What is Digg?155 Comments
- i440, on 10/12/2007, -10/+67Good point. I'll something to the list:
7. Many users use IE, and act as if nothing can ever go wrong.
"Hello. I'm having computer problems. All these viruses and popups appear after I turn on my computer and I JUST CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHY!"
Because clicking the word 'yes' to every popup you see to try to make it go away and accepting EVERY ActiveX offer on EVERY website you happen to come across is not exactly the best way to keep your computer free of malware, ya know? - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+43Mirror: http://www.duggmirror.com/linux_unix/What_IT_Pros_Hate_About_Users/
- titlesaysitall, on 10/12/2007, -3/+39After all the user is the worst threat to a computer.
- scrubadub, on 10/12/2007, -4/+35I'm sick of the excuse
"Well you showed me that once but that was a long time ago how am I supposed to remember that!"
You're supposed to practice it because I'm not going to show you every 3 weeks you need to do this. - r00t3d0ut, on 10/12/2007, -4/+32The SINGLE thing that makes a person in IT go absolutely ***** is an end user who thinks that they know more than the systems administrator. I liken this behavior to those backwards ass retards who go to baseball games and yell out such stupid ***** like, "You suck!" You'd think--if you listened to such people--that these million dollar athletes somehow wandered out on the field aimlessly and they need coaching from the stands. Have YOU ever tried to hit a 90 mph fastball or try to hit a 400 ft fly ball out of the park? That ball would be in the catcher's glove so damn fast that you'd think the pitcher didn't throw the ball and the possibility of hitting the ball past the diamond is more of a reality for normal folk.
Long story short; shut the f@#k up and let us do our job! - josegutz, on 10/12/2007, -3/+30 A well disciplined user will usually let you take the reigns on their system and that is when everything usually goes very smoothly. This is the GOOD part of my job... The ***** part is when you get the know it all user who corrects you in every possible way as if you have never touched a computer system in your life and then start to ask you questions about their home PC. My favorite is the user that will NOT get out of their seat and will have you walk them through exactly what you were going to do to fix the problem. These users have not the slightest clue of how much I despise their incoherent blaherty, and pompous arrogance... These type are what we call a PICNIC...Problem in chair NOT in Computer....
- i440, on 10/12/2007, -4/+31Whenever you come across a dugg server on digg, all you need to do is replace 'digg' up there on the url with 'duggmirror' and you should be set. For instance, on this article:
http://digg.com/linux_unix/What_IT_Pros_Hate_About_Users
should change to
http://duggmirror.com/linux_unix/What_IT_Pros_Hate_About_Users
for a cache. - Snoopsor, on 10/12/2007, -5/+25I believe you mean "dumber THAN a box of rocks!!!"... I bet you feel pretty ridiculous after posting that comment ;)
- deadbaby, on 10/12/2007, -5/+25What really outrages me is how accepting we are of ignorance. I can't think of any other facet of modern life where we just give a free pass to people. Users have this mindset that they shouldn't have to learn how to use a computer. Following directions, taking notes and basic troubleshooting skills should be a REQUIREMENT of anyone who wants a job in a modern office. Would you accept this type of willful ignorance in any other facet of life?
The computer revolution didn't happen overnight. People have had plenty of time to learn computers on more than a superficial level. We need computer education that actually teaches users how to help themselves. This "adult day care" hand holding thing just doesn't work. - Phyltre, on 10/12/2007, -5/+24There's a problem with this list:
Users not understanding computers well enough is part of why IT Pros exist.If users were savvy enough to not cause these "hates", we wouldn't need as many IT Pros around. Either you have a job to do, fixing things other people don't understand properly, or they understand it (and can do it themselves) but don't bother you about it. Which means the IT division shrinks quite a bit. - addisonj, on 10/12/2007, -1/+19These articles about how IT Pros are greater that all get on my nerves, since it seems the majority of the IT pros i have worked with / met/ had to deal with have all been pretty incompetent about things or so stuck in their way of doing things though there were much easier solutions, but alas, i live in Idaho... so that might be the problem.
Though i will admit there are a lot of people in the business world who shouldn't be allowed ot touch a keyboard - jrizzo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17While I agree...someone shut him up or we will all be out of jobs. The less everyone else knows, the more I get paid for surfing the net all day.
- The_Sheriff, on 10/12/2007, -3/+18The user is supposed to do the thinking and the computer is supposed to do the working. When the user stops thinking the computer stops working.
