View Full Version : My state of mind these days...


nightfighter
01-26-2023, 04:53 PM
And a new lid!

Guppy
01-26-2023, 05:26 PM
You know it… :-(

JohnR
01-27-2023, 08:09 AM
Yep

Got Stripers
01-27-2023, 02:47 PM
It’s probably exactly how our parents felt when they were our age.

The Dad Fisherman
01-27-2023, 03:56 PM
And a new lid!

I concur
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Mike P
01-27-2023, 04:27 PM
It’s probably exactly how our parents felt when they were our age.

Yup. Time erases the bad memories of the past, so people only get nostalgic for the good parts of it.

Thinking of the theme song for All In The Family, and how Archie and Edith never bring up the Depression and WW 2.

Nebe
01-27-2023, 05:48 PM
Things ain’t like they yusta wuz… that’s for sure.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

clambo
01-28-2023, 09:12 AM
I also miss the past as well. A while ago if our party in an election lost we just moved on, well that seems to be gone! Have we forgotten we are all Americans? We seem to have lost our courtesy towards each other also. Recently I gave up my seat so a young woman could sit and some people looked at me like I was crazy! Well that's the way I was brought up and that's the way I'll be till I die!

Got Stripers
01-28-2023, 10:46 AM
I find the youth today selfish, spoiled and entitled. I’m certain most of us on this board grew up respecting our parents and elders or else. We probably all had jobs well ahead of getting a drivers license and summer jobs between school breaks if college bound to earn our keep. If it snowed after shoveling out our driveway, we helped our neighbors and then hustled some spending money shoveling out others. I can’t even picture what our society becomes a decade or two down the road, if climate change doesn’t fu*k them, I wouldn’t be surprised if mankind doesn’t commit suicide.

clambo
01-28-2023, 02:19 PM
Got stripers, I couldn't agree more. When I was young if you did something bad you got your butt spanked, it didn't take long to figure out if you didn't do bad things your butt would not hurt. Then along came the crowd with time out,(you can't spank) a child. Well in my opinion that didn't work out so well, and now the fruit of that thought process is what we see around us now. If you and I ever get to fish together we would work each other into a frenzy and have heart attacks.

piemma
01-28-2023, 04:04 PM
YUP! Don't even need to elaborate.

Guppy
01-28-2023, 05:40 PM
Bragging here..
I’ve got 8 grandchildren that’ll put a smile on u’s guys face’s…….:kewl:

Clammer
01-28-2023, 06:05 PM
not going to start

But covid really did mess up alot of good& descent kids

F uck the rest . this world is really messed up

I,m thankful for being born when I did & the neighborhood where I grew up ;

The one think that I truly believe messed up alot of kids/ people back in the day was the B/S with the priests an worse yet was if ya got a double header an went to school with the nuns of no mercy ...................... fuc k in B?S teaching ...........F E A R :humpty::humpty::humpty::humpty::humpty:

wdmso
01-29-2023, 08:44 AM
Honestly I see it across all ages common courtesy seems dead . I’ll say excuse me if I walk in front on someone in the shopping isle . I still hold doors open for people and 90% of the time I get a blank stare.

But I think Bob hit the nail on the head every generation thinks the ones behind it are spoiled disrespectful . And yet their kids are the kids of our kids. Maybe because of that it easier to see something or someone else has caused it?

We are a nation that loves our freedoms and privacy and independence. But when things hit the fan (minus covid). We easily galvanize to face the threat
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Rmarsh
01-29-2023, 09:29 AM
not going to start

But covid really did mess up alot of good& descent kids

F uck the rest . this world is really messed up

I,m thankful for being born when I did & the neighborhood where I grew up ;

The one think that I truly believe messed up alot of kids/ people back in the day was the B/S with the priests an worse yet was if ya got a double header an went to school with the nuns of no mercy ...................... fuc k in B?S teaching ...........F E A R :humpty::humpty::humpty::humpty::humpty:

Same here Clammer......my wife and I grew up poor (today its called "economically disadvantaged" .... I in the inner city with people of all different colors and nationalities....our parents struggled just to keep us fed and a roof over our heads..... mine had eight of us and that alone is learning experience that I am so thankful for. We were expected to get jobs even before turning 16! You want a car....you work and pay for all of it......insurance, gas, repairs etc. and any other personal expenses. And as far as sending us to college....no way they could afford it. A lot of kids went to college ....wasted their time.... delayed becoming real adults
Years before computer games and cell phones came around we made are own games and toys and played outside....A LOT. I see so many young guys still playing computer games long after they should have grown up and developed real skills.


