Why are there so many jerks in the computer industry?

[Wadded Beef]

You know who I'm talking about...condescending, full of themselves, and often sporting a combover, why are there so many computer guys that act like jerks? (not all of em, probably not even the majority but there are still a LOT). I'm in college and theres several "Nick Burns" kinda guys in my classes. I don't want to be around these kind of people, how can I stay faar away from the nick burns of the world without changing majors? btw this isn't a shot at anyone who's into computers, (cept the nick burns guys) I honestly am trying to find out if this is the right major for me.

 

[mobobuff]

I know who you're talking about, I've seen a few of them. They're generally the type of people that know far less than they'd like you to think, and then there are the paper certs who study for certificates and gain little to no experience outside of textbook knowledge and end up being clueless in any real life problem, but may amplify their arrogance with the fact that they have 5 different certifications.

But don't give all ITs a bad rap, most are great people and will buy you a beer and chat shit up with you. :beer:

 

[Baked]

'Cause jerks get the good jobs and hot chicks?

 

[nageov3t]

I've found that the more into *nix they are, the more likely they are to be Nick Burns types

/hates dealing with the Unix department at his job

 

[ActuaryTm]

Remind yourself of the fact that such an attitude has more to do with those individuals being pubescent males out from under the immediate rule of their parents, and are thus attempting to assert themselves as masters of the universe.

You won't find a great number of individuals with this type of attitude in the IT industry. A few, but not many.

 

[BigJ]

Work in any IT position (especially tech support) for several months and see how bitter it makes you.

 

[Wadded Beef]

i've never met any but what's with the unix guys that are at least 300lbs, have a huge beard and wear suspenders/overalls? I've seen some at JPL, is this like a fashion thing for unix people? lol (not implying they are jerks, just that they have a distinct "look")

 

[Bv3]

MOVE!!!

 

[Wadded Beef]

move...care to elaborate on your one word statement? =]

 

[sandorski]

Have you ever tried to explain something to someone who doesn't understand a word coming out of your mouth? If so, you know why Nick Burnsians are the way they are. You could spend 30 min utes trying to get someone to do something OR you can do it yourself in a few seconds. I'd rather do it myself, unless it's over the phone, but in that situation I'll take a smoke break or make tea while trying to fix the persons problem.

Just to clarify, I don't work in the field, but many a time I've helped people through their problems both in person and over the phone. Over the phone is a nightmare, so much so I doubt that Outsourced Tech Support to India(or wherever) is any worse than someone who speaks perfect English. Unless you have some knowledge of computers, know what the problem is, and just need an RMA# or something.

So the next time you run into a problem you can't deal with and the Tech shows up....MOVE!

 

[virtuamike]

My hatred for stupid clients is the sole reasons I didn't make the switch to desktop support.

True story.

- "Hello my internet is broken. I can go to my banking website but I can't type in my account numbers."
- "Maam, have you tried numlock?"
- "Oh."

 

[Stumps]

it's because we get paid so little, but everybody else thinks we are over paid and treats us like sh*t and then get upset when we are jerks!

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: Wadded Beef
You know who I'm talking about...condescending, full of themselves, and often sporting a combover, why are there so many computer guys that act like jerks? (not all of em, probably not even the majority but there are still a LOT). I'm in college and theres several "Nick Burns" kinda guys in my classes. I don't want to be around these kind of people, how can I stay faar away from the nick burns of the world without changing majors? btw this isn't a shot at anyone who's into computers, (cept the nick burns guys) I honestly am trying to find out if this is the right major for me.

You dont start out like this... it comes with time.. and years and years of answering the same stupid fvcking questions day in day out...

even the same questions AGAIN from the same person..

Desktop support/admin demands alot of patience becasue end users are fvcking morons in general...
10+ years showing the same user day after day how to map a drive or fix a printer turns us into nick burns ...

 

[mrCide]

seconded..

MOVE!!!@

nothing wrong with having certs..

 

I now group all people in the computer industry under one general heading, "fix it bitch".

 

[40Hands]

I do that kind of work and I don't even have to tell people to move. They get the fvck out of my way because they know I need to use the computer

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: BigJ
Work in any IT position (especially tech support) for several months and see how bitter it makes you.

Heheh...that's the truth. A lot of repetition of common sense problems tends to make people's outlook of others go down quite a bit

Anyway, they type of people you are speaking of are usually the geeky ones that were socially shunned most of their life, then they suddenly have a position where they're more knowledgeable about a critical area than others. A superiority complex will quickly develop after that.

It's tough not to feel like people are stupid though when they can't solve the most evident of problems without hand holding. For example, my number one call during the day is "I'm getting this error that says my username and password have been rejected." I then say "Have you tried retyping your username and password?" They always say no, then try retyping it, and are astounded that that's all the problem was. :roll:

 

[ThePresence]

It's human beings in general, and you have jerks in every job.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

you would act like that too if you lived in your parent's basement

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: CVSiN


even the same questions AGAIN from the same person..

Desktop support/admin demands alot of patience becasue end users are fvcking morons in general...
10+ years showing the same user day after day how to map a drive or fix a printer turns us into nick burns ...

