Layout:
Home > You, sir, are an ***

You, sir, are an ***

August 6th, 2008 at 06:08 am

Warning. This post will contain many, many cusswords. If you don't like cusswords, don't continue reading.
-------------------------

So, I don't know how to code in Java. I'm supposed to be going to a class so I can learn it, but my company hasn't found one for me yet. The application that I am in charge of has an API interface that uses java to initiate it, so we have to have someone in another group write that part for us.

He has written about 10 before now. So, he needed to write another one, and sent me an email saying it was done and in a particular folder. It was in a different folder than the rest of the 10 were in. I wrote him back to ask, "can we move that to the folder everything else is in?" He would have to change the code to use the other folder, but nothing terrible, I don't think. He wrote back "no." that's it. that was his only response.

Think of it like this. You have all your tools in the garage. Except, randomly, the hammer. It goes in the drawer by the kitchen sink. You know this...you might forget, but after searching in the garage for 10 minutes, you will remember again. But if someone else has to use the hammer, they will look and look for it in the garage and not find it. If you are on vacation, the hammer will never be found.

All the code should be in the same place and implemented the same way so if someone has to modify it, they will know where to look. Or, if there is a reason that it needs to be somewhere else, you should document it so someone else will know why.

So, since he is only one cube row away from me, I went to ask him why.
Him: That is how the code is written and I'm not going to change it.
Me: Can you tell me why?
Him: No
Me: Why not?
Him: If you want to change it, you change it. I am done. It has to go in that folder.
Me: Is there a technical Java reason it has to go there
Him: Yes and no
Me: Why?
Him: I'm not telling
(yes, he says that. I'm not telling. What are you, 3?)
Me: I need to know so I can document it.
Him: The code is done. I'm not touching it.
...argue, argue, argue...
Me: You are unbelievable. I can't believe you won't tell me why.
Him: (turns around and ignores me)

I go into my boss's office and say "JW is an ass". She asks what is wrong, and I tell her the little exchange we just had.

She takes me to his boss's office and explains the situation. He laughs. Not at me, but at the situation. He tries to explain that this guy is an ass, that he has always been an ass, and that we won't be able to change his attitude.

I don't give a fuck what his attitude is. He can cuss me the whole time he is fixing it. But there is the right way to do things and the wrong way to do things. The way he has it set up is wrong, and the way I want to do things is right. I think so, my boss thinks so and his boss thinks so. Common sense and prior implementation thinks so too.

His boss says he goes on these power trips and gets obstinate and makes a huge fucking deal about this shit when it will take 5 minutes and less typing than this sentence to fix it. Fine. Be an ass. Just fix my code.

Oh, and because I don't think my users should be punished because some guy is measuring his dick, I did try to implement it the way he said to. Here's the kicker...IT DOESN'T WORK. I made sure to let all parties involved know that one. I also tried to fix it so it would work, and I couldn't.

10 Responses to “You, sir, are an ***”

  1. Brenda Says:
    1218012012

    There's one in every office. In my case I think we have more than one. I am lucky in the respect that I can avoid the office as much as possible. Everytime I go into the office I quickly remember why I don't go in there.

  2. Broken Arrow Says:
    1218023469

    Amazingly immature of him.

    It's one thing if he can't or won't do something.

    But it doesn't hurt to take 30 seconds to explain why.

    Geez.

  3. merch Says:
    1218025704

    If i was his boss, I would have fired him long ago. I use to manage 35 technical people (programmers, business analysts, project managers, etc.) and I would never put up with this attitude.

    I have also had to deal with people in other groups who were dicks like this. I was once in a meeting when a managing director yelled at me for about an hour and then hrew a stapler at my head. And I work in investment firms. You know highly educated people 9doctrates from MIT, etc.).

    My advice is not to let him dictate your behavior. Just because he is unprofessional and diffcult doesn't mean you have to be.

  4. momcents Says:
    1218030574

    Oh, dear ... send him back to preschool! That is where most people learn to share ... even information.

  5. luxlivingfrugalis Says:
    1218032364

    Here's me sending you a stick of dynamite so you can use it to loosen that sludgehole! Bombs away!! Big Grin
    I'm the one who doesn't sleep at night until I figure a way to help extricate whatever is stopping up the works!

    We feel your pain!!!

  6. monkeymama Says:
    1218032875

    No, not one in every office. Some people just don't put up with that. (I have never had to, and my boss certainly wouldn't put up with that crap - he'd been fired long ago).

    But yeah, my dad is dealing with a preschool type right now. I am not sure how long I could last in an environment like that.

    What goes around, comes around, that is for sure.

  7. princessperky Says:
    1218040692

    good grief, is it really that hard to find a replacement? I know several fellows who would be happy to take that idiots job.

  8. Petunia Says:
    1218043910

    Oh, yes, I miss programming. . . NOT! Sorry you have to work with this guy. They are such a waste of company resources.

  9. boomeyers Says:
    1218044372

    I agree with Monkeymama, what comes around, goes around, just let that comfort you a little bit!

  10. cptacek Says:
    1218075883

    oooooh it made me so mad even today. I did work around it an got it working so the users' aren't punished at least. My supervisor asked how things were and I said "He's an ass. Nothing different." She pinged his supervisor again, so we'll see what happens. I'll bring it up again next week if nothing is said tomorrow.

    GRR. I don't want to get worked up about it again. But attitudes like that is what is sinking our department. No thought for what would make things easier or better for our users. My Power Trip is more important than any user!

Leave a Reply

(Note: If you were logged in, we could automatically fill in these fields for you.)
*
Will not be published.
   

* Please spell out the number 4.  [ Why? ]

vB Code: You can use these tags: [b] [i] [u] [url] [email]