Very true, and I thought about that right after I hit "submit." I don't recall, though, if the original article gives statistics on job satisfaction for auto technicians.
Of course, one of the biggest factors behind the lack of job satisfaction in the IT field may have something to do with the job instability we're seeing in the field at the moment. It's hard to outsource a plumber.:)
I can think of a few differences between IT personnel and the other service-oriented professions listed that, in my mind, make the comparison between them invalid.
First, consider that when something goes wrong with your plumbing, fixing it is a relatively simple task--maybe not easy, but not something that would take years of college to figure out in and of itself. Fixing the problem efficiently, on the other hand, is something altogether different and is something not everyone is cut out for.
Second, people can usually expect immediate results from a hairdresser, a plumber, or a florist. The hairdresser gives you a perm; the florist produces the arrangement you want; the plumber fixes your leak or your backed-up sewer line; and for the most part, all these jobs are done in a matter of a few hours, in contrast to the days that it can take to fix a PC (most of that time spent waiting for parts from the manufacturer if the system's under warranty).
Third, most people can tell a plumber or a hairdresser or a florist exactly what the problem is. The majority of people, on the other hand, cannot describe in specific terms what's wrong with their PC. It's not because they're inherently stupid--it's because there are so many things that can go wrong inside a PC, between the hardware and the software. The fact that they can't precisely explain the problem makes them feel stupid, which in turn makes them feel more frustrated. And guess who gets to bear the brunt of that frustration?
Finally, I doubt plumbers ever have to tell a homeowner, "Sorry, but I can't find that leak you're talking about, but give me a call if you notice any more small ponds in your kitchen."
So just because a job isn't physically demanding, it must not be demanding at all? What a crock. I'm just as burned out after a twelve-hour shift in front of a computer screen as I am after a twelve-hour shift as a security forces augmentee.
Everything that orbits this planet is a satellite. This includes the Moon, Mir, and that glove some astronaut lost.
Wrong. It includes Mir and the glove. It does not include the Moon. Because the Moon and the Earth revolve around a central point a few hundred kilometers beneath the Earth's crust, we're actually a double-planet.
Another potential benefit of this simple mechanism would be more accurate exit polls. If the voter isn't willing to show the exit poller their receipt, then they aren't counted in the exit poll. This would eliminate the common practice of voters lying to exit pollers.
I would rather voters lie to exit pollers than lose their right to a secret ballot.
Where exactly are you getting this bizarre notion of "right to violate [your] privacy" from? I don't need to ask your permission for jack. What's your right to privacy here, legal or ethical? You want to remain private, don't choose to hammer my machine with your requests.
These guys aren't publishing the IP addresses they've collected from people downloading the software. They're publishing the IP addresses they've collected from people running the software - whether the victims ever actually connected to these guys' server or not. That is what makes it a violation of privacy.
If this was in fact a "social experiment," I have a few questions:
What was the thesis for the experiment? What were these guys setting out to prove?
How does the data they collected actually bear upon the experiment itself?
What is their conclusion based upon the data they've received?
If this was a genuine social experiment, these questions have already been answered, somewhere. Otherwise, I think we can chalk this up as a prank designed to embarass people.
In that case, you had to know that a sizable number of people would not think to use the ALT-F4 shortcut and would instead press the "I'll never do it again" / go-away button to try and make the program go away. So, at this point, you've deceived users not once but twice.
It's one thing to have someone's IP address. It's another thing altogether to post it as public information. Just because someone else may be in violation of copyright doesn't give you the right to violate their privacy.
And you're making the assumption, which isn't necessarily valid, that your victims intend to violate copyright in the first place. If I lose my CD-Key to a game but still own the media, why should I not be allowed to use an alternate key? Surely ownership of the physical media is proof that I have license to operate the software in question.
Anyone screaming "UFO!" tells me that some idiots will believe anything...
UFO == Unidentified Flying Object.
