Re: not enough real programmers? (was Re: Byte Magazine: 18 Vintage issues, 1985-1986)

[hshubs@mindspring.com (Howard S Shubs)]

In article <7okud9$agt$0@216.39.144.179>, Victoria Welch <vikki@oz.net> wrote:

>The final straw was after one 30+ hour day (gotta get this out to the
>client by tomorrow morning - the client had finally gotten hostile with
>the project they had already paid for constantly being half-arsed done
>and left on the back burner.)  I had busted arse all night to get it
>done (and done right as in finished *correctly*!),

Good for you!


>I was starting to
>seriously drag and I told them I was heading home to get some rest and
>was asked "are you leaving already?" - it was a standard question, no
>matter how long you had been there in any consecutive period.

I would have laughed at him, if I'd had the energy.  I got that burnt out
of my system back 8 years ago.  NO ONE gets that kind of effort from me
these days.  I do the job right, during normal business hours.  If the job
is continually going from fire to fire, I look for another one.

I'd maybe consider spending that kind of undying effort -if- I had a
serious stake in the company and the effort had a definite goal.


>my name on.  The constant promises that this was a temporary crunch
>paled after 4 months and no let up in sight.  

Been there.  Had a testing job where we worked 7 days a week for months
with no end in sight, for a purely internal project with a completely
artificial deadline and no management support.  Never again.


I am not my job.  The company, no matter what it is, will go on just fine
w/o me, and I will survive.


>(there are no bad
>jobs only bad employees).

<giggle>


>So I am unemployed again.  This time I am being really picky about where
>I go to work (not hostile, not negatively aggressive - I am learning to
>play their game).

I'm there now.  Perhaps we could get together on something.  <fairly
serious look>


>to interview. He won't lie to them to get a day/afternoon off (although
>those folks lie to the employees daily).  Sigh...

He'll either learn or die.  Not much you can do about it.


>Before someone accuses me of being cynical and negative, I'm not, just
>tired of taking anything to get the bills paid.  I am good and I am
>dedicated and would like a decent working environment.

I'd say you're just experienced.
-- 
Howard S Shubs      hshubs@mindspring.com    hshubs@bix.com
The Denim Adept     Is this the right room for an argument?
SPAM: uce@ftc.gov   postmaster@[127.0.0.1]   abuse@[127.0.0.1]