We are thankful now looking back at how we were raised to be self sufficient....taking nothing for granted. I built my own house with my own two hands at age 21.

“Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.”

piemma
01-29-2023, 10:02 AM
My parents were 1st generation Italian. My day had his left arm half blown off in the Battle of the Bulge. He worked 3 jobs for as long as I can remember. My Mom took in sewing and made curtains for some "rich" people my Dad did work for.

When I was 10 I asked my Dad for a bike. He said sure Paulie, go get a a job and make some money and I'll help you out.

I mowed lawns, delivered newspapers, pumped gas (at 10 years old) at the gas station down the street and swept driveways in our neighborhood. By the end of the Summer I had saved enough to buy a bike at Benny's with ALL my own money and none from Dad. My old man couldn't have been prouder.

Now we can't get kids to work at the golf course for $18 and hour to weedwack.

fishgolf
01-29-2023, 07:03 PM
Mr. Piemma, do you recall what unit your dad was in at the Battle of the Bulge? I read a lot. My uncle was there with the 10th Armored Div.

During summers in Weekapaug, my dad dropped me off at the golf course a 6:00 a.m. Worked on the course until 2. Then ran the driving range until dark. Then went to the clubhouse and helped the kitchen staff clean up after dinner and events. Then one of my sisters would pick me up at 9 or 10 p.m. Rinse repeat to pay for college. I think URI cost about $2000 per semester at the time.

Rmarsh
01-31-2023, 06:30 AM
I went to a catholic school for many years and then a public school...so I got a pretty good idea of the differences.......and the difference is huge... especially when it comes to reading, writing, and arithmetic.
The nuns were pretty rough on us students...constantly drilling us and not waiting for the slowest students to keep up.... they had us learning at a much more advanced pace....than the public schools.
When I saw the homework and tests that my friends from public school....in the same grade... were working on....I was shocked....it seemed that they were like two full grades behind us.
When I transferred to public high school for financial reasons ....I barely had to open a book to get passing grades for my last three years of high school.
Another thing is that catholic schools would never put up with the disrespectful crap and thuggery that goes on in public schools. So less distractions and more learning.

Jim in CT
01-31-2023, 07:19 AM
I went to a catholic school for many years and then a public school...so I got a pretty good idea of the differences.......and the difference is huge... especially when it comes to reading, writing, and arithmetic.
The nuns were pretty rough on us students...constantly drilling us and not waiting for the slowest students to keep up.... they had us learning at a much more advanced pace....than the public schools.
When I saw the homework and tests that my friends from public school....in the same grade... were working on....I was shocked....it seemed that they were like two full grades behind us.
When I transferred to public high school for financial reasons ....I barely had to open a book to get passing grades for my last three years of high school.
Another thing is that catholic schools would never put up with the disrespectful crap and thuggery that goes on in public schools. So less distractions and more learning.

We made the opposite trip with our 3 boys, started in public, switched to Catholic, observe the same exact thing. I live in a decent suburb where teh schools are considered pretty good by CT standards, and my oldest got straight As in middle school, and averaged 10 minutes of homework a day. Never broke a sweat.

At catholic high school he gets 2.0 - 2.5 hours of homework a day, and required community service hours every quarter which is a great idea. His friends at the public high school never get 30 minutes of work a day, it's preparing them for absolutely nothing.

I didn't see anyone mention the internet, which is having an awful impact. And they'' be writing papers for 100 years about what covid did to this generation of kids, the difference in CT between how the public and catholic schools handled it, cannot be imagined. Catholic schools barely missed a beat. Public schools lost more than a full year. And their solution to make up for it, is to give the kids no work. And parents are ok with it, and I don't get it.

My 3 boys do a lot of homework, play sports, are into karate, and spend little time online, and they know that if they work their fingers to the bine, good things will eventually happen. That has been lost on this generation.

Rmarsh
01-31-2023, 07:30 AM
We made the opposite trip with our 3 boys, started in public, switched to Catholic, observe the same exact thing. I live in a decent suburb where teh schools are considered pretty good by CT standards, and my oldest got straight As in middle school, and averaged 10 minutes of homework a day. Never broke a sweat.

