niknak - it was a joke, right??!!
I've been in numerous military ATC units (as a staff member on an ATC Unit, have to escort mummy's little treasures round one every time we go on camp on a flying station!
). I've been in fewer civvy ones, other than Perth A/G when I collect the keys for the a/c, LHR (around 35 yrs ago) and EDI (last year).
Fully endorse the idea of:[list=1][*]Visiting *an* ATSU if you've never been inside one[*]Visiting your home ATSU if you have one / have never been in it before[*]Taking a packet of biscuits / doughnuts into your home ATSU on a regular basis![*]Buying your airfield / approach controllers an off duty beer or 2 at Xmas - works wonders![*]Asking nicely and saying please / thank you[*]Keeping it brief when things are busy[*]Thinking from the point of view of the one inside the tower / approach room occasionally[/list=1]
Seriously, a bit of co-operation / empathy / consideration goes a long way on both sides - treat each other as human beings and it usually all works well (with one or 2 notable exceptions, but I don't have that problem with EDI controllers - they're great! [at least, that's what ATCBabe told me to say!!
])