Stupid people

[amcdonald]

Most of IT is about working with idiots.

Less idiots in IT would mean less work for contractors, so I see it as a good thing that there seems to be an endless supply of idiots

[amcdonald]

Gateway computers (remember them?) were the most stupid people I've ever had to deal with.

• PC damaged by lightening strike, so it was replaced by the insurance company.
• Insurance company has a running account with Gateway (which it settles at the end of each month).
• My replacement computer had a fault and I needed a replacement part.
• Gateway said my account with them (actually the insurance company's account) hadn't been paid up in full after x years (as it never is, that's the nature of a running account) so they wouldn't help me.
• Couldn't get anywhere with the thick c***s.
• Never used them again and always advised others the same.

Whatever happened to them?

They bought Commodore after they went bust showing an amazing lack of business knowledge

[2BIT]

Less idiots in IT would mean less work for contractors, so I see it as a good thing that there seems to be an endless supply of idiots

the whole off-shore thing is shaping up to be the next Y2K bonanza (not that I was around for that but me old contractor mates say it was halcyon times!)

[stek]

FTFY....

the whole off-shore thing is shaping up to be the next Y2K bonanza (not that I was around for that but me old contractor mates say it was halcyon times!)

I'm waiting for the Y3K payout - can't wait!

[Sysman]

Do this (if Unix)

tar xvf /home/everybodies_work steks_clever_backup.tar

and you end up with an empty file and everyones files totally gone!!! 'f' flag is your backup filename....

Even now tar fills me with dread, I'll never make that mistake again....

There's a worse one.

Using OS X Finder to unpack a .tar.gz file. It doesn't merge directory structures like tar -x does, it overwrites existing directories.

(this information was true several versions of OS X ago. I haven't dared try it since)

[2BIT]

I'm waiting for the Y3K payout - can't wait!

plus lots of consultancies are using grads as coders now which is creating another massive slew of fix work, add that to the general ineptitude of the average Big Co IT departments and there could well be a rosy future - of course it will be mainly dreck work but could provide fall back plans so you can negotiate for the more sexy roles better

[sasguru]

Today they are out in force.

Me : I cannot access the server.
Techy : I can.
Me : How does this help?
Techy : Can you access the server?
Me : Was I unclear in my statement "I cannot access the server"
Techy : Strange, cos I can.



Me : Hi can I get some data dictionaries / schema defs as I need to mine some data from your warehouse.
DWHGuy : I cannot interpret your requirements. What fields specifically do you need?
Me : Hard to tell you that without the schema defs.
DWHGuy : I can't help you then.

It's quite clear what's going on here. The techies have, quite rightly, figured you out to be a bull-tulipter chancer and really, really despise you.
The phrase "I need to mine some data from your warehouse" is probably what gave it away.

[suityou01]

It's quite clear what's going on here. The techies have, quite rightly, figured you out to be a bull-tulipter chancer and really, really despise you.
The phrase "I need to mine some data from your warehouse" is probably what gave it away.

Quite right. I should have said I need to do some statistical analysis of your data.

Still banging the nanny btw?

[sasguru]

Quite right. I should have said I need to do some statistical analysis of your data.

Well you could have, but they probably know your IQ wouldn't be up to it.
Either way you'll get the runaround. Techies have a finely honed nose for BS.

[mudskipper]

Gateway computers (remember them?) were the most stupid people I've ever had to deal with.

• PC damaged by lightening strike, so it was replaced by the insurance company.
• Insurance company has a running account with Gateway (which it settles at the end of each month).
• My replacement computer had a fault and I needed a replacement part.
• Gateway said my account with them (actually the insurance company's account) hadn't been paid up in full after x years (as it never is, that's the nature of a running account) so they wouldn't help me.
• Couldn't get anywhere with the thick c***s.
• Never used them again and always advised others the same.

Whatever happened to them?

Their boxes made very handy cow fancy dress costumes.