.

 
Bronto Saurus 2008-04-26 01:57:41 PM  
It's probably just that species of wood he's allergic to. This is not unusual.

He most likely just needs to be careful which woods he works with and he'll be in good shape. I'm sure a good allergist can help him figure out what woods to steer clear of.

 
xBodo99 2008-04-26 02:54:03 PM  
Am I too late for

"That's what SHE said."

???

 
Rose Red 2008-04-26 03:35:49 PM  
Mad hot.

 
Confoundit 2008-04-26 03:52:29 PM  
sickicarus:
At least he chased something he really loved - good on him, its a shame it didn't work out.

It did work out. Reread the article.

fadeaway
He just discovered that he was allergic to wood? That tells me that he hasn't spent any amount of time actually learning the craft. It takes years of training and experience before any reasonable person would consider striking out on their own in the fine carpentry business.

He may not have been allergic to wood for very long. He could have worked with wood everyday for 40 years and then suddenly become allergic to it. Allergies are funny like that.

 
JonnyBGoode 2008-04-26 04:05:17 PM  
What, no irony tag?

 
chrisco123 [TotalFark] 2008-04-26 04:46:43 PM  
If he worked at UBS for eight years and was only making 80K (pounds) per year, he sucked at banking and needed to find a new line of work, anyway. Just saying.

 
vodka 2008-04-26 04:46:45 PM  
I have to wear a respirator and sealed eye protection when working with MDF. It's probably not the wood though, it's all the glues and chemicals in MDF.

Doesn't stop me from working with it though.

 
Wareq 2008-04-26 10:19:47 PM  
Left a good job in the City

 
TheKingOfMexico 2008-04-27 09:23:11 PM  
jso2897: On a serious note, back in the seventies, when I was in the jewelry trade, I met a man with a most unusual art/hobby. He made objects out poisonous woods. ...

Cool story!

 
coprolite 2008-04-27 09:49:24 PM  
IMG]http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/2706/birdflutx7.jpg
By

 
guy-montag 2008-04-27 10:17:30 PM  
As it turns out, he was just allergic to *one* kind of wood and was absolutely fine when he started working with another.

It's such a non-story with a giant amount of Fark spin. YAY!

A guy decides his job blows and wants to do something better with his life and all of you are bitter about that? Fark y'all, seriously.

 
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