- LordSkywalker, on 10/12/2007, -6/+21How many is the jigabites?
- relaxmax, on 10/12/2007, -3/+17There are basically three categories of problems in our field:
1. Hardware
2. Software
3. Humanware
And we all agree that more often than not, it is the third one. - i440, on 10/12/2007, -3/+17Why is this filed under Linux/Unix? Why not industry news or something?
- AbortedFetus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+15@jrizzo
The less your boss knows about computers, the harder your job is. If it's anything I learned from IT, that would be it. - ModernTenshi, on 10/12/2007, -2/+15I work for my school's computer helpdesk, and my biggest gripe is that students and fac/staff seem to see us as a one-hour photo: they bring their computer in, and no matter what the problem is, big or small, we can, nay, SHOULD, have it fixed in about one hour, maybe two if it's REALLY bad. The biggest problem we have is what I refer to as the Generic User Problem, which is when the user says their problem is, and I quote, "I think it has a virus." That's right, 99% of the problems students bring their computers to us for are natrually caused by a computer virus!
My favorite user is the Knowitall. Y'know? The kind that inherently know more than you, but came to you for posterity and good measure? The kind where every time you say what the problem could be, or what the problem definately is, and your solution(s) to fix said problem, they always tell you that you're wrong. I let it go on for a little while, then I end up telling them, "well, since you appear to know more about the nature of the problem than I do, here's your computer, fix it yourself." I have seriously done this.
I also LOVE how users think we're responsible for any loss of data on their machines, even if it was turned into us already broken. Well, I didn't know the HDD had already crashed when I brought it in! Riiiiight . . . . Then they expect us to back-up all their damn data for them, vacation photos, illegaly downloaded music, and a shady file marked, "personal videos . . . ." We now have a terms of service agreement all students need to sign, saying they alone are responsible for backing up any and all data they need, and if it's lost while we have the computer, whether it's our fault or not, we can't be held responsible.
Okay, I'll stop my bitching now. - mancat, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14Your IT manager should have properly configured Windows machines, so that the users would not have the proper priveleges to install ActiveX controls. This is a non-issue for any slightly competent Windows administrator.
I don't disagree that IE is crap, but on a system where the users are not Administrators, and with some slight group policy adjustments (no local account ActiveX control installations) IE is perfectly safe. - trylleklovn, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13I HATE, when people goes.. Uhh this ISP you recommended really sucks my internet is all slow and stuff... when the only thing that slows them down is all the ***** spyware they have -.-
- Terc, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13What IT Pros Hate About WordPress
- ziadoz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9@timmarhy
I'm a network administrator for two networks. I do agree you do get some *****, but this article is more poking fun at people who aren't as tech savvy as others, not about people who are just plain jerks, and in my experience those who aren't tech savvy don't need ICT staff giving them a hard time just because they don't know their stuff. After all its not their job to.
If you think adults are a pain, why not try working with kids? Thats where the works at, trust me. :P - ersnyder, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11The word "user" is and always will be, a four letter word.
- JTMON, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10You're missing the points. It's not a problem that they don't know what they are doing. It is a problem, for example that they won't move from their seats. Do I bring my car to the garage to get fixed and expect a lesson in auto repair? No
Do I think that any mechanic can fix ANY car no matter the age of the car? No.
Do I think that all auto parts should work in every car regardless of manufacturer or specs? No. - InvisionUK, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10@ronaldst
Rubbish. In some lines of work you need to. I guess the IT department in educational facilities and media companies are idiots right? - monergism, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11I don't hate those who pay my bills.
- nolanistic, on 10/12/2007, -4/+12Unless of course they're a technical genius and do know more than you :(
Which does happen if you're a kid with far more knowledge than the idiot sysadmins at your school. - gforb, on 10/12/2007, -5/+130. Users have forgotten personal accountability.
ie, back up your data, practice safe software exchange, clean up house, learn by oneself - siMac, on 10/12/2007, -3/+107. For the love of Dog, restart! Before you call me, try restarting your computer. If I get there and a restart fixes it, you're banned from IT support for a month.
- mludd, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10The problem for me is that a lot of the users' problems are not really problems, it's stuff the users have to do fairly regularly yet they seem incapable of remembering how to do it. "How do I print?" "You use the printer at least twice per week! There's a huge button in your app that has a picture of a printer AND the letters "P R I N T" on it! Please remember this and stop yelling at me about how I'm not very good at helping people!"
