The grumpy thread

[alcyonecorporation]

Students are back, thus the onslaught of stupid support calls about individual personal devices being a bit squiffy on the wifi is also back.

 

My job is to look after the infrastructure and the corporate devices, yet the double standards at my work also mean I get utterly humped with all these sort of calls. For some reason every single call like this gets assigned to me as I've become the unofficial wifi guy. I spend half my time during term wandering around halls of residence with a laptop and some survey software just to tell them no, student, the problem is not with our seven-figure wifi infrastructure that took countless hundreds of (my own) man hours to install, it's your device. However that answer isn't good enough and doesn't help the 'student experience'

99.9% of the time it's the student's own fault for failing to follow the instructions properly. We do sometimes get the odd access point that goes down, admittedly. However rare that is.

 

 

 

I have an interview next Friday. Still in Aberdeen, so part of me isn't hugely excited, but part of me will be massively glad to get away from the university environment.

I'm not denigrating your issue, those students genuinely sound clueless, but everyone had UTTER MISERY on my course trying to use the building wifi.

 

Bear in mind my course took place at Media City in some kind of supposed 'technology hub' - but no-one's device could connect it, and when it did it dropped out. This is the same network that got infected with a Mac virus and all the apologist fuds who smugly told me their Macs 'couldn't get viruses' were suddenly landed with an expensive Genius Bar bill.

 

The faculty couldn't understand what the problem was because their machines were on a different network, a stable one, managed by a different firm outside the University.

 

I had my netbook and phone checked by both the University technicians and an IT specialist friend (who even came with me to Uni one day to see if he could get it to play ball) and neither could find any issue with them; both blamed the appallingly calibrated wi-fi hub in the Media City complex.

 

Also:

a- we weren't allowed on the other network

b - we had to submit all our work via this network electronically and were penalised if we put in hard copies. The University then refuted there was anything wrong with their network or their submission system and refused to make any concessions until the mother of all complaints surfaced via the NUS.

 

There was also the online timetabling scandal (lectures scheduled at 2am on Saturdays thanks to an unproven and untested system which caused many people to lose part time jobs because they didn't know their availability) that the university angrily denied existed until someone told the Manchester Evening News.

 

Can't think who that might have been.

[Fumbler]

I'm not denigrating your issue, those students genuinely sound clueless, but everyone had UTTER MISERY on my course trying to use the building wifi.

 

Bear in mind my course took place at Media City in some kind of supposed 'technology hub' - but no-one's device could connect it, and when it did it dropped out. This is the same network that got infected with a Mac virus and all the apologist fuds who smugly told me their Macs 'couldn't get viruses' were suddenly landed with an expensive Genius Bar bill.

 

The faculty couldn't understand what the problem was because their machines were on a different network, a stable one, managed by a different firm outside the University.

 

I had my netbook and phone checked by both the University technicians and an IT specialist friend (who even came with me to Uni one day to see if he could get it to play ball) and neither could find any issue with them; both blamed the appallingly calibrated wi-fi hub in the Media City complex.

 

Also:

a- we weren't allowed on the other network

b - we had to submit all our work via this network electronically and were penalised if we put in hard copies. The University then refuted there was anything wrong with their network or their submission system and refused to make any concessions until the mother of all complaints surfaced via the NUS.

 

There was also the online timetabling scandal (lectures scheduled at 2am on Saturdays thanks to an unproven and untested system which caused many people to lose part time jobs because they didn't know their availability) that the university angrily denied existed until someone told the Manchester Evening News.

 

Can't think who that might have been.

My IT support managed to bollock it up one day where their school system was done in by one of the teccies deciding to install Adobe from what was a reputable source. (He was fired of course. The IT support head BURNS through employees). First the IT1 PCs went black, then the library, then it spread all down to maths and then onto the prep school. Oh those were the days... Then we have people with IQ of -2 jamming USB drives into Ethernet ports and reverse currenting the network and blowing up the switches and router. Amazing.

[Supernaut]

At least we aren't that bad.

 

I'm just having a grump because it's the same every September. All the new students turn up, are clueless, and my boss assigns me all the calls about it without even asking.

There's also the fact my boss is so angry and unstable he makes alcyonecorporation look like a kitten in comparison, so I don't dare talk back about it.

[Guest Slongchod]

The University then refuted there was anything wrong with their network

 

How did they do that? What evidence did they present?

[Fumbler]

Oh that sounds like a normal day here as well. Except I'm the one doing the learning and IT are bodging some shit after blowing it all on a massive aircon unit all to themselves. So when Computer Science comes around I'm basically that tech support person that asks "Have you installed any third party programs on your compooter?"

[alcyonecorporation]

There's also the fact my boss is so angry and unstable he makes alcyonecorporation look like a kitten in comparison, so I don't dare talk back about it.

I dunno about the 'angry' bit.