That is the one thing that really pisses me off. You go through the trouble to track me down, probably because you can't figure out how to log into AIM. Then you asked me a question I've already answered for you 5 times before. FVCKING WRITE IT DOWN. The second time doesn't really bother me...but after that I feel some monkey who is just doing the same work over and over again.

I am lucky I was born with an immense amount of patience. It is tested every day.

And the move thing...this happened to me yesterday.
I'm microwaving my lunch.
Her: "Oh, good looks like you've got 2 minutes left so can you help me with something"
Me: "Well, its actually 30 seconds but yeah"
Her: "I got this email and I can't go to the website"
*I look at email, its some stupid valentines web card from her husband and for whatever reason the hyperlink isn't setup properly*
Me: "Ok, you need to copy the URL into a browser window."
Her: "Do what?"
Me: "Highlight that link text, then right click and go to copy"
*highlights half of it, then left clicks on it again, deselecting it...she looks at me confused*
me: "You don't have it all selected, thats probably not gonna work."
Her: "Oh, ok."
*reselects, missing part of the http:// this time...whatever*
Me: "Now go to Edit and then copy."
Me: "No, its under edit....its the second from the left....No, the top left. Ok."
Me: "Now open a web browser"
Her: "What?"
Me: "Internet Explorer"
Her: "Where is that?"
Me: "Minimize the window, its on your desktop...you just closed it...well that should be fine."
Me: "Double click that blue E"
Me: "Ok, now you need to paste to the address bar"
Her: "Where's the address bar."
Me: "Right there"
*points at the words 'address bar' next to the box populated with the current website*
Her: "Ok"
*starts clicking on the word address?*
Me: "No, the text next to it....yeah...well, ok thats good."
Me: "Now go to edit..."
*paste is grayed out...WTF...did I not notice her forgetting to click on copy or something?*
Me: "Oh crap, this looks like one of those ones that doesn't work with our email system."
Her: "Really?"
Me: "Yeah"
*Goes and eats cold food*

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Between the fact that techies are rarely "people" people, they're never called for a good thing, they're often burned out, and people do some really stupid things, I can understand it.

I mean, how many times do you take a person opening a virus that they were warned about before you stop being a cheerful person?

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Bv3
MOVE!!!

LOL, Nick is great! He's my idol!

MOVE!!!

 

[sixone]

Originally posted by: Wadded Beef
You know who I'm talking about...condescending, full of themselves, and often sporting a combover, why are there so many computer guys that act like jerks? (not all of em, probably not even the majority but there are still a LOT). I'm in college and theres several "Nick Burns" kinda guys in my classes. I don't want to be around these kind of people, how can I stay faar away from the nick burns of the world without changing majors? btw this isn't a shot at anyone who's into computers, (cept the nick burns guys) I honestly am trying to find out if this is the right major for me.

Within 5 years of leaving college, you will understand that "Nick Burns kinda guys" are everywhere, in all industries. Your best move is to get to know them, and learn how to cope. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Or at least learn to fool them into thinking you have.

 

[gururu]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
And the move thing...this happened to me yesterday.
I'm microwaving my lunch.
Her: "Oh, good looks like you've got 2 minutes left so can you help me with something"
Me: "Well, its actually 30 seconds but yeah"
Her: "I got this email and I can't go to the website"
*I look at email, its some stupid valentines web card from her husband and for whatever reason the hyperlink isn't setup properly*
Me: "Ok, you need to copy the URL into a browser window."
Her: "Do what?"
Me: "Highlight that link text, then right click and go to copy"
*highlights half of it, then left clicks on it again, deselecting it...she looks at me confused*
me: "You don't have it all selected, thats probably not gonna work."
Her: "Oh, ok."
*reselects, missing part of the http:// this time...whatever*
Me: "Now go to Edit and then copy."
Me: "No, its under edit....its the second from the left....No, the top left. Ok."
Me: "Now open a web browser"
Her: "What?"
Me: "Internet Explorer"
Her: "Where is that?"
Me: "Minimize the window, its on your desktop...you just closed it...well that should be fine."
Me: "Double click that blue E"
Me: "Ok, now you need to paste to the address bar"
Her: "Where's the address bar."
Me: "Right there"
*points at the words 'address bar' next to the box populated with the current website*
Her: "Ok"
*starts clicking on the word address?*
Me: "No, the text next to it....yeah...well, ok thats good."
Me: "Now go to edit..."
*paste is grayed out...WTF...did I not notice her forgetting to click on copy or something?*
Me: "Oh crap, this looks like one of those ones that doesn't work with our email system."
Her: "Really?"
Me: "Yeah"
*Goes and eats cold food*

Me: Goes to her computer, highlights address text and pastes in IE addressbar. Tells her to click return.
Her: Thank you.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

If various industries worked like the computer industry:
People would expect you to fix thier car while they stand over your shoulder... after they managed to hit an oncoming semi with it.
People would expect a baker to walk them through making a 7' tall wedding cake over the phone. For free.
People would attempt to cut thier hair with a hedge trimmer, and then go to a hair salon and tell them to put it back to the way it was.
People would infect themself with AIDS just to find out what it's like. And then expect there to be an over the counter cure.
People would have 400 tons of crap piled onto thier bicycle, and then complain about it being slow.