Comments on The Java ME Blog: 10 things your IT guy wants you to know

Meh, IT is just like every other department justif...

2008-04-04T22:32:00.000+05:30

Meh, IT is just like every other department justifying their need to exist. Either way when something breaks, it sometimes is much harder to fix the seemingly "same" problem to the user but something totally different happened that caused the same result.

However IT is changing, the days of Nick Burns your company computer guy are numbered. Now employers look for people with the ability to actually talk to a non-tech person. Employers shouldn't hire non college tech people just because they read a manual online and know a language, they probably don't know the logic or business rules behind that or how to communicate their skills to their boss.

It depends on the oranization - exoerience has tau...

2008-03-27T22:43:00.000+05:30

It depends on the oranization - exoerience has taught me that if you work for a class organization that has a culture of treating people with respect, then your IT support is probably very helpful and respectful. If your in an organization that breeds a negitive atmosphere of self-centerness and loathing, then I wouldn't expect the IT department to be any different from the rest of the organization - You reap what you sow....

A good IT person knows they are dealing with peopl...

2008-03-27T08:55:00.000+05:30

A good IT person knows they are dealing with people, and would have some people skills. An inflated ego is no excuse to treat people like they are stupid.

Just like a typical IT person, these ten things verify that your IT person thinks that they know everything.

If I had the same access to the tools and programs that the IT people use, I could fix my own problems in half the time it takes them to do it.

While most points are valid, I don't agree with th...

2008-03-26T23:07:00.001+05:30

While most points are valid, I don't agree with the bluntness of communication between individuals. It's ok to be cordial and polite. Think of it from this perspective: I'm an IT guy where it's my job to know everything IT-related to be as efficient as possible about the job. Hypothetically, I might ever need help with something like how to build a bookcase from a bunch of wood. Are you saying that you wouldn't mind if the person you went to for woodworking help treated you the exact same way? I honestly can't believe your answer would be "yes". If it is, you're definitely a rare breed. Most would want polite, yet efficient banter to be able to get the job done in a reasonable amount of time. Most wouldn't want to hear, "I prefer email over phone calls” when you’re stuck holding a hammer poised over your woodwork. While this may very well be more efficient for you, we can’t all be like that. It’s the natural order of things to want to communicate more personably, i.e. phone call or office visit. It’s in our nature. Ever typed out an email that, only after you’ve hit “Send”, you realized that a few sentences could have been completely misconstrued and now you’re worried you now look like a total ass? When you yourself make a mistake, don’t you want someone to say something like, “Hey, that’s cool, I’ve probably done something much worse when I first started with computers.”? Of course you do. It’s human nature. Something else to consider – their arguing might not be arguing, but rather an attempt to try and understand the issue so as not to repeat the same mistake. Many times, it’s simply just a matter of comprehension and not questioning your statement. Are you telling me you never questioned your parents growing up? Not likely. I like most of the points and I was once an IT consultant for a local company. However, too many times I’ve seen folks in Corporate IT world get on their high horse and act holier than thou simply because of the position and capability within their job roles. It’s ok to be tactful/polite and no, it won’t kill you. So it took an extra 4 minutes out of your day. Maybe that one guy/girl you went the extra mile with will decide to do something nice for you or help you with something you’re unsure about in the future. Ya never know…

While most points are valid, I don't agree with th...

2008-03-26T23:07:00.000+05:30

I am too an IT person. I do think it's funny but i...

2008-03-24T20:26:00.000+05:30

I am too an IT person. I do think it's funny but in all reality we're not all like this.

What a total cock! I'm glad I know from experience...

2008-03-24T16:30:00.000+05:30

What a total cock! I'm glad I know from experience that not all IT guys are as c*nty as this, otherwise I'd be scared to even contact one!

The second point - we say things like that because we're embarrassed and just want to lighten things up a little.

Way to perpetuate the stereotype that IT guys have no social skills and are bitter at the world cos they probably can't get laid!

Gee, and I thought I was just an a-hole. I guess ...

2008-03-24T08:13:00.000+05:30

Gee, and I thought I was just an a-hole. I guess I'm just like every other IT person out there. Okay, maybe I'm still a bit of a jerk, but I'm a sys admin and I've had years to learn most of the stuff on this list is true, especially the fact that users lie...to no end.

#s 11 & 12 - Please don't call me a fat idiot, eve...

2008-03-22T04:52:00.000+05:30

#s 11 & 12 - Please don't call me a fat idiot, even though if you come to my call center, I will probably turn out to be a fat idiot with final fantasy posters (or something even more 1337) hanging in my sad, shared cubicle.

