April 18, 2003
JavaOne or "I work in a Dilbert cartoon"

For years now I've wanted to go to JavaOne but unfortunately I cannot afford to pay the $1700 conference fee on my own.. well, that plus travel expenses. It adds up.

So, naturally, I approached my boss with the idea..

"hey, can the company send me to Java one?" - It is work related, I program Java for a living.
He said he'd ask higher up.. which he did...

The result? Not exactly what I expected.. apparently people higher up thought it's a great idea! Wonderful, our engineers want to learn more Java.. that's great.. Let's send two of them! Yep, two *other* ones including my direct boss.. the one I asked if I could go..

Strike one -- time for plan B.

"I'll stay with friends, pay for my own plane tickets and mooch off of others for meals.. Can I go? Pleaaassseee.. ?"

Yah, we have budget for training for each employee.. but.. *nope*.. It will cost too much to send the other two.

Sigh, I can't win.

Posted April 18, 2003 06:47 PM in Java
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Comments
On April 18, 2003 08:39 PM tamaracks added:

How wude!

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On April 18, 2003 10:28 PM garrett added:

wow, that's too crazy for words.

i'm just hoping that my request for $ and time off to go to OSCON will go through ok. my boss wants to pay for it, but it falls at an inconvenient time with regard to projects at work, so who knows how it will go.

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On April 19, 2003 12:18 AM andres added:

Sometimes it's frustrating when you're in the bottom of the food chain.

I even find it irritating when managers got to go when engineers will directly benefit from it. Though I'm aware as well that cost is a concern and they (mgt) are likely to send people who will not leave after receiving all these trainings/conference.

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On April 19, 2003 10:05 AM Spike added:

Ah, the wonders of the corporate food-chain. I hadn't had training where I am for about five years (I never really asked). Recently, I was put on a new project and offered training - it's all approved and so on - but now I don't have the time to go! There's just no way to win... although I suppose you could kill your boss and wear his face, Hannibal Lecter style, to go there!!

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On April 19, 2003 11:34 PM vek added:

I was lucky enough to go to the 2001 OSCON in San Diego and my company paid for everything. Because of the ol' tightening of the corporate purse strings I just got laughed at when I asked to go last year. I asked again about going to OSCON in Portland this year. Laugh, my manager almost pissed herself. I took that as a no :-)

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