At catholic high school he gets 2.0 - 2.5 hours of homework a day, and required community service hours every quarter which is a great idea. His friends at the public high school never get 30 minutes of work a day, it's preparing them for absolutely nothing.

I didn't see anyone mention the internet, which is having an awful impact. And they'' be writing papers for 100 years about what covid did to this generation of kids, the difference in CT between how the public and catholic schools handled it, cannot be imagined. Catholic schools barely missed a beat. Public schools lost more than a full year. And their solution to make up for it, is to give the kids no work. And parents are ok with it, and I don't get it.

My 3 boys do a lot of homework, play sports, are into karate, and spend little time online, and they know that if they work their fingers to the bine, good things will eventually happen. That has been lost on this generation.


My first day at that public high school ....inner city...adjacent to public housing.....I was robbed when I went to the mens room alone....by three thugs that werent even students at the school.

I noticed that the teachers were scared #^&#^&#^&#^& of some of the derelict students, who would have been expelled immediately at a catholic school...and would have been dragged out of the classroom... bodily and never returned.
Well in contrast to that....in catholic high school.....i had loosened my tie a little too much...and the coach of the football team stopped me in the hall and helped me fix it.

nightfighter
01-31-2023, 07:55 AM
I cannot take credit for this comment, and don't remember where I heard it... but loosely paraphrased; there are a couple generations, in the prime years of their life that have no respect, no work ethic, and no idea what a leather belt sounds like being pulled out through seven belt loops for a little reinforcement of the lessons.


For what it's worth, I grew up before time outs became an excuse for discipline....

piemma
01-31-2023, 08:09 AM
Well said Ross.
He's great example: I offered a 13 year old kid, football player and rather large, a job at $15/ hour helping me split wood. Mind you, I have a hydralic splitter, a front loader and 4 chainsaws. All I wanted him to do was help me load wood on the splitter and stack it in the bucket on the front loader.

Nope! Too hard.

nightfighter
01-31-2023, 08:18 AM
Paul, it makes one wonder how/if the military has been forced to make changes to basic training and boot camp...
It is disappointing to be witness to the decline of the once great American society.

Jim in CT
01-31-2023, 08:37 AM
My first day at that public high school ....inner city...adjacent to public housing.....I was robbed when I went to the mens room alone....by three thugs that werent even students at the school.

I noticed that the teachers were scared #^&#^&#^&#^& of some of the derelict students, who would have been expelled immediately at a catholic school...and would have been dragged out of the classroom... bodily and never returned.
Well in contrast to that....in catholic high school.....i had loosened my tie a little too much...and the coach of the football team stopped me in the hall and helped me fix it.

Agreed.

And in my opinion, most of this isn't the kid's fault, it's mostly the parents' fault. People are getting more selfish and lazy. It's a lot easier to always say yes to your kids, than to dig in your heels and say "no" and stick to it. It's a heck of a lot easier to plop them in front of the tv all day, than it is to read to them and make sure they did all their homework and play board games with them. Proper parenting takes almost everything you've got, and many people don't care enough to dedicate that much.

There's a bus stop for the public high school near my neighborhood, and when I drive past those kids, they are half dead to the world, eyes half closed, blank expressions, every single one of them glued to their phones.

About the only places where I see kids that make me optimistic, are catholic school, boy scout meetings, and the karate school, where the teenagers hold the door for my wife and cheer on the little kids. Those are the places where I really like what I see. But you have to look hard for it these days.

Rmarsh
01-31-2023, 12:01 PM
I and no idea what a leather belt sounds like being pulled out through seven belt loops for a little reinforcement of the lessons.


For what it's worth, I grew up before time outs became an excuse for discipline....

Ross....so true.. I do know that sound.. ...so familiar I can hear it now.....he never said a word.....and I knew it was to late for me to say anything that would stop it....and no crying aloud....but I thank God for a dad who cared enough to make sure I knew right from wrong.... and did his job.

beamie
01-31-2023, 12:35 PM
Yup
Got the leather belt plenty of times
Mum use to give me the rubber spatula until one day I started laughing at it.
I never gave my kid the leather belt. Probably would have ended up in jail these days.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Rmarsh
01-31-2023, 02:05 PM
Yup
Got the leather belt plenty of times
Mum use to give me the rubber spatula until one day I started laughing at it.
I never gave my kid the leather belt. Probably would have ended up in jail these days.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Yes I had the potential to get in a lot of trouble.....especially hanging out with friends whose dad's weren't in the picture.....one wanted me to help him steal a car....I declined. Another time we were in a quarry messing around and he discovered they left the keys in some of the big trucks....I knew to get out of there quick and started running away.
He proceeded to do some big damage....ramming one big truck with another into a deep pit.
He got sent to Shirley....his mother use to pick me up to go visit him.
Years later he committed suicide by police.