 

How did they do that? What evidence did they present?

By ignoring everyone, including the student newspaper.

 

They did something similar over the timetabling issue, so *someone* rang the MEN up and gave them the gory details - including emails from admin denying there was an issue.

[Tamworthbay]

Arrived at work yesterday to find a completely new ‘upgraded’ operating system. Shit happens I hear you say, but this week also happens to be one of the busiest of the year, great timing for everyone to learn the new system, not like we had anything else to do or anything..........

[myglaren]

My IT support managed to bollock it up one day where their school system was done in by one of the teccies deciding to install Adobe from what was a reputable source. (He was fired of course. The IT support head BURNS through employees). First the IT1 PCs went black, then the library, then it spread all down to maths and then onto the prep school. Oh those were the days... Then we have people with IQ of -2 jamming USB drives into Ethernet ports and reverse currenting the network and blowing up the switches and router. Amazing.

It is a very long time ago now but someone infected all of Sunderland UNiversitie's (may have been Sunderland Poly at the time) computers.

On switch on they would declare "Good Morning Vietnam"! loudly.

It took weeks to clear as one infected machine would reinfect all the cleaned ones.

 

Harmless and amusing but a warning for more serious infections.

[New POD]

The fiancee decided to have a chat at me about talking to her and basically not carrying on like she doesn't exist.

 

Being nice and romantic.

 

"Doing things" together.

 

Still none the wiser.

 

Why do they have to be weird?

 

Sent from my VFD 710 using Tapatalk

have a look at the words of a song by depeche mode - somebody.

 

I've been married for 28.5 years. my advice on relationships? Run a fucking mile. Then run a no other 999 miles like the fucking proclaimers in reverse smd at speed.

 

They are weird. They will make an argument out of thin air. Their opinion is Fact. The truth.

your opinion is fiction. A lie.

 

if you disagree. thats you being disrespectful and abusive.

 

if they disagree its because you are wrong and deluded.

 

What you need to do is sit down and discuss this. wait until both of you are really really tired, especislly if she needs to get up early and keep her up all night "moving the goal posts"

 

Or just cancel the fucking wedding and get s car instead.

[myglaren]

My phone has decided it is Ukrainian

 

And deleted the icons to change the language.

 

Seems to have some nice wallpaper to go with it though.

[richardmorris]

At least we aren't that bad.I'm just having a grump because it's the same every September. All the new students turn up, are clueless, and my boss assigns me all the calls about it without even asking.There's also the fact my boss is so angry and unstable he makes alcyonecorporation look like a kitten in comparison, so I don't dare talk back about it.

When I was at university (90-93) we had to use the computer centre to do work that needed typing ( who remembers word perfect?). I remember being there at 3am one day trying to get things finished on one task.

[dozeydustman]

Work was shit today because half the bleedin' workforce seemed to be 'ill'. The same half a dozen or so people with their usual "I don't feel well, I'm not coming in today". I have days off occasionally because I get migraines (5 in the last year, strangely enough to get me a verbal caution for too much time off, despite declaring that I get migraines when I started 3 years ago).

 

One of these guys seems to be off every payday and then a few days 'ill' half way between paydays. Got home at 4 after doing someone else's work & lorry having had 3 FTPs today for the same thing. Rear steering axle locked up while on full right lock. Because Mercedes commercial. Honestly these things are absolute rubbish at just being vehicles, the amount of times the same 4 of the fleet have been back to Mercedes for this problem is ridiculous.

 

Weeded out garden after work, as have been putting it off for weeks now. Just been outside to take out the kitchen bin & recycling and caught the cat shitting in all my neatly weeded out, turned over and hoed flowerbeds. Bastard fucking thing. 2 cats, 2 litter boxes. WHY????

 

And stepdaughter wants to give up car mechanics course. Gutted.

[Sir Snipes]

My phone has decided it is Ukrainian

 

And deleted the icons to change the language.

 

Seems to have some nice wallpaper to go with it though.

Since my Citroen C4 had the clutch done it occasionally reverts back to french on the info panel (door open warnings etc).

[alcyonecorporation]

Since my Citroen C4 had the clutch done it occasionally reverts back to french on the info panel (door open warnings etc).

Mine did that when it got a new battery.

 

My Leon 5F sometimes betrays its heritage by resetting its sat-nav to Major Hirst Strasse, Wolfsburg.

[Guest Hooli]

Fucking speed cameras. Empty clear motorway with only one other car in sight. Gantry signs flick up 40 as I'm approaching so I slow gentley as there is obviously no reason for it and flash at about 47-48.

 

FFS!

[Mally]

 

 

Weeded out garden after work, as have been putting it off for weeks now. Just been outside to take out the kitchen bin & recycling and caught the cat shitting in all my neatly weeded out, turned over and hoed flowerbeds. Bastard fucking thing. 2 cats, 2 litter boxes. WHY????

