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February 27, 2003
I used to be smart
I started my career just over 10 years ago, as a programmer at the University of Utah Mailing Bureau. Actually, I started there sticking labels to envelopes, and found my way (back) into programming. I'd done a lot of programming as a teenager (even made money off of it), but this was my first job as a programmer.
Like many technical people (and as I worked with technical people at a number of different IT jobs), I soon developed what can best be called a condescending attitude towards anyone who didn't share my interests and speak the same lingo, especially "management." I mean, how could anyone not be totally excited about their new computer and the opportunity to spend a few days or a week trying out all the new software, optimizing and customizing it? The only reason I could think that someone wouldn't know all of the intricacies of something like their email software was that they must be ... stupid. Which of course, fit the techie's perception of "management."
In the same way that teenagers become the adults they always criticized their parents for being, I realized recently that I have become just like the "stupid" people I used to criticize. As much as I'd like to spend the day fiddling with my desktop configuration or integrating some new tool into my email system, I realized a few years ago (as I think many technical people eventually do) that there just isn't enough time to do everything I want to.
I realize that when I talk to other technical people now, and they ask about my email configuration or my desktop set up that I don't have time to fiddle with or optimize, they see me the same way I used to see "management." Somehow, though I still have the same interests (and I'd like to believe the same skill) in what I used to tinker with, not having the time to do it makes me look ... stupid.
Posted by pete at February 27, 2003 11:59 PM
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