Confessions of a SysAdmin

Mr.Fork writes "Scott Merrill from CrunchGear has a confession. He really, really hates computers. He writes: 'No, really, I hate them. I love the communications they facilitate, I love the conveniences they provide to my life, and I love the escapism they sometimes afford; but I actually hate the computers themselves. Computers are fragile, unintuitive things — a hodge-podge of brittle hardware and opaque, restrictive software.' Does his editorial speak to all of us in similar IT-related fields? Do we all silently hate the complexities and idiosyncrasies computers have, like error messages and UI designs that make no sense to the common user, which make our tech professions miserable?"

Macs?

[melikamp]

a hodge-podge of brittle hardware and opaque, restrictive software

Sounds like Steve Jobs can claim another victim.

Re:Yes.

[jornak]

You and every other person who has to deal with problems with computers feel exactly the same way. It's like... a wife that nags too much. You love her at first... but she keeps nagging... and nagging... and nagging. Eventually you cut the bitch and bury her in the backyard.

It's users I hate

[buback]

Everything would work perfectly fine if we just got rid of all the damn users.

Re:I don't hate computers

[Anonymous Coward]

He did and you came out

Re:Careful what you say!

[BobMcD]

I've noticed this, too. I can often just pop in and inquire about a problem and it goes away on its own.

Even more scary, though - computers are getting lazy!

If you're not watching the timer-bar click towards the right, the computer slacks off and doesn't finish. The moment you go back to watching it, it gets back to making progress on it. Triply-true on VMWare boxes.

Re:when it's a hobby first

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, I'm full of regret too with my career choice of Ob-Gyn.

Re:Yes.

[daem0n1x]

I also hate computers. I just chose to become an engineer because I hate people more.

Re:I told you so!

[taustin]

"Computers don't make mistakes!"

"Then why is there a multi-billion dollar a year industry to fix them?"

Re:Yes.

[Anonymous Coward]

I use Ubuntu because she's a negro.

Re:I once peed on a motherboard

[Anonymous Coward]

I saw a commercial once for a pregnancy test. The slogan was "The most sophisticated technology that you will ever pee on." My first thought was, "They have never met a disgruntled SysAdmin."

Re:Oh really?

[silverglade00]

I'm not trying to be funny or cruel.

Yet you nailed them both.

Re:Yes.

[Billly Gates]

I was thinking of a mac is more like going gay.

No nagging, elegant, powerful, and extremely graphic with orgy of video and sound with a BIG screen and HARD aluminum keyboard.

Re:Macs?

[bjourne]

Your personal anecdotes are very impressing. Truly, why would anyone need studies or facts when we have stories like yours. Personally I haven't seen a mac break down but the two guys at work using them look gay.