Got Stripers
01-31-2023, 02:19 PM
In my family it was bare hand or a wooden salad spoon, neither was pleasant and they both made a mark. I remember me threatening my troubled middle son with something close to what I got and I got the go head and I’ll report you response.

Guppy
01-31-2023, 05:21 PM
Agreed.

And in my opinion, most of this isn't the kid's fault, it's mostly the parents' fault. People are getting more selfish and lazy. It's a lot easier to always say yes to your kids, than to dig in your heels and say "no" and stick to it. It's a heck of a lot easier to plop them in front of the tv all day, than it is to read to them and make sure they did all their homework and play board games with them. Proper parenting takes almost everything you've got, and many people don't care enough to dedicate that much.

There's a bus stop for the public high school near my neighborhood, and when I drive past those kids, they are half dead to the world, eyes half closed, blank expressions, every single one of them glued to their phones.

About the only places where I see kids that make me optimistic, are catholic school, boy scout meetings, and the karate school, where the teenagers hold the door for my wife and cheer on the little kids. Those are the places where I really like what I see. But you have to look hard for it these days.

Bingo

redlite
01-31-2023, 07:56 PM
I'm younger than u old farts and agree and can relate with most of it. Me and my three siblings were so dumb we actually made a 2 foot spanking stick complete with hanging cord with perfectly sanded edges for her not to beat us with, but to disciple us with out hurting her hand. Then we made
Her. 3 ft version for the car so she could turn around and wack us without stopping the car. Dad's hands like tough baseball gloves so he didn't need.
We have been raising our 12 yr old
Nephew for Past 8 years
As legal guardians in addition
To our 3. Behavior was getting out of control and would always say we can't touch him or he call police. Well he refused to go to school and took off on his bike. We called police and after dark they picked him up down other end of town. police officer stood here in our driveway and explained to him that we certainly could slap/ spank/ discipline him. In fact with the way he was acting and talking to all of us we were more than legally Justified to slap him right in front of police officer and there was nothing he would or could do. Officer explained to him how it was for him and that he should be grateful for us raising him instead of what his situation would and could be.
He has sang a different tune since.
Gonna sit down down with my 9 yr old right now and order him a new high quality pocket knife with his own money that he has earned comin to work with me for the past few weekends on all kinds of different jobs. He has learned new skills and quickly understood the value of hard earned money already.
Raise em right
Hoorah
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Clammer
01-31-2023, 10:05 PM
LOL >>>>>>>>>>>>> not all the nuns & priests ......... had the 100% effect they wanted ........by seeing some of the posts which are considered $%^&**()

#* << % an still made out alive :hang:

JohnR
01-31-2023, 10:25 PM
Grew up in a mediocrely rough neighborhood, divorced/single mom with 4 kids, projects, and was on track to, while not be be bad, surely not be good.

But I also did Scouts (hell, some of my troop were my 12 year old drinking buddies). Had paper routes, side jobs for cash stocking the local variety/liquor store. But I was still kind and polite, just not making great choices.

I was good to eff off, and basically move in with my father, where I needed the discipline, and lucked out as he was transferred to Germany and I went to school on the base. The DODDS school was almost like a private school, or at least equivalent to a very good school system in a very good town. But it had two things going for it, a top level education, and on balance great parents.

So it can be done, in good towns, with good schools. If your kids are young, find a way to move to those good towns.

I am proud of the kid my wife and I raised, but we also got a good dice roll, in addition to hard work at parenting.



