The Vent and Rant Thread

[poohbear_nc]

Or maybe ROFL (at) U?

[poohbear_nc]

There was a second conversation with my boss calling from the Surplus Stores (and a near escape for me):

Boss: There are lots of copiers here - huge ones - and dirt cheap! Should I get some?

Me: We don't need an industrial copier. No one does - that's why they're cheap. We scan documents and store digital copies.

Boss: But they're cheap! And huge!

Me: We have 3-in-1 printer/scanner/copier units already in the office. We don't need a copier the size of a refrigerator. We store digital versions.

Boss: Yes, I understand. But what if I need to make a copy of one of those digital copies? I'd need a copier, right?

[Is the PHB missing from the Dilbert comic strip? I think I know where he is.]

Disclaimer: I truly believe the only reason he didn't buy a copier was that he was driving his car, and hadn't driven a company truck.

[Bilbo1967]

Out of interest, how did this guy get to be the boss?

[ProfCrash]

I believe that he is the owner

[Bilbo1967]

Ah. That would make sense. Thanks.

In my last role, the entire board were joint owners of the company. They had formed the company from a tiny office years ago and they were all the original developers of the software we developed and sold. As the company grew, they all, as owners, moved into management positions. Let's just say, as managers they were good developers!

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

There was a second conversation with my boss calling from the Surplus Stores (and a near escape for me):

Boss: There are lots of copiers here - huge ones - and dirt cheap! Should I get some?

Me: We don't need an industrial copier. No one does - that's why they're cheap. We scan documents and store digital copies.

Boss: But they're cheap! And huge!

Me: We have 3-in-1 printer/scanner/copier units already in the office. We don't need a copier the size of a refrigerator. We store digital versions.

Boss: Yes, I understand. But what if I need to make a copy of one of those digital copies? I'd need a copier, right?

[Is the PHB missing from the Dilbert comic strip? I think I know where he is.]

Disclaimer: I truly believe the only reason he didn't buy a copier was that he was driving his car, and hadn't driven a company truck.

Pooh:

Given the Tales of Pooh (really: there's a book in this for you somewhere), even if this schmuck IS the owner, surely, he does something well? Anything? Or is he completely, from end-to-end, like this all the time?

Genuinely curious ...

(Now Hitch glances around, wondering who HER employees are posting as....)

Hitch

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Pooh:

Given the Tales of Pooh (really: there's a book in this for you somewhere), even if this schmuck IS the owner, surely, he does something well? Anything? Or is he completely, from end-to-end, like this all the time?

Genuinely curious ...

(Now Hitch glances around, wondering who HER employees are posting as....)

Hitch

He inherited the business - and is completely techno-phobic - getting a call from him to 'fix his computer' generates chest pains ..

His saving grace - he is really a 'southern gentleman' -- honest, didn't lay anyone off during the recession, gives private loans to employees in need, etc. -- a truly nice person ... who shouldn't be running anything -- just be the spokesperson ...

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

He inherited the business - and is completely techno-phobic - getting a call from him to 'fix his computer' generates chest pains ..

His saving grace - he is really a 'southern gentleman' -- honest, didn't lay anyone off during the recession, gives private loans to employees in need, etc. -- a truly nice person ... who shouldn't be running anything -- just be the spokesperson ...

Well, there you go. Saving grace, even if he can give you agita. However, I still think there's at least a short book of anecdotes in it for you. I wouldn't waste all that Dilbert-y-ness, were I you. :-)

Hitch

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Well, there you go. Saving grace, even if he can give you agita. However, I still think there's at least a short book of anecdotes in it for you. I wouldn't waste all that Dilbert-y-ness, were I you. :-)

Hitch

If I didn't have you folk to share my stories with, I think my head would have exploded by now - I've had some truly unbelievable 'moments' dealing with him.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

He inherited the business - and is completely techno-phobic - getting a call from him to 'fix his computer' generates chest pains ..