And don't call me a pathetic, terminally single loser. One day, I will ask that cute girl from accounting out in a manner that mortifies us both, then end up settling for the goth "lesbian" who always stares at me when I arrive in the morning.

#9: "I don't have enough time to sugar coat things...

2008-03-22T04:06:00.000+05:30

#9: "I don't have enough time to sugar coat things for you"
You clearly wasted valuable time writing this list then.

Upon reading the comments I take back one thing: d...

2008-03-22T01:32:00.000+05:30

Upon reading the comments I take back one thing: don't try to teach them anything, just treat them as equals (I know it's hard). Tell them in the most polite terms that what they've done is irreversible (if that has happened), and take their abuse.

It's not like IT people are human beings.

That's the standard way, anyway. Forget about politeness and treating people well, as they don't treat you well. If they don't have the courtesy, why should you try to be courteous to them?

Just do to them what they do to you. See how long you hold your job, against the people who abuse you all the time. I'd report abuse by customers, but the customer is always right.

In an ideal world the people at IT support would b...

2008-03-22T01:14:00.000+05:30

In an ideal world the people at IT support would be as socially adept as they are adept at fixing things. Those people get frustrated when they have to do the same simple things again and again.

What an IT support person wants is freedom to do their job without stupid remarks like how they should fix a file you deleted. They know you're ignorant about what is going on, that's why you called a support person.

Only thing I find annoying is to fix the same problem over and over again with the same person. They don't learn from their mistakes, and that creates frustration. No matter how much you try to teach them to avoid the problem.

Everybody trying to get the thick headed person to do it right will get frustrated if they just don't get it. Most are smart and learn from their mistakes. It's the ones that don't learn that are the problem.

Of course, if you don't teach them anything, like how to correct the problem, and only do it yourself. Atleast you should identify the problem to the one experiencing it, and tell how not to end up in such a situation in the future.

Less work for you and less chagrin all over.

HA....IT changes to quickly for people who don't w...

2008-03-21T00:17:00.000+05:30

HA....IT changes to quickly for people who don't work with it daily to really keep up with it. Now, there are plenty of people who do know a lot about computers, but there is so much stuff done in the background that makes everything work that it would be impossible for almost any corporation to have their other departments absorb the IT department. And if an IT department does their job right, then they are an asset. But as long as companies like MS keep changing their products every 3 years, then IT folks will be here for a long time. And its not about pissing off the hand that feeds you, it's about cutting the crap and getting as much work done as possible. Thank you very much.

As others have mentioned this could pretty much ap...

2008-03-20T09:16:00.000+05:30

As others have mentioned this could pretty much apply to any industry, not just IT. Auto mechanics, maintenance staff, electricians, and even carpenters all suffer from these same issues. Not everyone fully understands the equipment as well as those that are supposed to. If you call a plumber when your toilet doesn’t work, consider yourself lucky if they come out on a Sunday night.
This is the same deal IT goes though yes were busy as well but the good techs will get to your issue in a timely fashion. Expecting us to jump every time you computer beeps is just beyond reason. I don’t call my electrician every time a light doesn’t turn on I figured out it’s a bad bulb a long time ago. That’s an IT’s persons biggest complaint is that people don’t take responsibility for their knowledge.
Now I am generalizing because every IT person has some users they just simply can’t stand to deal with, because they will call with the same questions each time. I can recall one job where we posted the password for a user up on the wall because every week she would call asking how to log onto the computer, and no she didn’t have any mental issues, she just didn’t feel it was her job to remember it.
Really an IT person just wants the simple respect you expect from them, typically we don’t get it. We get talked down to since the computer is our problem because its in our department. Yea ill blame my electrician anytime an electrical device doesn’t work I am sure they will stop answering the phone.
I personally am an IT person, and I don’t mind fixing peoples issues, that’s why I am there. What I really dislike is people treating me like I am their personal secretary. Working in education as many other IT people in education will say that some NOT ALL teachers will say “this isn’t in my contract” in relation to technology. Well it’s not my job to walk you through every little thing. Most of the processes from submitting grades, homework, lesson plans have been the same for 3-5 years. It’s even documented how to do it in their handbooks but they insist on calling us every week they have to submit lesson plans. I don’t mind fixing issues when it’s the occasional ok I forgot or something changed, what do I have to do, but calling me every time your required to use technology is your own laziness.

I work at my college as IT and the only one i agre...

2008-03-19T10:02:00.000+05:30

I work at my college as IT and the only one i agree with is number 4.

