Community archive

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Boredom...

0 helpful
10 replies

by packratt

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

I'm sitting here tonight and I'm pretty bored... The little link to the right says "start a discussion about anything on your mind"... So I will, much to the annoyance of many I am sure since the things that come out of my mouth seem to cause alot of different extreme reactions.

Hmm, well, I was always interested with how things worked, like many of my peers that I have gotten to know. Always took things apart to see how they worked and to see if I could make them work again. I read ALOT when I was young and still read when I have time, I loved to learn and play time meant a new book.

Then I got my first computer in 1983 I think, an Atari 1200xl. Yes, it was a real computer with a keyboard, diskette drive, modem, and all. I would go "online", (compuserve and BBSs back then in 1985), I would program with Microsoft BASIC for Atari, I loved it.

Then I got my first IBM compatable clone and that was it. I ran my own BBS that got so good that others emulated it. I talked about getting feeds from newsgroups when others didn't know what I was talking about while I was doing fidonet feeds. My system stood tall when others fell to virii, never to be seen again. I got files left and right that taught me about UNIX, hexing, cracking, programming, networking, internet, everything.

But things change...

(continued)

10 replies

by packratt

...

I was going to college at that time, I started as a philosophy major and switched to physics with computer applications. I spent alot of time in the library copying files from the sigs. It was still fun but everyone kept asking me stuff all the time. Not that I didn't like that, I enjoyed helping people. But sometimes people don't want what they say they do, they want something else so I would end up doing alot of work for nothing.

Well, when I got married that changed... I had to start going to school part time and started doing freelance work as well. It was my own business back then in 1992, $20 here, $200 there. Well, after a while I had too much business from word of mouth, I could fix things others could only screw up so myreputation grew too fast. Plus I didn't have resources to deal with people who refused to pay, so...

My wife wanted a child and I got a "real job"...

(continued)

by packratt

...

I started out for some "ma-pa" store that did computer stuff on the side until some crazy woman that worked there got coked up and tried to have her way with me. Well, the owner ended up being a coke-head too so when I complained he asked me what the problem with that was. When I replied that I was married he said "so what".

Well, after that my next job was at an internation POS help desk where we took calls from the "mall stores" that had our computer cash registers. I started as a lowly level I PC Support Tech and got three promotions in three months with only one pay increase. I held four job titles at one time towards the end. I still liked the people I worked with and enjoyed the work I did.

Then the management changed and I stopped getting promotions and things got real bad real fast. They brought in people from the outside and gave them the good jobs and the jobs I was due to get promoted to. Eventually I sent out a resignation and the president called me in the next day and said, "Everyone tells me that you are the best that we have, what can we do to keep you here?" I answered with the truth and said that I have been overlooked and even treated poorly since the new management came in and I wanted to be giventhe respect I've earned. The president agreed that it was a fair request but the next day the manager I had problems with paged me with "please turn in your equipment when you get in, your fired." No other explanation...

Things only got worse...
(continued)

by packratt

... I did alot for that company and I was happy doing it for them but some jerk manager had to come in and ruin it with a good ole boy brown-nose promotion system instead of giving the best persons consideration. I still hear from people that workedthere, they still say I was the best supervisor, the best technician, etc. Too bad...

Well, in between jobs my wife got really sick with pancreatitis and cysts on the pancreas while she was pregnant. She weighed less when she gave birth than before she was pregnant because she couldn't eat. She had to have major surgery that was supposed to rid her of the condition for good but it still came back a year later and she suffers through it today because we can't afford any more surgeries with our lousy medical insurance. (and I work for an insurance company).

Anyway... I went to work for a well known (at that time) mail order computer shop that advertised heavily in computer shopper. They took me in as an assistant help desk manager. Well, I quit after two weeks because these people brought their workers over from Russia and exploited them by compensating them with room and board in one single house. 50 people in one house! I left and reported them but later found out that by reporting the company the workers suffered because they were shipped back and the owners only got a small (to them) fine. Great bit of justice there, people 0, money 1.

Next...

(continued again, still bored and awake)

by packratt

Before I drone on, I should say something about my past... Well, my childhood was hellish beyond most people's beliefs. When I go into details about the things I went through most people tell me I must be lying. But going through all the things I did had some positive results. It taught me that pain is relative and that I should empathize when people suffer because that is what makes a human humane. It also made me stronger and gave me some insight that few others have or understand.

Oh well, on with the show... I then worked for another privately owned small business that made a profit by pirating software and stealing it's employee's wages. I was salaried but each paycheck was different, many others quit shortly after I did. Then I worked for a large consulting firm that had a 3 to 1 management ratio. Talk about top heavy, that place was messed up beyond belief!

Then I worked at a private college, the best job I ever had except that it paid peanuts. But they hired me as a network analyst and it was my ticket out of the HW/SW tech lable even though I did networking at all of my jobs. I made up for the lost wages by using the money I got from my mother's life insurance after she died. When the money ran out, I had to move on since they wouldn't pay me anything close to my worth.

(continued)

by packratt

Well, I'll try to make this the last post. If you read this far... Well, you must be bored too.

After I left the college I ended up where I'm at now. I will not say anything more about my career now except that I'm still looking for that ideal place to work that will let me enjoy doing this work that I love while treating me with respect while doing it. I always thought that this was a fair expectation but I've been learning that it's far from that.

