Slashdot Mirror
Is A Bad Attitude Damaging The IT Profession?
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.)"
Of course it is. And companies are starting to get wise to the fact that things could be better - when applying for jobs after college, not one but two of the interviews I had were filling spots of IT admins who'd been fired for this kinda crap. And the interviews were all questions like "What do you think of users who know absolutely nothing about computers?"
ACs are modded -6. I don't read you, I don't mod you, I don't see you. Don't like it? Don't be a coward.
GROLIES: Guardian[1] Reader Of Low Intelligence in Ethnic Skirt
LOBNH: Lights On But Nobody Home
CNS-QNS: Central Nervous System - Quantity Not Sufficient
[1] UK left wing newspaper
My girlfriend, a biologist, took the CS intro class (based on Java as was the entire CS program) when we were in college and didn't have to put up with any of that. I'm willing to bet that your experience was an isolated experience based on your campus alone... though I'm not discounting it entirely as there are assholes everywhere.
Personally I found the professor to be an unqualified and pompous jackass whose only goal was to teach people that a "...For Dummies" programming style and slavish desire to corporate conformity were where it's at. The guy cared more about slamming Unix compared to Windows and "professional" programming and bitching that if you wanted to be a "hacker" (I'm amazed he even knew the proper meaning) to drop the class and take a C course instead (good advice, if only a C course were available and his wasn't a pre-requisite to everything else in the CS program). So it's not like the guy was particularly nice to begin with. He didn't give a shit if you were a girl, just if you wanted to write your code in vi.
_Unlocking the Clubhouse_ talks about the experience of CS undergrads at CMU. They conclude it was a "death of a thousand cuts" phenomenon. No one thing drove talented hard-working women out of the field, it was the steady drip of one problem after another. The culture was only one of the problems, but a real one. A lot of the women looked at it and figured that they'd given up parties and sleep to get into CMU, but no way were they giving up showers to become a "real" geek.
First, let me say that I have absolutely no problem with anyone chosing a profession as long as they are dedicated to it. If you find something that you are good at and that you enjoy, go for it. I'll back your play. I don't care if you're plaid or a talking monkey (just, in the latter case, please don't throw fecal matter...)
I've known some really cool women that *really* knew what they were doing (and could run circles around other people) who went through CS programs. Unfortunately, I've also known several that were rabid man haters and thought they were the world's gift when they couldn't find their rear with both hands and a flashlight.
Of course, the same could be said of men (we have more than our fair share of incompetent jerks as well). However, using the excuse of "I'm a girl" for the reason that you're a misanthrope doesn't cut it. Everyone has to grow up and learn to play with others at some point - even the talking, non-feces throwing monkey.
It should also be mentioned that most guys do NOT get respect "handed over" to them. Most of us have to claw it out of wherever we can find it just like you. Anyone who thinks that we just get handed accolades over drinks is fooling themselves, because it just doesn't work that way.
As for being shut out by the "boy's club", you should see how nasty and vicious a bigoted female boss or professor can be. Yes, they do exist, and they are just as bad as any of the "boy's club" (if not worse) because they feel justified in having an axe to grind.
This wasn't anything directed to you personally. It just really needed to be said because too many people don't realize that it's just as bad on the other side of the fence.
Everything I need to know I learned by killing smart people and eating their brains.