Flame on!

[jahbulon.livejournal.com]

Originally posted by kryten
I made a post here yesterday morning about some problems I'd had with locating the drivers for my graphics card. I'd solved the problem by the time I posted, and posted to vent my frustrations as we all do. That's why the community is here after all. I've now deleted the post after a series of incredibly patronising responses by various people. One person seemed intent on calling me an idiot, a number of people told me where I could find the drivers I'd already tried that didn't work - even after I'd edited the post to say this. And finally there was the guy who posted

"What I do not understand, is why are YOU trying to fix a Company owned machine. Let IT fix it, due to that is what they are paid to do. Unless you are trying to hide the true reason that you are using this machine for, and do not want them to find out."

I'd already deleted the post by the time I read this comment, but I need to respond to it. The reason I was repairing the PC, you patronising bastard, is that IT IS MY JOB - rather like everyone else here. You only have to look at my previous posts here, or my userinfo in order to deduce that.

I've always found this to be a fun community, and I've often posted here to vent my frustrations. I don't know if there was something in the air yesterday, but I really feel that a couple of you (particularly this last guy, who I won't name) were overly harsh. I'll certainly think twice before posting here again.

Comments disabled because I'm really not up to a repeat performance.

Comments

[jahbulon.livejournal.com]

I didn't even see the original post, but this complaint has been made by many. People here are overly harsh apparently. [shrug] Ya mum!

kryten I reposted this with comments allowed to.. well, allow comments. In the spirit of a free press and all that. Not trying to give you grief or anything.

The comment you reference is very poorly written. I'd hope that English was their second language.

[jcaswell.livejournal.com]

I do see your point, honest. I thought and re-thought about the comments thing, and eventually deleted the post. You'd already got there with this though - doh! I'm not trying to make excuses (well, maybe I am) but I'm going through another bout of depression, which I know is colouring the way I'm reacting to things, which is why I disabled the comments initially. The normal me would still have been pissed off with the comment above, but would perhaps have reacted differently. More calmly, perhaps :)

I must confess, when I initially saw you'd reposted it, I was furious (I can only see what's been posted via Semagic at work, I can't actually get to LJ). Now I've read your comment too, I'm much calmer - and a lot more relaxed about the whole thing (although that might be the migraine drugs I just took...). The guy who posted the comment must, I guess, be new to the community, and / or incapable of checking someone's userinfo before making assumptions. At least I hope that's it, rather than just being a fuckwit.

I'd love to know what he thought I was using my work PC for that I don't want other people to know about though...

[valiskeogh.livejournal.com]

1. try not to take stuff that complete strangers say so personally.
2. whoever posted that comment that was quoted up there WAS an idiot, it was rather obvious that you ARE IT and it was your job.
3. i take midrin for my migraines ;)

[jcaswell.livejournal.com]

1. I know...normally I handle things better than that :\
2. Thanks...I was beginning to wonder!
3. Don't think that's available here, but Maxalt is the best drug ever :)

[jon787.livejournal.com]

I take ibuprofen here, but my uncle swears by imitrex.

[jcaswell.livejournal.com]

*nods* Imitrex is in the same drug family as Maxalt...best drugs ever :)

[teriwyn.livejournal.com]

None of the Triptans worked for me at all. Imitrex, Maxalt, Amerge... they even made me try the Zomig nose inhaler and that was terrible. Like I wasn't miserable enough with a migrane, but now I have this gross taste dripping down the back of my throat making me feel more nauseated that I was before. Boo.

I'm happy for you folks who can get a reaction out of the triptans (the family of drugs all those things are). And jealous.

[jcaswell.livejournal.com]

The one that comes as a nasal spray here is Imigran...I tried it once, never again. That taste was disgusting. It seems the triptans work really well for some people, and not at all for others. It's a shame really...they've proved to be a real life saver for me; I'd like other people to be in the same position.

I don't know if you already have, but have a look at migraines..the people there are great, and sometimes someone comes up with a gem of a tip.

[jahbulon.livejournal.com]

You have the right to be pissed off, I took your post which you specifically made comment-free, and allowed comments. It was directly contrary to your desires. That would probably irritate the hell out of me too... But then I wouldn't have disabled comments :)

I think it's funny that your reaction is quite mild compared to some of these other goons.

[jcaswell.livejournal.com]

The thing is, I disabled comments for - I feel - a good reason. I stand by that reason. I agree with others, it wasn't necessarily your place to repost it and go against what I wanted - particularly as I'd changed my mind completely and deleted the post soon after originally posting it. But what I wanted and what I got are clearly different things in this case, there's little point remaining pissed off with you over it.

I didn't make the decision to disable comments lightly, I knew it'd look a bit like I was throwing my toys out of my pram. But - at the time - it seemed like the right thing to do in order to prevent me slipping even further into this depression (which is in no way connected to anything in this community). With hindsight, posting the entry initially wasn't one of my better ideas, nor was deleting the one from yesterday. I'd have been better off just letting it ride, and waiting for things to die down. Unfortunately, my brain wouldn't let me do that this morning. Maybe next time.

[flainn.livejournal.com]

I love it when mods abuse their power. I love it even more when they can't see the irony, and then get all self-righteous about it, and justify their actions by basically saying "'cause I'm the mod, that's why."

[jecook]

Not it.

