I work in health insurance, and I am often barraged with requests to look into this or that problem with their doctor’s billing office or with their insurance company.
The only problem is, I can’t get involved. No doctor’s office will discuss confidential issues with a third party, and I don’t have any special access just because I’m in billing, too. The few times I have made calls (once after my grandfather’s death, and once after a cousin’s death), I’ve been told to sod off. And understandably so, since I’ve told family members of my doctors’ patients to sod off.
I hear and feel for the Comp Sci folks, but it isn’t any nicer on the Tech side - Like Zette, I get calls from EVERYONE I know asking to fix this and that. My Sundays are turning into “Work, part II - All the Fun but none of the pay”…
But I’ll keep Zette’s approach in mind for next time.
God, I’ve never felt so American. Still, I’ve seen some British programming recently, yet I don’t think this phrase ever floated my way. It’s quite amusing, though.
As well you should. Your father made his choice, all I’m saying was that he could easily have been a computer engineer if he desired, and regrets are a little silly.
All my compsci professors in college during the 1970s were former Univac and IBM electronic engineers who were midcareer EEs when they switched to CompSci in the 1950s. They taught everything from programming to chip design, and their EE background was a lot more useful than the “pure” CompSci peoples’ backgrounds. I learned a lot more about computers from the EE people than I ever did from the Compsci people.
“As well you should. Your father made his choice, all I’m saying was that he could easily have been a computer engineer if he desired, and regrets are a little silly.”
—OK, I no longer regret over-reacting, and am setting loose the Killer Dopers with the Bees in Their Mouths.
Chas, you know NOTHING about electronics engineering training right after WWII, or what was required to get in on the “ground floor” of the MODERN (not 1950s) computer “revolution.” My father did not regret his career choice, he regretted being born in 1921, which put him right between the two age groups to benefit from said revolutions.
I may not have a father who was an EE, but I probably know more about the technical details this subject than you since I studied under the tutelage of EEs who were, coincidentally, almost exactly the same age as your father and many were former NASA employees or subcontractors, or even actively involved with current NASA projects. I cannot count all the endless hours I used to hear my professors drone on about their early careers. They had all switched careers from general EE, many of them were radio engineers since they came from shops like Collins Radio, and they were immediately accepted into the new computer field.
Back in the mid 1970s, I was a member of the local Homebrew Computer Club, where many of the innovations of the second “computer revolution” occurred. I knew many 55yr old or older engineers who did amazing, innovative things. I particularly admired one retired EE who did some amazing hacks to get cash register receipt printers to work on his SWPTC microcomputer. He used to be a radio antenna designer.
So your father’s regrets fly in the face of everything I’ve personally experienced. If he wanted to be a computer engineer, all he had to do was apply and he probably would have been accepted. The trade was hiring everyone it could get, both in the 1950s and 60s, and in the later revolutions of the 70s.
I frequently get questions from people who think that because you’re an engineer, you can fix anything from their toaster to their car’s distributor. Telling people that I’m an ENVIRONMENTAL engineer and specialize in hazardous waste cleanups doesn’t seem to penetrate. They give me that blank stare, and follow up with, “So what d’ya think’s wrong with my car?”
You may know something about the technical details, but you know nothing about the practical details of switching careers in midstream, you putz. Maybe Eve’s dad was, in 1957, say, bringing up a new born daughter. A really good time to go back to school or start an apprenticeship in a field that was fascinating but with an uncertain future.
I agree with pretty much everyone else on the SDMB – you’re a bright guy, you’ve got a lot to contribute, you’ve had some interesting life experiences, and your social skills are virtually non-existent. Try to move away from the “I’m right, you’re wrong” mindset.
OK…now back to the OP. Another computer scientist checks in. Yes, I have a doctorate in computer science. Yes, your description of your latest update to your Windows box leaves me struggling to remain awake. Even after three years of using a Windows box, my interest in, and knowledge of the Windows operating system and Microsoft enterprise software in general is small and waning. So go ahead, ask me a question. My “I don’t know” will be swift and authoritative.
Chas E. may be a whiz with electrical engineering and CompSci, but he is utterly tonedeaf to the music of human social interaction. To call him an assclown only demeans the assclowns. He’s an assistant assclown!
Regarding the OP, as an editor/writer I don’t get a lot of requests for emergency adverb assistance, but when people aske me what I do and I tell them, I inevitably get, “Gosh, I’d better watch my language around you.” :rolleyes:
Chas…you know, I do tend to agree with you on a lot of points. But I really hate the idea of agreeing with you in public, because I’m worried it will reflect badly on me. Do try to be a bit more friendly, eh?
My background is in math, so I get what has to be the strangest reaction from people. A lot of them will either explain how far they got in math and why they dropped out, or why they think it’s OK that they were never good at math. But these interactions don’t have the flavor of rationalizations…they’re more like confessions, almost as if people need me to absolve them for the shortcomings they perceive in themselves.
As a webmaster who is also responsible for editing website content I do get a lot of requests for emergency adverb assistance. :rolleyes: I have been asked to correct the grammar on everything from resumes to homework to complaint letters. People even yell out across six rows of cubicles, “hey, Spoiler, how do you spell ‘authority’?” Gee, you’re typing this on a computer, right? You have spellcheck, don’t you? Ever heard of dictionary.com?
Never mind the web questions. No, I’m not going to take the time to locate a bunch of websites about seagulls so that your kid can do his homework. Just half an hour ago, I had someone at my desk asking me where we keep the legal-sized paper for the printers. I run a website, I’m not the supply clerk. Just because I have a computer on my desk doesn’t mean that I have complete knowledge of every piece of office equipment.
Been there. Done that. Several times. Doing it again right now. I gave up a perfectly lucrative career in computers (amongst other things) for the hardest career track in the world: artist.
No pain, no gain. Sometimes that includes listening to unpleasant truths, so get off my back. I know plenty of people who did exactly what Eve’s dad reportedly complained of being unable to do, so I merely commented that such regrets seem foolish. He could have done so if he really wanted it. I guess he didn’t want it so bad. If I can do it, it must not be THAT difficult.
I’m an artist (of sorts) and the things people think I’m meant to know!
How to print brochures?
What colour they should paint their house?
Does this colour go with that colour?
Gee I wish I could draw. Can you do my portrait?
FOR FREE??? ARGH!
And I’m a website designer. Therefore I should know how email viruses work? Yeah, that makes sense (not).
And, from reading some of your posts, the rest of the SDMB too. You’ve had, what, two pit threads directed at you? People here don’t pit you for nothing; in fact, my experience has been that unless you’re a mod, you gotta do quite a bit to get even one pit thread, let alone two.
But maybe I’m just blowing smoke out my ass. I’m not gonna dig up all your posts to prove my point. In fact, I’m just gonna use your posts from this thread. You hijacked this thread to insult Eve’s father, for no good reason (as far as the rest of us can tell). Do you wonder why people insult you when you present what you consider the truth? It’s very simple: you have no tact.
Let me repeat something I’ve already said in this very thread. I agree with you a lot of the time, but I don’t like to vocalize my agreement, because I’m worried that people will think I support or condone your lack of manners. Think about that before you respond.