What is Alaska like? (Anchorage, Homer: to buy, to move, friendly)

[RDawg]

Of a sudden, y'all ain't soundin' too dadgum friendly up yonder.

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by RDawg

Of a sudden, y'all ain't soundin' too dadgum friendly up yonder.

Oh, it is though... once you pass the test!

Reminds me of years ago when I was working, and the folks from the company's marketing department down in Anchorage called me up for some help. They were dealing with a guy at the North Slope Borough who just wouldn't cut them any slack at all, and it seems he got so rude to one lady that he made her cry. They asked me what the deal was...

Well, I explained it to them pretty straight forward. Ol' Bob was actually very nice to me, it was just those folks down in Anchorage that he didn't get along with. He once literally told me that anyone he was talking on the phone who could look out their window and see Barrow, was fine. If they couldn't do that, f**k 'em.

Now, the part to realize is that one day his job vaporized, and he left Barrow. Which is to say he was a hypocrite from the start to the finish, and was just here for the money.

People who live here are friendly enough. Transients, even long term ones, trying to extract money are often not friendly while here and utterly bitter about it after they leave. Just look at several of the people who post about Barrow here on CD!

[RDawg]

Originally Posted by Floyd_Davidson

Oh, it is though... once you pass the test!

Reminds me of years ago when I was working, and the folks from the company's marketing department down in Anchorage called me up for some help. They were dealing with a guy at the North Slope Borough who just wouldn't cut them any slack at all, and it seems he got so rude to one lady that he made her cry. They asked me what the deal was...

Well, I explained it to them pretty straight forward. Ol' Bob was actually very nice to me, it was just those folks down in Anchorage that he didn't get along with. He once literally told me that anyone he was talking on the phone who could look out their window and see Barrow, was fine. If they couldn't do that, f**k 'em.

Now, the part to realize is that one day his job vaporized, and he left Barrow. Which is to say he was a hypocrite from the start to the finish, and was just here for the money.

People who live here are friendly enough. Transients, even long term ones, trying to extract money are often not friendly while here and utterly bitter about it after they leave. Just look at several of the people who post about Barrow here on CD!

For the record, I was kidding, though you make interesting points. There seems to be a number of folks on this forum who are down on the Slope in general and Barrow in particular.

It still sounds like a blast.

[RDawg]

Originally Posted by Floyd_Davidson

Oh, it is though... once you pass the test!

The test is what, then? Demonstrate to those who matter that you're there to stay?

Define long-term transient. I know what it means. I want to know what it means to you.

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by RDawg

The test is what, then? Demonstrate to those who matter that you're there to stay?

Well, Ol' Bob did get the test right, he just messed up how to deal with those who failed.

If they look out the window and see Barrow, they pass the test. Be friendly! (That doesn't mean it's necessary to make people cry if they fail. Although, I seem to enjoying making some of them whine a lot, eh?)

Define long-term transient. I know what it means. I want to know what it means to you.

Folks that stay here for 20-30 years because they have a job, and leave the day they retire. That's a bit harsh, but it'll do. The other obvious characteristics are spending summers "at home", or even just taking long vacations to "home".

For people who live here, this is home. If they get stuck with spending time somewhere else for awhile, they want to go home... to Barrow.

It does make a difference too. For those who just want the money, it makes no difference if what they do destroys the same potential for future generations. They don't want to re-invest (taxes or efforts), because their future is not here. We see this fairly often here on the North Slope, but also all around Alaska too, with people who want to extract natural resources now, and in any way possible, with no concern for what Alaska will be in 50 or 100 years.

My children, grandchildren and future greatgrandchildren are not concerned with the economy of Dallas or Houston because their future is Alaska. The money pipeline going south today is not necessarily of any value to future Alaskans, even though to hear some people you'd think nothing else matters.

[RDawg]

Originally Posted by Floyd_Davidson

Well, Ol' Bob did get the test right, he just messed up how to deal with those who failed.

If they look out the window and see Barrow, they pass the test. Be friendly! (That doesn't mean it's necessary to make people cry if they fail. Although, I seem to enjoying making some of them whine a lot, eh?)

Folks that stay here for 20-30 years because they have a job, and leave the day they retire. That's a bit harsh, but it'll do. The other obvious characteristics are spending summers "at home", or even just taking long vacations to "home".

For people who live here, this is home. If they get stuck with spending time somewhere else for awhile, they want to go home... to Barrow.