- Frinkahedron, on 10/12/2007, -5/+12Kinda short. I bet you'll see 5 dozen more to add in the comments.
- Hollywood, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9But what if your IT manager thinks that there is nothing wrong with IE...
Oh wait my manager loves IE, hates Opera and Firefox. Argh! - jrizzo, on 10/12/2007, -6/+12Amen.
Some dude has been emailing me for 3 WEEKS straight now about his damn email. We have instructions on-line for the setup... BUT HE KNOWS WHAT AN SMTP SERVER IS!!!1!!1! :P
If you call for tech support, then tell us you problem and refrain from speaking EVER again until we ask you a question. Also, if you call us, it means we know more than you.
Recognize biatch. - siekosunfire, on 10/12/2007, -4/+10@jrizzo
Don't strain yourself there. - fatdog789, on 10/12/2007, -5/+11Agreed. If general users were saavy enough to fix these problems on their own, IT departments wouldn't be necessary, or at best, on the same tier as the mailroom.
- LordSkywalker, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9That they're stupid?
- ziadoz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7In my experience IT Professionals who write articles like this have zero people skills. If you are going to work in an environment where you will constantly working with people have even the simplest computer problem the best thing to do is not be elitist and condascending towards them.
Not everyone understands how to use a computer or how one works (they may not even want to, shock horror!) and looking down upon them is only going deminish relationships between departments.
IT Professionals need to explain what the problem is and how they are fixing it in laymans terms, as opposed to just saying "Give me your mouse I'll fix it". If you educate your users more you'll gain respect and you workload should reduce if your users feel they have the confidence to deal with smaller problems themselves. - iNoles, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Is that why IT Pro usually buy a t-shirts said "I will not fix your computer"?
- atpcliff, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Hi!
After reading some of the above posts, I have an interesting observation that will help explain some things to the IT experts.
I am certified to teach in WI. I recently (about 5 years ago) finished a teacher education program at a U-Wisconsin four year university (I'm certified in 6-12 Social Studies).
In our training, to be K-12 teachers for the next 40 or so years, guess how much computer training we had?
0.
Guess how many classrooms that we learned in had computers?
0.
Guess how many professors had laptops?
0.
Guess how many teachers prepared lessons on their computers?
0.
Guess how much internet content our teachers incorporated into their classroom sessions, or included as part of our required assignments?
0.
We even had some of these teachers in training that said computers were "BAD" and should never be present in a child's education.
The above is one of the reasons that IT has it so bad...The employees of the companies you worked for have no background whatsoever in using computers in their K-12 education.
Even today, my kids (grades 5 & 3) basically have very little exposure to computers in their schools. Many of their teachers don't know how to create a basic PowerPoint presentation, and have no training whatsoever in integrating computers/the internet into their instruction.
Cliff
YIP - Bigbro69, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6"Hello IT, have you tried turning it off and on again?" -The IT Crowd
- Plotinus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6I'm a sys admin and I don't disagree with many of the comments already made but to counterbalance slightly I try and remember a few points.
1 Computers make me feel stupid every day. No matter what I know about sw I never trust that an app will work or a fix will work until I see it work (mind you I do work in a mainly windows environment - bleh!!)
2 Without users, networks or even Microsoft (because it's so *****) I would not have a cool job that I basically love.
3 Computers make users scared - scared people do stupid things. - Tsujigiri, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Pretty much the core issues. Working for a small ISP from 97 to 2001 I can commiserate.
However, the thing I always reminded my dept of was this; we are all users at some point. No matter what you do for a living, you are always going to be a customer to someone else, and that person/company will have technicians that you will eventually have to call and annoy. Whether it's for your cable service, cell phone, ISP or car, somebody somewhere will hold you to this list. Food for thought. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6mate you must not work in IT.
i'd say most people do learn after a couple of goes at something. but there is a core group of ***** in any user base which REFUSE to learn, and demand IT make all their problems go away with no effort on their own part.
treat me like a magician, and i'll pull a rabbit out of YOUR ass. that should be the motto of all IT workers. All too often i've run into some cheeky prick who thinks it's ok give you a hard time because the computer broke.
a classic example i can give you, is when i was servicing a laboratory and they had this $10k printer churning out paper 24/7 and it kept breaking. staff were harrasing me night and day about this thing, managment was questioning my abilities. for the life of me i could not find the cause of this thing paper jamming.
