techrecovery | When I was an admin... (Reply)

This was about 6 years ago. I got this call from the helpdesk. One of the VPs in Florida was having problems with his email disappearing and he needed it to be restored from the backups. I call him up to find out the details. The conversation went something like this (I can't remember exactly since I've slept since then):

Me: So, what exactly is happening?
VP: My VERY important emails are disappearing about a week after I move them out of my Inbox. I need them restored from backup as I have several important contracts that have gone missing. I'd also like to know WHY they are disappearing. I can't believe that you people are so bad at doing your jobs that you would let this happen!
Me: Ok, what folder were they in?
VP: The Trash folder.
Me: ...
Me: I'm sorry, did you say that they were in the Trash folder?
VP: Yes, and I need them back NOW! The deadline for getting this contract signed is tomorrow!
Me: [facepalm] Well...I can tell you why they've been disappearing. The system automatically purges items from the Trash folder after a week.
VP: What? Why?!
Me: Because that's where you put stuff you want to DELETE. There's no way to restore those items from backup, either, because the Trash folders are excluded from the backups to save space.
VP: WHAT?!?!?!?! That's unacceptable! These are multi-million dollar contracts and I need them back RIGHT NOW! Besides, this is the way I've always done it, and I've never had the problem before.
Me: Well, I'm sorry, but there's nothing we can do. The system was recently reconfigured to purge items in the Trash folders after a week because nobody was actually deleting them. I would suggest that you move anything currently in the Trash folder somewhere else.
VP: [slams phone down]

I called the helpdesk manager and told her what happened. When he called her back, she "educated" him as to why he shouldn't store anything that he wants to keep in the trash. I'm STILL confused as to WHY anyone would do that, though. I mean, as much as I'd like to, I don't throw my bills in the trash.