In this blog, I’m diving into some of the most nonsensical and absurd things I’ve encountered as an IT professional specifically, the bizarre comments and misunderstandings from coworkers that leave me wondering if we’re even in the same industry! Whether it’s a complete misunderstanding of basic tech concepts, outlandish requests, or just plain ignorance, dealing with people who have no clue what IT is about can be both frustrating and, sometimes, a bit funny.
I'll walk through a few standout moments where employees have made ridiculous statements or asked questions that make no sense at all, from confusing the internet with a web browser to thinking IT can magically solve problems outside of our realm. Whether it's the lack of tech literacy or unrealistic expectations, these moments highlight how misunderstood IT can be. So, sit back and enjoy this lighthearted take on the nonsense we often hear in the world of tech!
04/03/2024
Company promoted a dev as new infrastructure manager with a development background who is full of ego and overconfidence. He acts as though he knows everything about infrastructure, but his decisions and lack of understanding lead to failures. His arrogance makes him difficult to work with, and his lack of expertise exposes him as incompetent in the role, causing frustration and setbacks for the team.
The new infrastructure manager not only lacks knowledge in networking but also dismisses the importance of device and network security, which puts the entire system at risk. He disrespects and insults the hard work of others, especially in areas where he has no expertise. His arrogance is compounded by the fact that his own code doesn’t even properly interact with trusted device stores, exposing his ignorance and carelessness. His behavior creates a toxic work environment and jeopardizes both team morale and system security.
It sounds like staying away from these type of manager is the best approach, given his lack of expertise, dismissive attitude, and failure to acknowledge others' work. His resemblance to "Perfect Peter" from Horrid Henry adds a comical twist he may appear outwardly "perfect" or self-righteous, but in reality, he's far from competent. Dealing with someone like that can be frustrating, so keeping your distance is probably wise!
01/03/2022
So Managed Service Provider (MSP), specializing in education i worked with, struggled with basic technical competency and management. A third-line engineer, who should have advanced skills, couldn't resolve a simple DNS issue between different Active Directory forests a task as straightforward as creating a conditional forwarder in Windows Server. To make matters worse, someone on the service desk fell for a phishing email, giving away their Office 365 password, exposing a significant security flaw.
On top of this, the service desk manager showed a lack of concern for employee welfare, dismissively pulling the "the school pays you to be there" card, instead of addressing your concerns. This toxic environment, coupled with technical failings, is not just frustrating but harmful to both employees and the schools they serve.
The MSP seemed more focused on titles and hierarchy than actual skill or dedication to the sector. They look down on individuals who genuinely care about the field, prioritizing ego and status over competence. Despite specializing in education, they fail at basic technical tasks, like the third-line engineer not knowing how to set up a DNS conditional forwarder. Meanwhile, they allow security breaches, like the service desk employee falling for phishing attacks, to occur unchecked. The dismissive attitude of management toward employee welfare, coupled with their obsession over titles, creates an environment where technical expertise and passion for the sector are undervalued, leading to poor service and frustrated staff. AVOID!!!