It's been so bad that this Christmas I had to pawn some of my own equipment to get my two sons presents. My wife is still sick and we are still in debt from the last surgery she had. Now I'm worried since my company is forcing me to relocate and they are not paying me enough for the cost of living difference that will occur. So, in essence I will be making less soon. I can't quit since there are not jobs in the area and nobody is willing to offer a relocation package to hire me. It makes me so angry that I got into IT because I loveddoing this work and I was really good at it and now people are ruining it for me and my family.

So, the bad luck continues... But there is a silver lining. Now I have been inspired to help others avoid the pitfalls I had by creating a web site for employees to research employers and find out how their employees rate them.

Always make lemonade out of lemons, I guess...

Thanks for listening!

by canadiense

Packratt,

I'd say first and foremost you have to deal with your wife's problem. My advice is to emigrate to a country with gov't health care - Australia and New Zealand are pretty easy to get into these days if you've got either a degree or 5+ years of computer experience.

Or, you could always move up here to Canada - I've got 2 kids as well (ages 2 & 3) and I literally haven't paid a penny for healthcare EVER. Sure, we pay for it in our taxes, but that's fine with me. My sister had anoperation when she was younger that apparently cost around $250K - we paid nothing.

Secondly, you're right - IT is starting to suck but that's life. What you DON'T want to do is spend your time thinking about why it sucks. I'm not religious by any stretch, but you definitely gotta start getting a little more optimistic about things.

If you interview with other companies, or look for a raise, or talk with other techies you've GOT to look enthusiastic. Not just look, but feel. Keeners and upbeat people always seem to find the right path. If you're sounding like the 'world hates you', nobody but the other drunk guy in the bar will be listening. It's like that saying, "Laugh and the world ..." you know.

That web site you talk about ain't gonna make you more upbeat. My mom always said to volunteer your time at a children's hospital, but never an old folk's home. Children are always upbeat no matter their situation, whereas old folks are always bitching about something.

Chow,

CG

by packratt

Well, I certainly agree with what you said and it pays to be upbeat. I don't really feel that the world is against me though, that's one of the benefits of a rough life is that it gives one some tough skin. I generally do well enough to put on that smiley face at work or when I have to in other situations. I know enough to respond to the "how are you doing?" by stating "just fine" no matter how things are really going because people don't really want to know.

The web site is something that Idissagree with you on, though. Despite all of my problems I still like to help others when I can. It makes me feel human to help other people and I think my website idea is a way for me to help others while dealing with my frustrations about how thecorporate world operates. Really, what better way to do this than make a website that allows others to tell the potential workers out there how their employer really treats the people that bring in the money? Then maybe people will start making informed decisions about where to work and either put these abusers out of business or make them rethink the way they look at employees.

Thanks for your helpfull advice though. I've also thought about moving to a different country but I've heard that Canada treats IT people very poorly in general and my wife is frightened of the snakes and spiders in Australia and New Zealand.

Thanks again, I do appriciate the time you took to read my posts and to offer your advice.

by rocko da pimp

I kinda feel like you but my wife is not sick. Though I was forced into this business by love and the fact that I had no choice but to leave the Army or get a divorce. Being that I love my two little boys so much I gave up the career of 10 years. (on the down-slope too.) Now I work for GE Information Services as a PC Tech. Instead of being in charge of Troops, I am now in charge of 167 PC's to include being the assistant to my Boss who is the Network Administrator for our location. Can I complain about it? Yes, in a way. I'm way under marketed in Pay wise. I make 11 an hour while other PC techs around Tampa make close to 15 avg. But my hours are stable (Thank god). Should I have taken the Divorce and finish up my other 10 years in the ArmyInfantry? hummmm. I don't think I could of traded being an Infantry soldier for my kids. Needless to say now, my wife gripes and bitches everyday and I have more stress at home than I do at the job. Do I love my job now? Of course. I'm doing what I love the most...Messing with PC's and playing with my boys. But hats off goes to this ladd here. You have an interesting life that I would not wish on my closest enemy. I hope you find the silver lining bro. You need it.

by packratt

I understand your situation, I stopped going to school, (something I enjoyed alot) for my wife and children and I would do the same again. What I have noticed though is that when I don't like what I'm doing or where I'm at that the tension in the house always goes up.

When I get grumpy because of work and bring it home it makes my wife grumpy and even makes the kids act out. So, I make it a point to leave work at work just like I leave home at home. It's VERY hard to do at times but it's worth the effort if you want to try and find something close to balance. Sure, my wife still complains alot due to other things like money or her health or how she thinks my company screws me. (which is different than how they actually do that). But things improve when you put effort forth to make them improve.

Anyways, yes, it has been an 'interesting' life, and I too wouldn't wish it on anyone. But I have discovered that I have more strength than I thought through all of my trials and with that realization and the knowledge that my experiences have given me I could say that it is interesting, not sad.

Silver linings are everywhere and to everything there is a balance, you just have to look for it and at times the good part is damn hardto find, but it's there. Good luck to you Rocko, I hope your wife realizes what a good man you are for your sacrifices to her.

by rocko da pimp

Merry X-mas and Happy New year bro. Hopefully it was better than mine. All I did was argue all New Years eve and day. Was it worth it? Not really, but it's time for me to put my foot down with my wife and reclaim the "Head of the household" status. Even if I end up sleeping on the couch. :)

This discussion is closed to new replies.