There was an object, in the atmosphere, that the scientists could not positively identify. Ergo, it was a UFO. Though you're right, it certainly wasn't a UFO in the sense that the Art Bell crowd would like to believe.
The difference (again) is increased cost and increased risk. Can you demonstrate a need for an elaborate Lunar-orbiting communications satellite array when you can save that overhead money by placing the observatory on the Earth-facing side of the Lunar surface--a need that outweighs the cost of maintaining the satellites?
No, the silly argument is that everyone should have to pay taxes to support musicians in the first place. As others have said (in slightly different words): if you can't make a living as a musician in the contemporary market--be it through MP3s, CD sales, or tours--you suck. Find another job, or at least get off your ass and petition the government for an art grant.
You may as well ask me to fund someone's crack habit. Either way, my answer is no.
The whole reason to have a draft is so you can pay far below market rates.
Which isn't much different from what enlisted troops receive when they first sign up anyway. Of course, the fact that they live in dorms, eat at dining halls, and have free medical care means that most, if not all their income is discretionary.
No, but it should compel you to find out just how much of your "private information" is, in fact, on the open market. I suspect there's not much that isn't, especially nowadays.
The purpose of protocols is to transmit information in an understandable manner. If you want privacy, either stop transmitting information or render it non-understandable (ie., encryption). It makes no sense to bitch about someone's effort to improve the state of the Internet.
That really depends on what meaning you infer from what the rovers originally set out to accomplish. What I find inspirational is that they found bulletproof evidence that water once existed on Mars and may still exist in the form of brine.
Slashdot Mirror
Very true, and I thought about that right after I hit "submit." I don't recall, though, if the original article gives statistics on job satisfaction for auto technicians.
Of course, one of the biggest factors behind the lack of job satisfaction in the IT field may have something to do with the job instability we're seeing in the field at the moment. It's hard to outsource a plumber. :)
I can think of a few differences between IT personnel and the other service-oriented professions listed that, in my mind, make the comparison between them invalid.
First, consider that when something goes wrong with your plumbing, fixing it is a relatively simple task--maybe not easy, but not something that would take years of college to figure out in and of itself. Fixing the problem efficiently, on the other hand, is something altogether different and is something not everyone is cut out for.
Second, people can usually expect immediate results from a hairdresser, a plumber, or a florist. The hairdresser gives you a perm; the florist produces the arrangement you want; the plumber fixes your leak or your backed-up sewer line; and for the most part, all these jobs are done in a matter of a few hours, in contrast to the days that it can take to fix a PC (most of that time spent waiting for parts from the manufacturer if the system's under warranty).
Third, most people can tell a plumber or a hairdresser or a florist exactly what the problem is. The majority of people, on the other hand, cannot describe in specific terms what's wrong with their PC. It's not because they're inherently stupid--it's because there are so many things that can go wrong inside a PC, between the hardware and the software. The fact that they can't precisely explain the problem makes them feel stupid, which in turn makes them feel more frustrated. And guess who gets to bear the brunt of that frustration?
Finally, I doubt plumbers ever have to tell a homeowner, "Sorry, but I can't find that leak you're talking about, but give me a call if you notice any more small ponds in your kitchen."
So just because a job isn't physically demanding, it must not be demanding at all? What a crock. I'm just as burned out after a twelve-hour shift in front of a computer screen as I am after a twelve-hour shift as a security forces augmentee.
Everything that orbits this planet is a satellite. This includes the Moon, Mir, and that glove some astronaut lost.
Wrong. It includes Mir and the glove. It does not include the Moon. Because the Moon and the Earth revolve around a central point a few hundred kilometers beneath the Earth's crust, we're actually a double-planet.
Another potential benefit of this simple mechanism would be more accurate exit polls. If the voter isn't willing to show the exit poller their receipt, then they aren't counted in the exit poll. This would eliminate the common practice of voters lying to exit pollers.
