Quote Originally Posted by bentwings
I think I'd be more inclined to blame someone else for the misfortune. haha

When the guy dropped off the barrel, I made mention of using a hammer and chisel, and he replied that he always uses a cutting torch. Being pressed for time (who isn’t these days) I thought the next best thing would be to use my plasma cutter. I am normally a stickler for being safe, and I guess the cutting torch statement and my haste clouded my better judgment. Regardless of what someone else had told me, I am still responsible for my own actions, and it was my responsibility to insure these actions were safe. Trying to blame someone else removes all personal accountability, and increases the likelihood of future occurrences of a similar nature.


Quote Originally Posted by bentwings
What I never seem to understand is how you can get totally messed up and still have presense of mind to take pictures of the injury and what happend.

I feel blessed to be able to walk, talk, and in a few days, to be able to return to my shop and work on some cars. However unfortunate and stupid as my actions were, I have always seen events such as these as life lessons. I know there are persons, perhaps such as yourself, who know all and have nothing else to learn. Judging from your statements, it would appear you would never be heard from in a similar situation, as you would still be looking for someone to blame. Myself, I’d rather man up and admit my mistake in the hopes that it would prevent someone else a similar or worse fate. So yes, I had presence of mind to go outside with second degree burns and take pictures of the barrel and then take pictures of my injuries in order that it would serve as a vivid reminder for anyone who may find themselves in a similar stupid attempt. Your disparaging remarks serve little more than a discouragement for anyone else that may post such life lessons for others to learn from as well. I guess we’re just cut from a different mold.