Bank "IT Manager"...

[darkrose.livejournal.com]

Dear Mr. Bank IT Manager,

~No, unsecure FTP is not a viable backup solution for your workstations.
~No, I shouldn't have to explain to you why this is true.
~No, I will not help you come up with another backup solution.
~Yes, I am a supervisor.
~I really don't care how much money you spent on our software.
~I would imagine you would get sarcastic after 30 minutes on the phone with you.
~I really don't care if the "old software" did it this way. The "old software" wasn't designed to do what you are trying to do.
~I wonder if the FDIC or whomever handles security audits for banks would be interested in you transferring files with customer records over the internet via unsecured FTP connection.
~No, you can't speak to MY supervisor.
~Your thoughts on the documentation certainly doesn't affect the problem on hand, nor does it give you the right to tell me to "help [you] or shut up".
~You also shouldn't be talking over me.
~Did you read that manual I told you to go look at already?
~I don't care (and actually don't believe) that you've been in computers for 30 years, you're still a dumbass.

/is it Friday yet?
//My vacation starts on Friday...

*EDIT* It gets better... The guy has another issue with the product and took screen shots. The first shot was in Vista, the second one was in Windows XP. They were supposed to be of the same computer showing different options/settings. He apparently thinks I'm stupid, that I would somehow not notice BRIGHT FARKING BLUE TITLE BAR in XP as compared to DULL BLUE GREY TITLE BAR in Vista.

I actually called the guy and told him that if he wants me to help him, he needs to quit playing around and provide the information I'm asking for, and then proceeded to tell him that I may not have a degree in CS, but I'm pretty good at what I do, and I know the difference between a Vista window and an XP window.

Salespeople

[agmlego.livejournal.com]

Must people who work in sales be unfamiliar with the way that the things they sell actually work? When an engineer (who actually does the magic behind the scenes to make the customer happy) is asked (for the fourth or fifth time) to do something that IS NOT PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE (as in, against the laws of physics, of Star Trek fame), s/he tends to get a little steamed.

After the tenth time, in one week, of such blatant disregard for the laws of nature, s/he begins to wonder at the school system through which such an ordinarily-intelligent person was able to pass without apparent difficulty ($salesperson is too old to have been affected by the current bullshit in education).

I mean, there is no possible way that particular robotic arm can do that particular task in less than 3 ms. It will, in fact, take much more than 3 ms, by an order of magnitude or two, at least. No, I'm sorry, it cannot happen. Not even if you want it to. And, no, I cannot see features on a product less than 40 nm in size with optical tools. No, not even the most expensive camera we use, nor the best lenses we have. Not even if you ask me nicely, or try to slink around the subject, or take me out to a very nice lunch (all expenses paid--it was a good lunch).

Is it too much to ask for people to understand the most fundamental concepts of science? I mean, I remember learning about momentum, inertia, and the electromagnetic spectrum in grade school. Surely $salesperson, who is at least four decades my senior, was taught the same things? And, taught it in an era during which Science was quite possibly the most important thing an American kid could do, besides defeat the Commies.

I suppose I've got it pretty well off--the customer eventually has to come through my boss, who is an engineer like myself and is willing to patiently explain why "Ye cannae change the laws of physics" to the customer.