His saving grace - he is really a 'southern gentleman' -- honest, didn't lay anyone off during the recession, gives private loans to employees in need, etc. -- a truly nice person ... who shouldn't be running anything -- just be the spokesperson ...

My sister worked for a company like that and was laid off after 38 years. The company was inherited and is in serious problems and has been for at least 15 years. Assets being seized, accounts being frozen.

I was quite outraged until I got her a job where I work which pays better than she was making, but is often done by 12 year olds. 3 years later she almost does as good a job and she does try. She is a swell person, just no drive or efficiency.

I lost my outrage one day when I asked her why she and another woman who was there for 40 years were laid off before others who were there a shorter time. She told me they knew nothing about jewelry and the company is a wholesale jewelers. They were both offered the opportunity to take courses and be paid to take them but both declined.

I still feel bad for my sister although she is better off now in some ways. But I think the boss deserves some credit for keeping them on for so many years.

Still think he is a dumbass though.

Helen

[cromag]

I can tell (many) similar stories about some of the small companies I've worked for. But, sadly, I can tell many even funnier/sadder stories from my days with a major corporation.

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

He inherited the business - and is completely techno-phobic - getting a call from him to 'fix his computer' generates chest pains ..

I worked for years for an SVP at a mid-sized company a bit like that, It wasn't that he was a techno-phobe, exactly. It was that machines broke when he used them. You hear stories about people with "black thumbs" who are hopeless with plants because stuff they try to grow dies, and he was that way with machines.

My office was the computer room, and several times he showed up at my door about something, and I said "Larry, get out! Everything is up and running smoothly. If you come in here, something will fail!" "But I just wanted to ask a question..." "Get out. I'll come and see you."

The saving grace is that he didn't understand the technology, knew he didn't, and understood it's what he paid me for. He would come to me and say "This is the business problem I'm trying to solve. Do the research, and tell me what hardware and software I need to get to do this." He trusted me to make sound recommendations, and didn't try to second-guess my judgement. His only concern was getting the President to sign off on the budget. (We had a silly meeting at one point discussing various upgrades, and was foot dragging till the CFO said we were a technology driven business, and had to invest. This meant the funds required wouldn't come from my boss's budget, and his attitude changed from foot-dragging to "How soon can we do this?" in an eye blink. I managed not to laugh aloud, but it took doing.)

He wasn't a bad boss, but did take getting used to. I learned early on that he was a stress puppy. He needed to be in a nervous tizzy to function, and if there wasn't anything to be nervous about, he'd unconsciously create something so he could behave in his accustomed manner. I didn't quite say "Larry, take two Xanax and call me in the morning.", but it was tempting.
______
Dennis

[pdurrant]

I have a tight transfer from my morning train to bus. The train is supposed to get in at 8:18 and the bus is suppose to leave at 8:20.

Sometimes the train is late. Sometimes the bus is late. I usually catch the bus, or miss the bus by a lot. Occasionally, the bus is just pulling away as I exit the station, but there's a traffic light at the exit of the bus stands, and if the bus gets stopped there the bus drivers will open the doors for me if I tap on them.

But not this new driver this morning. The train was 90 seconds late. I come out of the station to see the bus just pulling away from the stop. But the lights are red and he stops. I tap on the doors. Just a shake of his head. And he set off 10 seconds early too. Grrr.....

(I got a radio synchronised watch for my birthday. I know that my watch is never more than a second off GMT/BST.)

[Katsunami]

It is idiotic, seeing that life has become so hectic and time-driven that a train arriving 90 seconds late or a bus leaving 10 seconds early is an issue. That's just disturbing.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

It is idiotic, seeing that life has become so hectic and time-driven that a train arriving 90 seconds late or a bus leaving 10 seconds early is an issue. That's just disturbing.

Always annoys me when it happens. Overall I have great bus service when in the city, but I am not a happy person when I just miss one. Of course it makes me unreasonably grateful when they wait for me which they often do

Helen