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

[Victoria Welch <vikki@oz.net>]

Howard S Shubs wrote:
> 
> In article <7okud9$agt$0@216.39.144.179>, Victoria Welch <vikki@oz.net> wrote:
> 
> >The final straw was after one 30+ hour day [ ... ]
> 
> Good for you!

I'm slow but very, very thorough ;-).
 
> >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'm learning, but it has been a long painful education.
 
> 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.

I don't know anymore, I've had that rap thrown at me far too frequently
and have taken that plunge at substandard pay and working conditions
only to watch the officers rape the company and then leave when things
got rough.  I guess I have been far too trusting (sucker :-( ).
 
> >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 completely concur.  The problem seems to creep up on you and then when
you announce that you have had enough, you are branded as a "trouble
maker" or worse if not fired.  They can't afford to have one employee
work regular hours when everyone else is doing 2x+ that.  Bad for morale
you know...

I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get a job done, but strangely,
the more I am willing to do the more I get (less the renumeration of
course).  "Gee you gave 400% yesterday, howcum you only did 110% today,
you getting an attitude problem or just tired of being a team
player"...  Sheesh...
 
> I am not my job.  The company, no matter what it is, will go on just fine
> w/o me, and I will survive.

I've reached that point myself, but is certainly has made things
precarious and for someone who worries about "keeping it all together",
downright terrifying at times.  I guess I am too old fashioned in some
ways :-).  

I'm sticking to my guns on this one, I'm not concerned if I have to go
homeless over it (which I do not expect to happen).  Eventually things
will work out.  If I jump back into yet another situation like that
again, I'll end up being 60 in the same boat.  Yes, I learn a lot, have
a lot of fun and do a lot of good but (wisdom comes slowly to some?)
there is more and more important things than just that and just getting
the bills paid.  I'm not settling for no insurance anymore, just before
a company I worked for had the boss keel over dead on the keyboard (he
was going to work out the insurance thing, but he was growing too fast
to keep up with it all) I took an accidental spill down some stairs and
lost the use of my left arm for about a year and a half (trying to get
used to one arm and the wrong one at that is difficult).  Fortunately it
healed up finally and is now back to normal.
 
> >(there are no bad
> >jobs only bad employees).
> 
> <giggle>

Really :-)
 
> >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>

Dunno, I have nothing new going on consulting wise and no idea when or
if anything will break.  I left where I was and moved out here to the
other side of the country (for several reasons) and over time that dried
up for the most part.  Part of it was I quit being willing to work for
the experience - first time I hit them with something close to a living
wage, they got really quiet.  At the time I had a "real job" and it
really didn't matter (heh).  The other part of the problem is that I am
not really a good salesman or marketing person, but I am learning
(fortunately that is something I do well :).

> >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.

I realize that, but I hate seeing good people being that badly abused
when they know they are being held by the "short hairs".  Perhaps it was
stupid (niave?) of me to walk out of that one without having something
else first, but I just have a problem lying to people, it is an
integrity issue.  At least I can still get up and put on a face in front
of the mirror :-/.  

The CFO / salesman / chief engineer where I used to work told me that I
really should get over that "honesty thing" so I could start earning
real money (while pointing to his Ferrari in the parking lot with all
the junkers the employees drove).  He wanted me to join the sales staff,
but after watching him (bluntly) lie to clients (not stretch the truth,
but outright lie - there is a major difference to me to stretch your
capabilities for sales purposes, but to promise what you are not going
to be able to deliver is quite something else (oh yeah and remember to
get their deposit check before they leave)), I sort of lost interest. 
Sometimes I wonder if maybe I really am dumb.  He got to where it was by
screwing over people and putting his name on other peoples work to get
patents (seeing him in the shop and trying to function there told me he
had the most rudimentary clue about that side of the business (he
claimed great proficiency and mentioned all his patents at great
length).  I try to avoid thinking badly of anyone, but it gets hard to
avoid when your face is constantly crammed into the obvious.  I don't
expect anyone to be perfect, but there are some limits :-).
 
> >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.

Thanks for the re-enforcement :-)!  And a chance to vent a little. 
After being told so often all the problems I've mentioned were my fault
it is refreshing to know I am not alone (not pleasant, just refreshing
:).

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.