I whip out the BanHammer only if it's really needed.

[flainn.livejournal.com]

I'm not accusing anyone in particular.

[taleya.livejournal.com]

You should have a poke at techsupport_ot :) Is a better place for techs to work with techs, rather than getting some illiterate shithead who doesn't recognise a reg poster trying to make themselves look smart.

(oh, and btw, snark back. I did (http://community.livejournal.com/techsupport/914113.html) :P Welcome to the club!)

[jahbulon.livejournal.com]

That community does not get used enough.

[taleya.livejournal.com]

And when it does, sometimes you have the horrible suspicion that lusers are sneaking in..

[jcaswell.livejournal.com]

Heh, I remember that post! I lurk over at OT too, but I probably wasn't thinking straight when I made the original post. Doh!

[kizayaen.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I didn't see anything flameworthy about your original post. This is a forum for IT folks to rant about their jobs, and that's what you were doing.

Really, it's astonishing that somebody would not assume immediately that finding these drivers was part of your job. What, did they think they were in dot_cattiness instead of techsupport?

[jcaswell.livejournal.com]

That's pretty much what surprised me, I think. I was beginning to think it was just me misreading what had been said. I thought the post was pretty clear...maybe the guy who posted the last comment had just had a bad day. Or he was trolling. Grrr.

[jahbulon.livejournal.com]

to allow comments.

[jahbulon.livejournal.com]

Why are you questioning my desires? State your piece.

[twfarlan.livejournal.com]

Sorry, didn't see your name listed amongst the maintainers of the community, which would give you the right to modify or repost something that someone else had posted and chosen to delete. Otherwise, reposting something with comments opened would be just asking for annoyance.

[jahbulon.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, I didn't see the part of the rules where it says 'thou shalt not modify or repost something that someone else had posted and chosen to delete'. I guess it's in that invisible section with my name and yours.

I reposted this partly out of reactionary contrariness and partly because I think the topic it brings up is worthy of discussion. Your aim seems to be to censure someone because someone else might be offended. Even if kryten was offended I would not apologise because I don't think offense is something you can give, it must be taken.

So, in short, mind your business biatch.

[twfarlan.livejournal.com]

As a member of the community, it is my business. It is the business of all of us that someone might take it upon themselves to act like a mod, change the nature of a post that someone made or for that matter repost what the original poster chose to delete. It isn't your business to choose whether a post by someone else has comments enabled, or for that matter whether a post written by someone else exists or not.

Really, it comes down to what the mods think about your actions here. If they choose to say or do nothing, that's their choice.

[jahbulon.livejournal.com]

Really, it comes down to what the mods think about your actions here.

Gee do you think? I thought you were going to get a lynch mob together and string me up. Good to hear there's some law in this town after all, your attempts at moderation notwithstanding.

[trixtah.livejournal.com]

Oh, come on. I enjoy what you have to say, generally, but reposting this is just gratuitous stupidity.

Ok, kryten doing a flounce by disabling comments was slightly over-reactive, but quite a lot of you guys are patronising wankers. Or have your patronising moments, I should say. It would have fucked me off as well, being told how to do one's job, unless one asked.

So, you know, what's your problem with her being pissed off? What's the point of this?

[jahbulon.livejournal.com]

I totally agree that people here can be nasty patronising wankers. That's why I reposted this, because I want to see people state that they have a problem with it too.

[trixtah.livejournal.com]

Oh. That wasn't clear. Mea culpa. :-/

[kirylyn.livejournal.com]

huh??

I didn't even bother to check userinfo, I generally assume everyone posting in here *is* IT and having to fix other's computers for a living.

the OP was posting of the FRUSTRATION of trying to find drivers for a videocard (can you get to driverguide.com at work?)

some TROLL was off HIS meds and just stirring trouble because that's how he gets off.

/ignore trolls (or light them on fire -- your call :D)

[katyism.livejournal.com]

Personally I think they're too rough on us in other communities, although this kind of thing pops up here from time to time. That's why I still feel "safe" here unlike certain massive drama-filled comms I belong to.

[jahbulon.livejournal.com]

What do you mean by 'us' ?

[katyism.livejournal.com]

Us = people, IT people specifically, but on second thought I'm not really sure what I meant.
If you'd kindly tell me what it sounds like I can try to clarify up my flub.

[bamatone.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm even still talking about it in your thread from yesterday (http://community.livejournal.com/computerhelp/952670.html?thread=4929118#t4929118)...

[flainn.livejournal.com]

I gotta say, as a person standing on the sidelines, this is all quite amusing. Don't any of us have real work to get done today?

[ihateemo.livejournal.com]

Nope, day off. *munches popcorn*

[flainn.livejournal.com]

Lucky.

OK FOlks...

[jecook]

Let me explain how things wrok around here:

THe originl poster can do whatever he wants with the post. It's his, after all. He can edit the entry, disable/enable comments, delete it, etc.

The moderators (of which I am one, hence the "space helmet" icon) are allowed to delete posts, screen/unscreen comments, delete comments, freeze comment threads, and the community maintainence stuff (banning users, etc). THat's all we get to do. We can't edit posts or comments (which would be an AWESOME feature if we could edit even our own comments!)


Keep in mind that I'm working goofy hours at work, and hence don't get much time to moderate this place. FOrtunately, this place does not require such... yet.