And Now for Something Completely Different...

Communication is mysterious. It still amazes me how some people, actually most, think that technicians can read minds. On a daily basis it overwhelms me that some people think techs can make computers do their biddings by using the power of the force. There is no force being used, nor witch doctoring, nor telepathy and very little voodoo. Don't ask me about the chicken in the trunk unless you really want to know.

Let's say a person calls me and wants a backup manipulated on the phone. That person is informed my current status is thrashing down the highway in the hooptiemobile and I will be in front of a computer in 1 hour or so. Then she says don't rush because as long as this is done in the next day or two it'll be fine, she actually has some other things more pressing. Then, remember techs don't read minds, another tech is called in to do a simple job that could have been performed under a maintenance contract by remoting in and there would have been no service call. A day later the phone call is made to arrange a time so the person could watch the procedure and know how to do it the next time. This tech is then informed of the actions taken.

While we are on the subject of technicians, let me say that we are territorial. There's a VERY valid reason for this obsession with control. Each tech, especially those maintaining networks, has a need to know about every change to a network or computer. Nothing is more frustrating than to implement protocol and then find it has been violated. We perceive things in order and don't abide chaos. Okay, most of the time anyway, lol. Changes made by clients on machines are to be expected, but shifting around backup files, changing a path in a way not normally used, etc., will send us into a reeling hell filled with anxiety that has us pushing the panic button until we return all functions to their regular state. And we are all just a little bit different. Yep, that's right, we are human beings too.

So, if you work with computers, and you do or you wouldn't be reading this, please take everything said here to heart especially that part about techs being human. We have feelings even if the exterior is cranky or casual. In a world full of rude, crass people being one does not help. Be nice. A lot of us know karate and/or voodoo and carry weapons of mass destruction (See posts in the archives). Fellow techs and people who understand this concept I expect comments today. Let us help by extending the hand of knowledge.

In the words of that grand Texas philosopher Ed Coffin, "Have a better than expected day."

"The Internet is the world's largest library. It's just that all the books are on the floor."
~John Allen Paulos