Thanks. you are right,it was long, and I apologize to everyone else for the rambling distance from the thread's OP that this thread has gone.
As far as "-my- way of thinking"; if you mean I think that anyone who thinks they know it all is incorrect? Then yea, that one I am pretty hard headed about. But when I use "ignorance", I hope I mean it as 'when someone has not had the opportunity to learn that particular message' and NOT the same as 'stupid'.
I think [by your phrasing] you make an assumption that this statement somehow only applies to independents; "don't want or think you need training then you are dangerous and can create problems with a lack of education", but I am willing to bet that is actually a -universal- truth. What was that saying about "a -little- knowledge can be a very dangerous thing"?
You are correct, there are at the very least 2 sides to every story. We don't really need the O.P. if the subject thread still has interest enough for someone to bother to post, do we?
I would still appreciate a response* the the question I posed to forkliftchick (or anyone else) [that I thought had to do with the O.P.] about "what would constitute 'properly trained' that should be allowed passwords and software/hardware for some brand not the same as the logo on the truck or the building's sign. Should/would a Yale tech who was a master tech be allowed the passwords for a Hyster? Why not if 'properly trained' was the reasoning?"
* or is this a/the response and I am too dense to see the answer? If it is your reply, could you explain it a little further and help me out?

You are also correct that I took the "dinosaur" remark (and your "father time") as an age related slur, and while it might not have been intended as such, you might want to let the person who made the remark, clarify it for themselves, should they care to. (unless of course, you and bigdogs are the same person?) I also would like to clarify and apologize if you think I have said "young techs aren't as good as old" but since I don't see where I said that, I would like to demand that you do not speak for me or misquote me. in the closest message to anything relating to youth, what I did intend to convey was about -MY- own knowledge about the same skill sets that bigdogs (and maybe forkliftchick too) were claiming made "dinosaurs" of techs that did not have the same "new tech" skills as was gifted upon employees of dealerships or compared to the gifts bigdogs has acquired.
I do appreciate that where you work they have techs of various ages, I sure hope that includes some that are 60+ years old, as even though I am not quite that old, I know we all still need to work, and older worker age discrimination seems to be something I observe in this industry as "acceptable", however I may be overly sensitive, since I am no spring chicken, but I did start as a journeymen level service tech at a relatively young age.
Thanks for your replies and input.