Down here at the pawn shop - Page 28

Pete Zicato · 01-28-2013, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

I'm getting jaded working with a similar clientele in education. The complete lack of foresight, integration with civilization, and human decency just wears you down.

I'd like to hear a bit of that story, Griff.

Griff · 01-28-2013, 09:02 AM

I said the same thing to my friend who was working in Social Services in Baltimore 20 years or so ago. What he told me couldn't be unheard. I'm going to hide behind confidentiality on this since a full accounting could lead right to the children involved and frankly would keep anyone with a shred of human decency awake at night.

Lamplighter · 01-28-2013, 09:18 AM

But Griff, there is a major difference between the intent and basis for working in Social Services,
and what UT and Clod describe as their experiences working in pawn shops.

The former are there to promote more humane lives of their clientele,
but it sounds as though squeezing the last penny from each customer is the only goal of this pawn shop.

I realize pawn shops fill a certain (limited) need, and must make a profit,
but as a job UT has made his place sound completely soul-killing.
The $ can't be that good, and I'd soon be looking for work elsewhere.

Griff · 01-28-2013, 09:27 AM

Let me think on that.

Chocolatl · 01-28-2013, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

I'm getting jaded working with a similar clientele in education. The complete lack of foresight, integration with civilization, and human decency just wears you down.

The high school I taught at was one of the poorer ones in the area and had the highest percentage of homeless students in the county. It was soul crushing. As much as I wanted to help the kids, I felt like I couldn't keep my head above the drowning misery. Only three years in I found myself growing more and more cynical and was hardening my heart against what I saw every day. 'S why I made the choice not to go back next year.

Griff · 01-28-2013, 10:01 AM

Thanks Choc, I can identify with that. Next time I feel whiney I'll take it to a more appropriate thread.

Anything cool come into the shop lately?

xoxoxoBruce · 01-28-2013, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

I realize pawn shops fill a certain (limited) need, and must make a profit,
but as a job UT has made his place sound completely soul-killing.
The $ can't be that good, and I'd soon be looking for work elsewhere.

You have to take UT's background and personality into consideration.
To him, traveling to this job/place in the morning requires crossing the river Styx.
To someone with a more aggressive personality and less empathy, it could be a challenge, a game.

Crimson Ghost · 01-28-2013, 05:12 PM

To quote the great philosopher Randall Graves -

"This job'd be great if it wasn't for the fuckin' customers."

Undertoad · 01-29-2013, 02:52 PM

Gold test: scratch the gold on the touchstone

Apply a drop of nitric acid. If the scratch remains, it's gold. Any other metal is et by the acid.

Don't get the acid on your fingers.

The cool thing is this test originated with alchemy, in like the 13th Century, and we still use it.

Sundae · 01-29-2013, 04:03 PM

I'd worked out the meaning of touchstone from the context it's used in, in books.
But I've never heard it actually explained.

Thank you.
I am wiser for reading this post.
And more puzzled by some of the movies that production company Touchstone have put out.

glatt · 01-29-2013, 04:05 PM

At the end of each year, can you wash the stone and somehow collect all the gold dust and GET RICH?

Sundae · 01-29-2013, 04:06 PM

Or just decorate your hands and sell them as modern art?

jimhelm · 01-29-2013, 04:53 PM

So, tell them how you distinguish between 14, 18, 24K gold.

Undertoad · 01-29-2013, 05:11 PM

There are different strengths of the acid for 10,14, 18. I haven't seen any 24K yet. I expect I would be able to verify that just by looking at it. The real stuff scratches differently on the stone so a lot of it you can tell just be feel.

Many pieces are stamped in various ways, such as "10K" or "417". If its from this country by law it's supposed to be stamped, but I see a lot of fake stuff stamped, and I see a lot of real stuff not stamped.

Undertoad · 01-29-2013, 05:12 PM

If someone leaves a business card on our counter while looking for their pawn ticket, it's just as likely as not to be something like this.

01-28-2013, 09:02 AM	#407
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	I said the same thing to my friend who was working in Social Services in Baltimore 20 years or so ago. What he told me couldn't be unheard. I'm going to hide behind confidentiality on this since a full accounting could lead right to the children involved and frankly would keep anyone with a shred of human decency awake at night. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

01-28-2013, 09:27 AM	#409
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Let me think on that. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

01-28-2013, 10:01 AM	#411
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Thanks Choc, I can identify with that. Next time I feel whiney I'll take it to a more appropriate thread. Anything cool come into the shop lately? __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

01-28-2013, 05:12 PM	#413
Crimson Ghost Larger than life and twice as ugly. Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,264	To quote the great philosopher Randall Graves - "This job'd be great if it wasn't for the fuckin' customers." __________________ We must all go through a rite of passage. It must be physical, it must be painful, and it must leave a mark. I have no knowledge of the events which you are describing, and if I did have knowledge of them, I would be unable to discuss them with you now or at any future period. Don't waste your time always searching for those wasted years

01-29-2013, 04:03 PM	#415
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I'd worked out the meaning of touchstone from the context it's used in, in books. But I've never heard it actually explained. Thank you. I am wiser for reading this post. And more puzzled by some of the movies that production company Touchstone have put out. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

01-28-2013, 09:18 AM	#408
Lamplighter Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bottom lands of the Missoula floods Posts: 6,402	But Griff, there is a major difference between the intent and basis for working in Social Services, and what UT and Clod describe as their experiences working in pawn shops. The former are there to promote more humane lives of their clientele, but it sounds as though squeezing the last penny from each customer is the only goal of this pawn shop. I realize pawn shops fill a certain (limited) need, and must make a profit, but as a job UT has made his place sound completely soul-killing. The $ can't be that good, and I'd soon be looking for work elsewhere.

01-29-2013, 02:52 PM	#414
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Gold test: scratch the gold on the touchstone Apply a drop of nitric acid. If the scratch remains, it's gold. Any other metal is et by the acid. Don't get the acid on your fingers. The cool thing is this test originated with alchemy, in like the 13th Century, and we still use it.

01-29-2013, 04:05 PM	#416
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	At the end of each year, can you wash the stone and somehow collect all the gold dust and GET RICH?

01-29-2013, 04:06 PM	#417
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Or just decorate your hands and sell them as modern art? __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

01-29-2013, 04:53 PM	#418
jimhelm a beautiful fool Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: 39.939705 Posts: 4,504	So, tell them how you distinguish between 14, 18, 24K gold. __________________ There's a Shadow just behind me. Shrouding every step I take. Making every promise empty, pointing every finger at me. _tool

01-29-2013, 05:11 PM	#419
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	There are different strengths of the acid for 10,14, 18. I haven't seen any 24K yet. I expect I would be able to verify that just by looking at it. The real stuff scratches differently on the stone so a lot of it you can tell just be feel. Many pieces are stamped in various ways, such as "10K" or "417". If its from this country by law it's supposed to be stamped, but I see a lot of fake stuff stamped, and I see a lot of real stuff not stamped.

01-29-2013, 05:12 PM	#420
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	If someone leaves a business card on our counter while looking for their pawn ticket, it's just as likely as not to be something like this.

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