I'm younger than u old farts and agree and can relate with most of it. Me and my three siblings were so dumb we actually made a 2 foot spanking stick complete with hanging cord with perfectly sanded edges for her not to beat us with, but to disciple us with out hurting her hand. Then we made
Her. 3 ft version for the car so she could turn around and wack us without stopping the car. Dad's hands like tough baseball gloves so he didn't need.
We have been raising our 12 yr old
Nephew for Past 8 years
As legal guardians in addition
To our 3. Behavior was getting out of control and would always say we can't touch him or he call police. Well he refused to go to school and took off on his bike. We called police and after dark they picked him up down other end of town. police officer stood here in our driveway and explained to him that we certainly could slap/ spank/ discipline him. In fact with the way he was acting and talking to all of us we were more than legally Justified to slap him right in front of police officer and there was nothing he would or could do. Officer explained to him how it was for him and that he should be grateful for us raising him instead of what his situation would and could be.
He has sang a different tune since. Raise em right
Hoorah
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device


:tooth:

redlite
01-31-2023, 11:10 PM
Grew up in a mediocrely rough neighborhood, divorced/single mom with 4 kids, projects, and was on track to, while not be be bad, surely not be good.

But I also did Scouts (hell, some of my troop were my 12 year old drinking buddies). Had paper routes, side jobs for cash stocking the local variety/liquor store. But I was still kind and polite, just not making great choices.

I was good to eff off, and basically move in with my father, where I needed the discipline, and lucked out as he was transferred to Germany and I went to school on the base. The DODDS school was almost like a private school, or at least equivalent to a very good school system in a very good town. But it had two things going for it, a top level education, and on balance great parents.

So it can be done, in good towns, with good schools. If your kids are young, find a way to move to those good towns.

I am proud of the kid my wife and I raised, but we also got a good dice roll, in addition to hard work at parenting.






:tooth:
Don't laugh but I look exactly like that little green emoji thing with the missing tooth. True red necker. What happens in Maine stays in Maine
Been a rough and tough 12 months around here.....still tickin tho
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

piemma
02-01-2023, 04:56 AM
Mr. Piemma, do you recall what unit your dad was in at the Battle of the Bulge? I read a lot. My uncle was there with the 10th Armored Div.

During summers in Weekapaug, my dad dropped me off at the golf course a 6:00 a.m. Worked on the course until 2. Then ran the driving range until dark. Then went to the clubhouse and helped the kitchen staff clean up after dinner and events. Then one of my sisters would pick me up at 9 or 10 p.m. Rinse repeat to pay for college. I think URI cost about $2000 per semester at the time.

Yes, my father was a radio man with the 79th Infantry Division.

Rmarsh
02-01-2023, 05:50 AM
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Years from now.... when he becomes an adult, your nephew will realize what you and your wife are doing for him now and you will be rewarded.
Kids dont forget the love and attention you show them..and the payback is that they will cherish you forever.

Got Stripers
02-01-2023, 07:28 AM
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I can relate, my middle son was a nightmare, refusing to go to school, getting into booze and pot with a bad group of friends, totaling the family van one day at 15 and lucky to survive with just a dislocated hip and lesser injures. They next druken rage against his father after he kicked in a brand new vinyl fence, with him getting physical, I put him on his arse. He storms inside punching holes in multiple walls, brothers call cops as I dealt with his band of friends outside, nothing like having your son taken away in cuffs and then having to get interviewed by social services because I punched him. Thankfully an extended stay in lockup set him straight and he is now a Boston medic, but unfortunately the disrespectful behavior directed at dad continues as he has yet to shed the victim card he plays each and every time I call him out for BS and inappropriate behavior.

fishgolf
02-01-2023, 04:14 PM
Thank you Piemma. Will enjoy researching.

RickBomba
02-02-2023, 01:20 PM
My brother and I are both products of a Catholic private school system. Look how we turned out!

Sheesh!

Rmarsh
02-02-2023, 01:40 PM
My brother and I are both products of a Catholic private school system. Look how we turned out!

Sheesh!

To every rule.....there are exeptions

piemma
02-02-2023, 02:42 PM
Thank you Piemma. Will enjoy researching.

Check out the Battle of St. Lo and the Battle for Cherbourg.

fishgolf
02-04-2023, 03:45 PM
Will do.

