Pecking order

[26 Year Gap]

Attitudes will be found on all levels. I have had lots of help along the way. Lots of good advice and some poor advice. Now as the shoe is on the other foot so to speak, if newer officials ask for advice, I try to help with one suggestion.
I had one game last year where the R was a total jerk and spent the entire halftime tearing me down. And then during a break in the 2nd half said "Isn't this a great game?" I spoke to another official later that day and found that my opinion of the guy was not unusual. Had I stayed I would have requested to not ever work with the guy again.
The best advice is to ask for advice and don't be a Yabut. And to stay and observe how the advisor practices what he preaches [not done by the above R btw]. Ask to be a part of the halftime discussion as an observer. My standard comment as a JV official was "I think you are getting what you need to get".
There is some snobbery even among crews....college guys using college mechanics, etc, but for the most part, I have found that the common bond of officiating makes for good friendships. And guys that 'look down' on lower level officials usually look down on other crew members. Although, recognition of officials who are in it for the money or who would not listen to advice if they got paid for it will usually result in those people being ignored.