You can't expect me to be brilliant all the time.
Let's not beat around the bush, we're bright people. We, being programmers, sys-admins, other assorted computer geeks. It's nothing to be ashamed off.. so some of us are a bit socially-inept, reclusive or elitist.. so what? Somehow I doubt anyone but people like this read my blog..
Anyway, do you ever get the feeling that everybody expects 100% brilliance 100% of the time from you?
Well.. I'm getting tired of that. For once I want to be the one constantly asking questions and not listening to the answers.
This is my plan, from now on, once a month I will be dumb. One day a month of complete and utter stupidity from me. This should even out the playing field a bit, don't you think?
So tomorrow don't expect brilliance or humour from me.. instead, this is what you'll get:
1. At least 5 questions I should have known the answer to in my first year CS class.
2. Approximately 10-20 issues to which an answer can be found via a 2 minute google search.
3. 3 classes that are checked in but don't compile.
4. Three to Four hundred lines of untested code.
5. I'll ask you to install my sound card, modem and some other computer device.
6. I will be forwarding every single joke I see even if I've already seen it 400 times. It's that funny.
7. That Disney email? I'll believe it tomorrow..
8. I'll eat my lunch inside and leave the dishes in the sink for my co-workers to deal with.
9. I'll spend half my day talking on the phone. Loudly. In Polish.
10. I will disable my anti-virus software and execute every single attachment.
11. I'll work on my sun box as root.
This should keep me busy enough to result in zero productivity for the day.
I think we should all do that. Everyone who can sympathize with this issue, I call on you, be stupid for a day. For what purpose? Who cares, but it should at least make you feel a bit better next time you're expected to give a brilliant answer in under 5 minutes to a question you have no time to research.
(Yes, I am cranky today)
Comments
How about I just take the day off? I'll spend the entire day infront of my pc, forwarding useless mail to all those inconsiderate 'friends' who've made me scroll through half the e-mail addresses of the free world trying to find the point to the e-mail.
Posted by: Lynne | September 29, 2002 11:52 AM
A-FREAKING-MEN!
Posted by: apokalyptik | September 29, 2002 01:28 PM
I make it my mission in life to teach those people how to use BCC. I gave up on my mission to convince them they were wasting the time and resources of people who'd already read and no longer care about whater they'd been sent. I find it easier to make ominous threats about exposing themselves to viri and pornography spam.
Posted by: Dan Isaacs | September 29, 2002 01:46 PM
i totally agree.
it sucks SO MUCH to be the one answering the questions all the time.
just once, i want to go through the whole day without a single 'how have you made it this far in your career without knowing the answer to that?' sort of conversation.
Posted by: garrett | September 29, 2002 02:35 PM
Amen to that!
Wait a minute...
Anti-Virus software for Linux? Did you just admit you use Windoze? The Unix-Girl is using windoze?
Posted by: Techie2000 | September 29, 2002 03:47 PM
oh, techie.. not paying attention!
I admitted to it in this entry.
Posted by: kasia | September 29, 2002 04:12 PM
Sooo tempting...
Posted by: tmpchaos | September 29, 2002 04:35 PM
Oh. My brain wasn't completely working...
Posted by: Techie2000 | September 29, 2002 09:27 PM
I just have to say I've successfully implemented several variations of the list today at work and it is only 10:30am. I've got hours to go.
And somebody else must be doing it too because I just received an envelope from an unknown sender with a bunch of RAM that is really old and I have no idea what is it for or what I am supposed to do with it.
Alas, my Polish is so weak these days I'll just have to make sure I randomly insert some Polish words that makes no sense into a conversation and just continue talking. This will confuse my listener, but it's the best I can do.
Ma dobry dzien!
Nala
Posted by: Naladahc | September 30, 2002 10:22 AM
I gave this some thought, and it occurs to me that while brilliance is not something that should be expected with any degree of regularity, simple comptence is something people have a right to expect of you. It's certainly something I expect of myself, and therefore do not mind when others expect it of me.
Posted by: Dan de Isaacs | September 30, 2002 11:44 AM
In addition to simple comptence it would be nice if people actually tried spending as much time trying to solve the problem themselves as it would take to explain the problem to me.
There is very little in this world that pisses me off more than dealing with someone who's willing to waste my time but is unwilling to put in any effort on their own.
Posted by: PopeMatt | September 30, 2002 12:20 PM