Nebe
02-05-2023, 08:47 AM
https://youtu.be/s1zEYnl7V7s

Kids in the trades should watch this
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Rmarsh
02-05-2023, 12:54 PM
https://youtu.be/s1zEYnl7V7s

Kids in the trades should watch this
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device


I watched it.....hit home in a lot of ways. Everybody could use this advice. I read a book about confidence and it changed my life.
He is an excellent speaker too. Thanks for posting it.
...stirred up memories of buying my first chainsaw at 18

zimmy
02-05-2023, 02:18 PM
Good to see Archie Bunker is still alive and well in the halls of s-b.com

:lama:

Nebe
02-05-2023, 02:50 PM
I watched it.....hit home in a lot of ways. Everybody could use this advice. I read a book about confidence and it changed my life.
He is an excellent speaker too. Thanks for posting it.
...stirred up memories of buying my first chainsaw at 18

glad you watched it. You were who i was thinking of when I posted it.

I have only watched 2 or 3 of his videos but he sure comes across as a well spoken, sharing and all around cool dude.

Rmarsh
02-05-2023, 03:09 PM
glad you watched it. You were who i was thinking of when I posted it.

I have only watched 2 or 3 of his videos but he sure comes across as a well spoken, sharing and all around cool dude.

Yes...intelgent , thoughtful, he's really trying to share one of life's secrets.

Guppy
02-05-2023, 03:34 PM
https://youtu.be/s1zEYnl7V7s

Kids in the trades should watch this
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I wish I was smart …. :wall:

redlite
02-05-2023, 08:09 PM
I watched About 45 seconds of this video and could already understand about what he was talking about.
over the years I have regularly researched on line for jobs we would be doing for the first time to get a rough clue as to what was involved and potential pitfalls to be aware of before actually doing. Many times I became the wiser of the crew. I often came across videos by this dude and was always impressed by him and his way of communicating.
a few years ago One of the best things I learned from him that as stupid and simple as it would seem was how to properly use a chalk line/ straight line, esp in framing. To this day and even last month building a buddy's house up in Maine with a crew, some doing this for way longer than me , they were all amazed at my skill to properly do it. Even my boss still always defaults to me as he has never grasped the concept of how to properly wrap and tighten one for reuse.
Dude provides clear, understandable, and practical explanations to a lot of trade secrets that can only be learned by years and years of experience or a very patient well experienced mentor.
A while back I had discussed with my boss since I have been getting more and more side work from our current repeat customers about how to not be afraid of screwing up or disappointing customers. screw ups cost time and money and I fear the embarrassment of letting them down and embarrassing my boss as it is also a reflection on him. I was a pretty successful salesman in the past and had been taught to fake it till u make it, but its tougher to do in the trades.
Now I have zero desire to go out on my own as I hate paperwork, but he was dumbfounded the other day at lunch as we were going over up coming schedule at the amount of side work that I am trying to fit in was so many of the jobs I got going are with our long time existing customers, albeit that they are smaller more handy man type of jobs that he has no patience, time or interest in doing. but I could tell he was proud that I am so much less hesitant and more confident to take on jobs without his guidance or advice.
Now ill finish watching this video..........

Nebe
02-05-2023, 10:02 PM
Lol Redlight. :hihi:
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Rmarsh
02-06-2023, 06:50 AM
glad you watched it. You were who i was thinking of when I posted it.

I have only watched 2 or 3 of his videos but he sure comes across as a well spoken, sharing and all around cool dude.

I went back and watched more of his videos......he has a gift....and I am now a fan.
Its all stuff that I already knew but enjoyed how well he explains things.....I didnt realize you could do a whole video about chalklines that didnt sound corny.
Redlite....ive always instructed my rookie helpers to wrap the line around their fingers and hold on tightly before i pull it to get a straight line......and they still end up getting it pulled away from them before i got it as tight as I want it. After snapping the line I tell them to hold on until i pull tension on the line so it will fly back to me when they let go and land at my feet and not get caught on things on the retrieve.

Never realized all the finer points i've learned but didnt think about.
My mentor still liked his half round piece of chalk he would spin while chalking his line so it wouldnt wear a groove in his chaulk. The one in this picture in bad shape is what he used...mostly on interior work....the awl is pushed through a loop in the line into the mark where the line is to be snapped.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/DmD6AoZvOEbW6fXhtZ7KwiYWUAAZ6vunYrsXUrMc0rQjhfPIBh 0nBWidhSZCmIsR-wK0AwF3G_qR9XdHiCTdzn5XLIInlz-q2uGu9AU
I've seen chuckleheads using red chaulk to snap lines for white cedar shingle courses....which is an abomination. The dye in it stays visible for years.