If those martinet (a term for one of Napoleon's officers?) Captains are looking for something to criticize, then maybe someone can have a word with them. The problem with using their names among other Captains is that one of them will sooner or later betray your confidence and rat on you. Some of the Martinet Captains probably feel (or are treated) like a Nobody at home but in their uniform they can, now in their job with a command, as you call it, really be a Somebody. Of course the wife sometimes thinks that it is her job to remind many of us that we are just a new sailor on a small ship.
Maybe the British word 'command' really goes to their heads, instead of just being the captain, as here in the US. Someone needs to remind them that techniques can vary much more than a procedure. Unfortunately, I bend over backwards and never tell FOs what technique to use, allowing them plenty of freedom, and want them to feel that they are the Co-Captain, which they truly are. If they prefer a more conservative approach to anything, I usually go with their 'comfort level' on whatever affects safety, and don't want to ever suppress their willingness to speak up.
Anyway, if another Captain can't politely get through to a fellow Captain, then can you complain to a discrete, thoughtful Line Check Captain and would it make any difference? If not, then maybe an anonymous but very tactfully worded note (in a sealed envelope) quietly put in the Captain's company mailbox might help, assuming that he looks for such petty chicken sh!t with several other FOs and won't guess who it is?
Last edited by Ignition Override; 27th Jan 2005 at 03:55.