I would rather voters lie to exit pollers than lose their right to a secret ballot.
Where exactly are you getting this bizarre notion of "right to violate [your] privacy" from? I don't need to ask your permission for jack. What's your right to privacy here, legal or ethical? You want to remain private, don't choose to hammer my machine with your requests.
These guys aren't publishing the IP addresses they've collected from people downloading the software. They're publishing the IP addresses they've collected from people running the software - whether the victims ever actually connected to these guys' server or not. That is what makes it a violation of privacy.
If this was in fact a "social experiment," I have a few questions:
If this was a genuine social experiment, these questions have already been answered, somewhere. Otherwise, I think we can chalk this up as a prank designed to embarass people.
In that case, you had to know that a sizable number of people would not think to use the ALT-F4 shortcut and would instead press the "I'll never do it again" / go-away button to try and make the program go away. So, at this point, you've deceived users not once but twice.
So? By that logic, abs(jaywalking) == abs(murder). That doesn't mean jaywalking and murder are anywhere near equivalent.
Was that an intentional part of the design? Or did you guys just overlook the ALT-F4 shortcut when you designed the program?
We had the IP when they downloaded the software.
It's one thing to have someone's IP address. It's another thing altogether to post it as public information. Just because someone else may be in violation of copyright doesn't give you the right to violate their privacy.
And you're making the assumption, which isn't necessarily valid, that your victims intend to violate copyright in the first place. If I lose my CD-Key to a game but still own the media, why should I not be allowed to use an alternate key? Surely ownership of the physical media is proof that I have license to operate the software in question.
Anyone screaming "UFO!" tells me that some idiots will believe anything...
UFO == Unidentified Flying Object.
There was an object, in the atmosphere, that the scientists could not positively identify. Ergo, it was a UFO. Though you're right, it certainly wasn't a UFO in the sense that the Art Bell crowd would like to believe.
You paid for it, why should you work more? Obviously for open source, it's diffrent.
Why? People also pay for RedHat, which is still open source.
What's next - Developers having to pick up 'code malpractice' insurance?
How about dupe, disinformation, and/or typo insurance for Slashdot editors? :)
(too easy)
. . .but not cheap! [rimshot!]
The difference (again) is increased cost and increased risk. Can you demonstrate a need for an elaborate Lunar-orbiting communications satellite array when you can save that overhead money by placing the observatory on the Earth-facing side of the Lunar surface--a need that outweighs the cost of maintaining the satellites?
No, the silly argument is that everyone should have to pay taxes to support musicians in the first place. As others have said (in slightly different words): if you can't make a living as a musician in the contemporary market--be it through MP3s, CD sales, or tours--you suck. Find another job, or at least get off your ass and petition the government for an art grant.
You may as well ask me to fund someone's crack habit. Either way, my answer is no.
I don't know about the other services, but the Air Force has a service-wide licence agreement with Oracle for database systems. No Access for me! :)
The whole reason to have a draft is so you can pay far below market rates.
Which isn't much different from what enlisted troops receive when they first sign up anyway. Of course, the fact that they live in dorms, eat at dining halls, and have free medical care means that most, if not all their income is discretionary.
Bullshit. Retribution bombings don't kill children and unaffiliated civil servants.
Before that?
Anyone?
19 April 1995.
That's supposed to make us feel better?
No, but it should compel you to find out just how much of your "private information" is, in fact, on the open market. I suspect there's not much that isn't, especially nowadays.
The purpose of protocols is to transmit information in an understandable manner. If you want privacy, either stop transmitting information or render it non-understandable (ie., encryption). It makes no sense to bitch about someone's effort to improve the state of the Internet.
They're probably going to - that's what the DoD SIPRNet (Secure Internet Protocol Network) is for.
That really depends on what meaning you infer from what the rovers originally set out to accomplish. What I find inspirational is that they found bulletproof evidence that water once existed on Mars and may still exist in the form of brine.