# To the Clowns in IT **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 10, 2014, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-clowns-in-it/692785 "2014-07-10T19:41:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-clowns-in-it/692785/81 "2014-07-15T16:49:53Z")
> [@DrumBum](#): > > the tech was to delete everything on the pc, reinstall the operating system, and return it to the user. The user then had to install all the programs from media and configure all the settings, a task that usually consumed most of a day. That seems to be the modus operandi of the helpless desk here, they never try to actually fix anything. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-clowns-in-it/692785/82 "2014-07-16T02:02:27Z")
An ingenious solution for IT people: [- YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtXtIivRRKQ) I love that show because I know (am?) those guys and they have a real Altair and Commodore PET on a shelf ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2014, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-clowns-in-it/692785/83 "2014-07-28T14:19:44Z")
To the Clowns in IT: if we ask you to install new software on 5 new laptops so we can start a training course on Monday morning. If we tell you a week in advance. If we include the correctly filled out work order could you kindly not turn up on Monday morning at 9 o’clock and look clueless. ---
**Author:** ![Inna\_Minnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Inna\_Minnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inna_Minnit)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2014, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-clowns-in-it/692785/84 "2014-07-28T14:38:49Z")
We have two main programs we use. For whatever reason, logging out doesn’t always end the session. I can’t do anything without them. I have to call IT and have someone unplug my session nearly daily. There are easily 400 users on the system. Why don’t they build us some sort of app that we can do it ourselves? I have suggested it. Nope not gonna happen. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-clowns-in-it/692785/85 "2014-07-29T15:13:27Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > IT Clown 1 > > It’s a good idea to have a password that cannot have two consecutive letters > > IT Clown 2 > > The password for my software needs two special characters > > IT Clown 3 > > All passwords need to be changed every week > > IT Clown 4 > > My program needs a username that is not your corporate ID, your email or a dictionary word > > IT Clown 5 > > Your password needs to be changed. It cannot be remotely close to any of your previous 127 passwords > > IT Clown 6 > > I need a password solution that isn’t any way similar to the previous 5 > > If you think I’m exaggerating, well maybe a little… 😃 > [@Spiderman](#): > > You forgot: > IT Clown 7 > We’ll send you email reminders to change your password 14 days before expiration when it’s only a 30-day password to begin with. > > IT Clown 8 > My program won’t tell you when it’s expired; you just won’t be able to sign in & guess that it’s because of an expired password, requiring you to make up a new password on the fly; typically late on a Friday afternoon when you won’t use the system for the next few days. > > IT Boss 1 > Do **not** under any circumstances write down the password that complies will all of the above rules. You should immediately commit to memory this random combination of capital/lower case letters, numbers, & symbols that don’t mean anything to anyone, including you. You forgot my favorite… IT Clown 9 - You have used that password before, please enter a new unique password. I have several accounts which all require password resets periodically and I’m running out of kid’s names, pets, birthdays, etc… Funny, I’ve had the same password at my bank for a decade or more. IT Clown 10 - You are not authorized to access the electronic FAX account or reset the password, please consult your office administrator for permission!? First, my office administrator works for me. Secondly, she is a 10 month employee and takes her summers off so I wouldn’t contact her even if I could. Thirdly, who the fuck sends sensitive and/or confidential information by FAX!? The FAX machine is on the front counter where anyone who can read could access it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-clowns-in-it/692785.md?page=4)