It does make a difference too. For those who just want the money, it makes no difference if what they do destroys the same potential for future generations. They don't want to re-invest (taxes or efforts), because their future is not here. We see this fairly often here on the North Slope, but also all around Alaska too, with people who want to extract natural resources now, and in any way possible, with no concern for what Alaska will be in 50 or 100 years.

My children, grandchildren and future greatgrandchildren are not concerned with the economy of Dallas or Houston because their future is Alaska. The money pipeline going south today is not necessarily of any value to future Alaskans, even though to hear some people you'd think nothing else matters.

What if the cheechako in question intends to make Alaska his home? You've answered this, of course, but some folks don't buy it if you're not there for twenty years. What of that?

[gobrien]

Originally Posted by Floyd_Davidson

Oh, it is though... once you pass the test!

Reminds me of years ago when I was working, and the folks from the company's marketing department down in Anchorage called me up for some help. They were dealing with a guy at the North Slope Borough who just wouldn't cut them any slack at all, and it seems he got so rude to one lady that he made her cry. They asked me what the deal was...

Well, I explained it to them pretty straight forward. Ol' Bob was actually very nice to me, it was just those folks down in Anchorage that he didn't get along with. He once literally told me that anyone he was talking on the phone who could look out their window and see Barrow, was fine. If they couldn't do that, f**k 'em.

Now, the part to realize is that one day his job vaporized, and he left Barrow. Which is to say he was a hypocrite from the start to the finish, and was just here for the money.

People who live here are friendly enough. Transients, even long term ones, trying to extract money are often not friendly while here and utterly bitter about it after they leave. Just look at several of the people who post about Barrow here on CD!

Once the job vaporized, were there other ways to make a living available to him in Barrow?

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by gobrien

Once the job vaporized, were there other ways to make a living available to him in Barrow?

Most of the people in Barrow in management positions at the same level as that fellow are locals who have never considered employment anywhere other than in Barrow.

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by RDawg

What if the cheechako in question intends to make Alaska his home? You've answered this, of course, but some folks don't buy it if you're not there for twenty years. What of that?

I don't see anyone who won't buy it until you've been here for twenty years. The test is what you see now when you look out the window, not whether you were seeing that same place for some length of time.

Not that longevity doesn't have advantages though. There is no doubt at all that who you know is more important than what you know, and the longer you live here the more people you know. It works that way simply because an employer is vastly better off hiring someone who comes well recommended as able to do the job and deal with life here, compared to hiring someone who has unverifiable claims of expertize (even if it turns out to be true) and unknown ability to manage living here. The risk of hiring an overachiever that burns out quickly is not as good as the risk for a steady plow hand that stays forever.

I'll grant that one of the frustrations I've witnessed for new people looking for work here in Barrow is the lack of seniority in the Good Ol' Boy network for jobs. They see a job listing that fits them to a T, but in the end it becomes very clear that they never had a chance to be hired because the person that was hired had "connections" and obviously had been chosen before it was even listed. The listing and job interviews were all a sham to make it legal. That's just how it works in a small town. And yes if they stay here for a few years there comes a time when they are the one who has the connections.

[RDawg]

Originally Posted by Floyd_Davidson

I don't see anyone who won't buy it until you've been here for twenty years. The test is what you see now when you look out the window, not whether you were seeing that same place for some length of time.

I was just spitballing with the twenty-year comment. I get your point, though.

Originally Posted by Floyd_Davidson

Not that longevity doesn't have advantages though. There is no doubt at all that who you know is more important than what you know, and the longer you live here the more people you know. It works that way simply because an employer is vastly better off hiring someone who comes well recommended as able to do the job and deal with life here, compared to hiring someone who has unverifiable claims of expertize (even if it turns out to be true) and unknown ability to manage living here. The risk of hiring an overachiever that burns out quickly is not as good as the risk for a steady plow hand that stays forever.

Excellent observations. I hope most HR folks see it that way.

Originally Posted by Floyd_Davidson

I'll grant that one of the frustrations I've witnessed for new people looking for work here in Barrow is the lack of seniority in the Good Ol' Boy network for jobs. They see a job listing that fits them to a T, but in the end it becomes very clear that they never had a chance to be hired because the person that was hired had "connections" and obviously had been chosen before it was even listed. The listing and job interviews were all a sham to make it legal. That's just how it works in a small town. And yes if they stay here for a few years there comes a time when they are the one who has the connections.

I wonder whether the Good Ol' Boy tendency you mention is ubiquitous, or are some industries/work situations easier to break into than others?