When I was the FNG no one talked to me and the vets were kinda mean, which is normal.  I did not like that all all. Now that I'm not a FNG, I find myself doing it to the FNG's now. Why is that?

Because you can get sued for hazing......

Things were easier then.....

Cuz....

I never understood that.

When I was new, most of the vets were cool and ready to answer questions.

I try to do the same for the new new guys.

This job is hard enough.  

You deal with enough dicks on the road, why someone else wearing the uniform would want to be a dick to you I just don't get.

Right of passage.    

They won't let you get killed but they want to see how you handle things and see what you are made of.  

Builds confidence.    

Fun to watch

Who really knows...   Culture thing I guess.

It also has to do with trust. No one in this kind of profession automatically trusts anyone until they prove themselves.

I know in the fire service treating rooks like shit is part of the tradition.  I was older when I joined
and didn't like being treated like a POS.  I wasn't one, I knew my job and helped at every oppourtunity.

Now that I have time on the job I treat new guys with a degree of respect.  If they do something stupid
I will correct them and make sure they do it right so as to not get hurt or dead. The around
the house rookie shit I dont play that game.  

We have a guy at our house who out ranks me but I have more time on the job was treating our rook
like shit.  I told him he has a name and you dont have to talk to him like that.  I look at it like this
most people who are dicks, are dicks because they need to be to feel good about themselves.  If
you are insecure don't take it out on someone else.

Yeah, the FNG thing really breeds professionalism.

Not.

I am the FNG at my department, but thus far I'm been surprised at how little BS I get from the old timers...most of them are helpful and willing to answer questions and share their street experince.  Other than a little Rookie Ribbing, I haven't had to deal with that crap, thank God.