Every time you scroll through your phone these days, it seems like there’s another “welding influencer” showing off their gear, striking a perfect pose, or acting like they’ve spent their whole life in the field. They talk like they’ve seen it all, done it all, and know it all. But if you look close enough, you start to notice something’s off. Their gloves look brand new. Their boots are too clean. Their welds never seem to happen on a real job site.

Let’s be honest. Most of the people liking, sharing, and commenting on that stuff aren’t fooled. They’re just guys trying to see something that reminds them of the life they actually live. They’re looking for real. They’re looking for something that hits close to home. But half these so-called influencers wouldn’t last one shift on a live line, in a fab yard, or out on a rig when the wind’s cutting through you and sparks are flying in your face.

The truth is, there’s a difference between someone who films work and someone who does work. You can’t fake the calluses. You can’t fake the burn holes in your jacket or the smell of flux stuck in your beard after a 12-hour shift. You can’t fake the years it takes to earn the respect of a crew who’s seen everything go wrong at least once.

It’s like every other industry. If you love what you do, you naturally look for stuff that feels familiar. You want to see something that reminds you of your world, the sparks, the sweat, the busted knuckles. But let’s be real, not everything you see online is what it looks like. I know this might come as a shock to some of you, but the internet isn’t always telling the truth. Half of what’s out there is staged, polished, or flat-out make-believe. It’s folks trying to look the part without ever living it. They set up a tripod, put on a new pair of gloves, strike a pose, and suddenly they’re experts. Meanwhile, the rest of us are covered in sweat, grinding through the day, wondering who’s got time to film all that.

There’s an old story about a rooster who used to brag about making the sun rise. Every morning he’d crow loud and proud, chest puffed out, thinking he was the reason daylight showed up. Then one day he overslept, and guess what? The sun came up anyway. That’s a lot of what you see online now. Roosters talking like they make the work happen, when in reality the real hands have been doing it long before anyone had a camera.

We get it. Everyone wants attention. Everyone wants a piece of the spotlight. But this trade isn’t about likes, followers, or filters. It’s about skill, pride, and grit. It’s about showing up, shutting up, and getting it done. The guys out here running rods, swinging wrenches, and burning steel don’t have time to chase clout. We’re too busy earning our living the hard way, the honest way.

So before you take advice or inspiration from someone online, ask yourself if they’ve ever welded in 110-degree heat with a hood fogging up from sweat. Ask if they’ve ever rigged pipe in the rain or fought with a stubborn flange at 3 a.m. Ask if they’ve ever spent weeks away from home just to keep the lights on for their family. If the answer’s no, then they don’t speak for us.

Be careful who you follow. Because some of these influencers are just chasing the next viral video while the rest of us are out here chasing a paycheck and a little pride. This trade doesn’t need pretenders. It needs people who care enough to do the job right, every single day.

Leave the real stories to the ones who live them. We’re not out here to go viral. We’re out here to keep the world running.

Respect.

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