Until one day, i pulled the bulk feeder off it, and i heard a rattle. i shook it, rattle rattle. eventually i tracked down the noise. it was a TIC TAC lodged in a grove where the paper rolls out of the feeder. vibrations of the machine periodicly made it roll down the groove and jame the paper, when you pulled ou the jammed paper it was rolling away to hide from me.
now this is a ***** laboratory with strict rules on NO FOOD on the premises. this printer, just happened to have the staffs bag shelf overhead. some bloody office girl had snuck in some tic tacs, dropped one and it's landed in the printer.
needless to say, i was ***** unimpressed. - twinklyJesus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4This article and many of the comments here are unprofessional and indicative of what is wrong with our industry. Many of the "professionals" working in our industry have no business in the customer service aspect of IT.
Think about it like this: When was the last time you went to the ER and as soon as you were in the examination room, the doctor began complaining about his work load or the stupid patients he had to deal with? When was the last time you passed two doctors in the hall and overheard them talking about how stupid a patient was for injuring themselves performing a simple task? Professionals don't discuss each other or their clients in public, in a negative fashion. They may do so behind closed doors, but I wouldn't know. I consider this to be the paramount of professionalism. To treat someone who depends on you with respect, at all times, no matter what.
No matter what you do, first and foremost, it is all customer service. If you don't understand, then you should probably take a Dale Carnegie customer service course. Or read J.M. Marriott's book on customer service.
Net-net, everyone is your customer. So,if you're not serving your company's customer, you are serving someone who is. - LordSkywalker, on 10/12/2007, -6/+10IT Guy != Repair Guy.
They've got more important work to do. - AbortedFetus, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8If you don't like it, don't digg it. Obviously more than a few people thought the post was interesting so it got on the main page.
What makes you think IT pros think they are better than you? Sure, you will find people like that, there are many in every job. But unless you actually do any IT work, you can't really speak for our frustrations. Most of our work is made unnecessarily difficult because of ignorant users than choose not to learn anything about the machine they rely on every day. We don't ask for complete knowledge of everything about computers, obviously. But come on, is the screensaver of the cute puppy worth all the damn spyware you will get on your computer?
Yes, it gives us our jobs, but that's not all we do. We could be spending more time on projects making our infrastructure run more smoothly rather than wasting time removing a desktop stripper that the user has "no idea" how it got there... - AbortedFetus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Isn't that what a blog is for :P
But I agree with you on the food service point. There is always going to be stupid/rude/inconsiderate people in every situation. Every job has its frustrations, and since this is a technology news site, these are the kinds of articles that are going to show up on here.
And it's not like he's complaining or ranting about it. I thought it was a pretty funny/true list that many IT pros can relate to. - weirdscience07, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5warrenonline,
I guess I will tackle your post because it seems to me most representative of those users whom IT professionals really dislike. Before I go on, though, I must admit to having had great working relationships with most non-IT colleagues I've encountered at several different companies over the course of my career.
1) Smug Geeks: Actually, I happen to agree with this point. But, then again, it really does apply to just about anyone doesn't it? Smugness is not really an enviable quality, and are you seriously going to tell me you've never come across it with lawyers, accountants, bankers, or whatever other profession?
2) Overworked Geeks: Ah, now this is just disrespectful. You see, as mentioned several times in this thread, while you are under the impression that your problem is of the highest, most urgent priority, I can assure you it is not and that the man who really pays my salary, and who pays yours because you're most likely a work drone just the same as me, well, let's just say he doesn't give a rat's ass that you don't know how to apply a signature to your email.
3) Server Geeks: Contrary to your belief, we are not beset upon by fairies in the ether that flutter about carrying with them all that information you see on the screen in front of you. Yes, the mythical server really does exist, and it really does require attention, and again, this server and the information it contains probably is more important to the company than the role you play. So, um, if there's a problem with it you're not likely to see me in your workspace.
And finally, please revisit your terminology. While I'm proud to count geeks among my colleagues, not all IT professionals could fairly be considered as such. It's as incorrect as suggesting all lawyers are greedy, all accountants are boring, or all doctors play golf. Stereotypes, in other words, suck. - Phyltre, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Actually, I read every word. Twice. And nearly everything stems from the user being in an unfamiliar environment and then either making ill-conceived demands or under/overestimating the IT folks. This would be much less of an issue of the users in question actually understood the computer environment.
- leodavinci, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8Looks like it got dugg to death.
Mirror
http://www.duggmirror.com/linux_unix/What_IT_Pros_Hate_About_Users/ -
Show 51 - 100 of 155 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is