I have been yelled at by one of the faculty members because they didnt save their data. We even provide a file server that will backs up its files every night. I definitely didn't sign up to be publicly humiliated because some tenured douchebag doesn't know how to save their files.

I am pretty sure most of this post is greatly embellished for humor, but whatever.
Sigh, good thing i mainly do web development there.

"paper,phones and files are much better from so ma...

2008-03-19T02:43:00.000+05:30

"paper,phones and files are much better from so many points of view that it bogges the mind that any company would even want to wast resources on IT."

Hehe...hehe...

Yup. And I can't imagine why ANY military force would bother wasting it's time with oil...I mean, steam power is SO MUCH BETTERZORZ!

I think we should be tolerant and understanding of...

2008-03-18T04:22:00.000+05:30

I think we should be tolerant and understanding of IT guys: I'd get pretty snarky if I was 30 years old and I spent all my days fixing tech problems and all my nights wondering what sex is like.

Waaa waaa my pussy hurts.

2008-03-14T11:56:00.000+05:30

Waaa waaa my pussy hurts.

I hope this is nothing more than a joke if not you...

2008-03-11T05:29:00.000+05:30

I hope this is nothing more than a joke if not you probably won't be working for long. ;)

I work with an IT department on a regular basis. Most are very professional and understand that there job is no different in priority then mine. If the system is down we produce zero product which means WE don't get paid.

Until WE (this includes the writer) realize this WE won't survive. Of course we could all learn to speak Chinese...

What a sad bunch of people you are! I work in a jo...

2008-03-10T17:36:00.000+05:30

What a sad bunch of people you are! I work in a job where people call for help. Sometimes they think they know more than me, sometimes they don't tell the whole truth, sometimes they get angry, sometimes they want me to do things urgently that aren't urgent , sometimes they aren't real bright. When the recession comes and some of you guys and gals are out of work maybe you'll realise that part of your job was to DEAL WITH PEOPLE and not massage your own egos.

BTW I got better service in Starbucks this morning than I usually get from our IT department!

really nice post one of the things i hate is when ...

2008-03-09T23:39:00.000+05:30

really nice post one of the things i hate is when someone says they have an issue and you ask them what did you do they insist "nothing!" persistantly... im not accusing you just tell me for gods sakes what you did right before the error happened... yes being vague and insufficient with you're information really helps me espeically "my computer is broken" and when i ask why whats wrong you just say "its broken theres uh... its just broken ok?"

I agree with the criticism of this IT professional...

2008-03-06T14:26:00.000+05:30

I agree with the criticism of this IT professional who I also perceive as being rude and possessing a bad attitude and if this guy worked for me, as CEO of a company with an IT staff I'd replace him as being part of the problem. When he is confronted by a security guard he expects courtesy even though the guard has had to deal with dozens of idiots that day. When he deals with retail staff, they also got crap all day. Ditto for most of his coworkers. We all manage to be courteous to each other except for this cave dweller.
I have just as much trouble dealing with some of these IT people who lack the interpersonal skills to deal with other humans as they have in dealing with us mere mortals who always manage to screw up their computers.
One more thing. He is tired of always hearing that getting a problem resolved is an emergency. well, I have news for you. These are emergencies in their own way. Everyone is over worked and under pressure with deadlines to be met. Try staying late to get your work caught up like the rest of us do on a regular basis. You exist to serve the staff. They don't exist to serve you. Get used to it. Maybe if you weren't so damn obnoxious companies wouldn't be trying to outsource your jobs as often as they do.

This is boring. Seriously. As a tech guy myself,...

2008-03-03T22:06:00.000+05:30

This is boring. Seriously. As a tech guy myself, I am sick of sniffling holier than thou tech guys that think their jobs and clients are especially taxing. Everybody from doctors to waitress have to deal with the dumbass public. Most of these people deal with it professionally. Auto mechanics and tech guys tend to bitch about it. It gives their respective industries a bad name.

I found all of this true, i have known many people...

2008-03-01T18:37:00.000+05:30

I found all of this true, i have known many people in IT or techsupport and they come home with stories of peoples stupidity. not only in tech jobs but jobs such as retail to. people cannot realize for some resone that they cannot always be your first priority

the real question is: if you're so smart why the h...

2008-02-27T13:45:00.000+05:30

the real question is: if you're so smart why the hell is your job to nerd away all day in a dead end IT job, essentially serving other people? Instead of having a nice HR or Bus. ops. job where you might actually make more than 50K a year?