 

And stepdaughter wants to give up car mechanics course. Gutted.

 

Cats are supposed to shit in soil, preferably next doors though..

Saves cleaning your litter boxes.

 

At least stepdaughter had a go at the car course. You never know if you like it until you try.

Buy her an hairdressers car as a reward for trying.

[rainagain]

Fair enough, there are exceptions. I was thinking of the majority who appear to think their kid can't walk 1/2 a mile around a housing estate.

Don’t forget councils screwing up catchment areas, for example my kids can’t go to the school closest to them as the council prioritised kids from another area where they closed their school. So thats two lots of kids that are too far to walk to their school rather than one.

[Kiltox]

Fucking speed cameras. Empty clear motorway with only one other car in sight. Gantry signs flick up 40 as I'm approaching so I slow gentley as there is obviously no reason for it and flash at about 47-48.

 

FFS!

 

Don’t think they’ll be able to enforce that, same reason you can’t have a guy with a speed gun hiding behind the 30 sign in a village

[Guest Hooli]

Appeal? 

 

No point, they'd lie in court if needed to get it though. Happened to me years ago when a traffic cop watched me take my seatbelt off after he stopped me & then gave me a ticket for no seatbelt.

 

 

Don’t think they’ll be able to enforce that, same reason you can’t have a guy with a speed gun hiding behind the 30 sign in a village

 

Limit starts at the sign so a camera flashing as I go under it is enforceable.

 

I wouldn't mind if there was any reason at all for the limit but it was perfectly obvious the road was clear etc.

[Captain Furious]

How far were you from it when the limit changed? Gantry signs time stamp the last speed limit change and there is a grace period before it becomes enforceable. So you don’t have everyone getting done just because they happened to drive under it just as the limit changes. I had a similar situation through the M6 smart motorway section a few years back, nothing came through

 

2 weeks nervous wait either way.

[Captain Furious]

Slightly similar situation, my fucking nemesis, red light cameras....I have never actually been done but they always, ALWAYS turn amber just as I’m on top of them. Monday was no exception, bringing the caravan back from a festival, I don’t think I’d have stopped even if I’d tried and the car definitely went through on amber, caravan not so sure....

 

I’ve done that many nervous two week waits now that I’m becoming immune to it

[Cavcraft]

It won’t matter what you think about the need for a limit, if there was a sign telling you of the maximum speed and you broke it, you’ll probs get done.

I suppose it’s no different to wellying round in an area you don’t know, coming into the outskirts of a town with a 50mph zone doing 60, then getting caught.

[Guest Hooli]

It won’t matter what you think about the need for a limit, if there was a sign telling you of the maximum speed and you broke it, you’ll probs get done.

I suppose it’s no different to wellying round in an area you don’t know, coming into the outskirts of a town with a 50mph zone doing 60, then getting caught.

 

This is true. It just pisses me off to get done for something they'll claim is to do with safety with it was perfectly safe.

 

In town near a school or something I'd accept it's my fault, but we used to be told to think & judge a safe speed & then this sort of bollocks makes a mockery of that.

[Guest Hooli]

How far were you from it when the limit changed? Gantry signs time stamp the last speed limit change and there is a grace period before it becomes enforceable. So you don’t have everyone getting done just because they happened to drive under it just as the limit changes. I had a similar situation through the M6 smart motorway section a few years back, nothing came through

 

2 weeks nervous wait either way.

 

1/2 mile maybe, no more.

 

I'll see what if anything arrives in the post.

[Captain Furious]

Hmm, pushing it at half a mile lol and the fact it flashed is indicative that the grace period had expired!

 

I reckon I’d exercise my right to a day in court, you'll probably still get fucked but you might get a sympathetic magistrate.

[Guest Hooli]

Nah my last experience of taking anything to court is they lie & fuck you over for daring to expect justice. Appears to be within a pointless course range (10%+9mph) so hopefully just a day of getting bollocks spouted at me while I pay a fee for the 'privilege'.

[busmansholiday]

Decided to fuck off Virgin Media as price for just broadband was getting silly. Chose the Sheffield mob with award winning customer service. So far it's anything but. They are going to install the line & router on the one day I said I wasn't in. Now getting through to them involves a half hour, at their estimate, of shite music and on line chat isn't currently available. FFS!!

[Kiltox]

Half a mile? Yeah lube up

[Bren]

After sorting out remortgage I find that property management company that manage lease get £175. Talk about money for nothing. Ground rent is a pain in the arse.

[DodgeRover]

Fucking speed cameras. Empty clear motorway with only one other car in sight. Gantry signs flick up 40 as I'm approaching so I slow gentley as there is obviously no reason for it and flash at about 47-48.

 

FFS!

Got Dashcam footage? There's your defense right there if you have and there was no reason for the change visible over the next however many miles.