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

[Victoria Welch <vikki@oz.net>]

Howard S Shubs wrote:

> I've figured out what gets me about this guy.  Even a slimey sales person
> knows better than to blatently state that, so the worst sales person was
> better than this guy.  What -this- guy was, was a con man.  Con men don't
> give a rat's ass about others, don't see how they destroy the basic
> underpinnings of civilization, which is based on trust, and should be
> expelled on sight IMO.

I think the correct term for this piece of pathos is "sociopath".  They
are not as uncommon as most of us would like...

Noun: sociopath:
Someone with a sociopathic personality; a person with an antisocial
personality disorder ('psychopath' was once widely used but has now been
superseded by 'sociopath')
 
> >He has enough $$$$ to just replace it, not a big deal.
> 
> Still, the idea -might- get through, especially if you had a big gun to
> back you up. <grin>  (NOTE GRIN!)

Understand.  In complete agreement with your first paragraphs
conclusion.
 
> >I think he has gotten away with this kind of thing for so long and made
> >so much money doing it that he doesn't see anything wrong with what he
> >does.  He gets "respect from his peers" (sure as hell none from his
> >subordinates) and significant financial renumeration, so what could be
> >wrong with what he does?  Carefully ignoring the bodies in his trail.
> 
> I doubt he -sees- the bodies in his trail, or maybe he doesn't see them as
> bodies.

He undoubtably doesn't.  These were just loosers who did not have
sufficient respect for the Gods Money and Power.
 
> >(and would be frowned on by the local constabulary).
> 
> Details.

With the number of cases they actually solve these days, you are
probably correct ;-).

> He was your boss?  Your boss is the only one who should feel free making
> that statement, IMO.  Anyone else should just be ignored.  I want to try
> that some time, just to see what happens.  I expect to have enough in the
> bank just in case something nasty happens. <grin>

No, he was not my *direct* boss (in reality, not in his mind), but the
management there was so in "awe" of his financial resources (that were
proping up that outfit) that they would do nothing to offend him.  He
has acheived the ultimate "petty ghod" position in that organization.

Outside of the fact that the one product they actually have is clunky,
very poorly documented, marginally effective at best and uses VERY rare
parts that perhaps 3000 (an optomistic figure) of them still exist on
the planet.

He also told me after the "when I tell you to hop" episode was that I
should "fight with him".  I explained that perhaps he should take up a
contact sport like karate or whatever for his agressiveness and
abusiveness and try cooperation and respect of his co-workers in the
workplace.  All I got was a disgusted look from him.  He is simply too
far gone to be salvagable.  Unless you are willing to act like he does,
he will not respect you.  Since you are not independantly wealthy, he
isn't going to respect you anyway.  Pretty pathetic person, to be sure. 
I may be unemployed, but I ain't there <grin>.

Take care, Vikki.  
--
Victoria Welch, WV9K, DoD#-13, Net/Sys/WebAdmin SeaStar.org,
vikki.oz.net
"Walking on water and developing software to specification are
easy as long as both are frozen" - Edward V. Berard.
Do not unto others, that which you would not have others do unto you.