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Is A Bad Attitude Damaging The IT Profession?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the who-cares-and-shut-up dept.

dtienes writes "Why does IT get a free pass to insult users? Slamming customers isn't acceptable in any other profession; doctors don't call their patients "meatbags" — at least, not publicly. But IT professionals think nothing of wearing their scorn on their sleeves (or at least their chests — just check out ThinkGeek). There's more at stake here than just a few hard feelings. IT may be seriously damaging the credibility of the profession. See the essay I'm An Idiot (And Other Lessons From The IT Department) for a former IT professional turned user's take on insults, attitudes and ethics. (Full disclosure: The submitter is also the author.)"

9 of 892 comments (clear)

  1. An example by maztuhblastah · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nothing for you to see here, please move along

    See, it's attitudes like that....

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    The real litigious bastards...
  2. No. by exspecto · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is A Bad Attitude Damaging The IT Profession? No. And if you don't shut up about it, I won't get around to fixing your computer until *after* lunch!
    1. Re:No. by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Never mind the fact you *only* fixed computers after lunch. Can't let work interfere with a rousing game of mine sweeper in the morning. :P

  3. House by Tide · · Score: 4, Funny

    What, all doctors aren't like House?

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    People think Microsoft is the answer. Microsoft is just the question, "No" is the answer.
  4. Theres a saying... by stimpleton · · Score: 4, Funny

    I heard a saying one time. I don't know the origins:

    "Accounts departments love IT Departments. For before there was IT, everyone hated Accounts. But now everyone hates the IT Dept."

    This seems to hold some truth from my experience.

    --

    In post Patriot Act America, the library books scan you.
  5. Re:car mechanics do it too by JohnnyMossville · · Score: 5, Funny

    In my experience, I found that the IT guys are being paid more than other people in the building on average, actually much more than their job description warrants. Management is ignorant to the fact most stuff just works and the IT guys basically sit around all day browsing slashdot.org etc,... breaking stuff once in awhile to make them look useful. This leads to to a level of arrogance brought on by the fact that they must make others feel they are ABSOLUTELY necessary to the well being of the company. If they weren't there, the place would break down and we'd all be walking around aimlessly without their "expertise" Like Doctors and Mechanics, this is their little God Complex. It's quite amusing actually. I've found myself not fixing my own computer problems on purpose just so they have something to do. They are not much more use than elevator operators to me. Sorry.

  6. Re:Interesting Thought, But... by L.Bob.Rife · · Score: 4, Funny

    imagine if a shocking percentage of the population drove their cars without any thought to changing their oil, airing their tires, or even filling their tank with gas.

    You mean my wife?

  7. Re:Almost expected by dotgain · · Score: 5, Funny

    Male pronouns in papers got you points off, and using "they" would loose yourself grammar points.
    You sure you weren't 'loosing' the points for some other reason?

  8. Re:Almost expected by Namlak · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...I probably would have been a math or physics major instead. They are a million times nicer to girls over there. They are desperate to have them.

    You can't expect the IT guys to be so accomodating to you when they have way so many women after them as it is.