Computer Lab Blues

[possum37]

I run the library's computer lab at a local grad school...technically, a "graduate school of theology and ministry", so it's half grad school, half seminary. Most of the students here are in their 40's and 50's, and this is a second or third career for them.

Three things should be noted from the above paragraph: 1) students are seminarians; 2) students are aged 40-50; and 3) it's their second or third career.

Keeping those three facts in mind, why are these people so *rude* to me and to my staff?

Really, I'm sorry you have a virus on your floppy that destroyed the paper you were working on for your D.Min. degree -- but then again, I've been the one who's been telling you for months to buy some anti-virus for your home PC, and I've been the one who has been nice enough not to throw your butt out of the lab after the third time you've brought the same virus in! A Doctor of Ministry degree -- a *Doctoral* degree -- and not one ounce of common sense.

What's that? DialPad.com isn't working? Oh, please, feel free to play with the soundcard drivers, that will really help. Switch the speaker and the mike jacks too while you're at it. And please feel free to get annoyed at me for taking so long to fix the mess you made. After all, this computer lab was specifically designed for *you* to use DialPad, not for anyone to type out a paper or use the library's online catalog. It's not like this is a school or anything.

They're seminarians, studying to become pastors of churches -- why can't they at least be *kind* to their neighbor (I'm not sure I'd like to be loved by these folks)?

They're over a decade older than I am -- haven't they learned any manners? My mom taught *me* manners...

Second or third career...let me guess, were you fired from your other jobs because you couldn't get along with anyone at work? Sheesh...

At the very least, feel free to be rude to me, but please treat my staff with some respect. I can't afford to pay them what they're worth, so please at least treat them like human beings.

Ughh...I'm so tired...I need a vacation...

Thanks for letting me cut loose, everyone.


------------------
My knob tastes funny.

[Diesel]

These people need to realize that you're a valuable resource in that lab, and treating you the way they have will only force you to look for employment elsewhere.
I'm sure they'll sing a very different tune when you're not there to bail them out.

OTOH, you could always do a 180 and tell them some of the things you wrote down here. I've dealt with PLENTY of disgruntled lab techs who've scolded someone and belittled them when they brought a virus back to the lab for the 4th time.
It was interesting to watch, and it kind of made an example of that one person to the rest of the people in the lab.

Not that I condone that sort of thing... http://www.aliensoup.com/ubb/smilies/wink.gif


------------------
From another BBS:
"hmm... Cyrix III, huh? You can put syrup on sh*t, but that don't make it pancakes."

[spidergoolash]

man, sounds like your having a *great* week. i wouldn't want your job, that's for sure.

i have found that most (NOT ALL - I REPEAT - NOT ALL) people over the age of, say 45, are, for lack of a better word - strange? nothing you can do about it - they just EXPECT certain things to be a certain way and there's no telling them anything different. i don't know ... i have more thoughts on the subject, but it would take up the whole page. comments anyone?

------------------
"it's easier to stay out than get out"

[Diesel]

Not a bad insight.
My father seems kinda set in his ways when it comes to computers. He's open to learning, but can't seem to allow new concepts into his head without struggling with them first.

My grandfather, OTOH, has been completely open to anything we're willing to teach him about computers and computing, although we don't go into anything but the most basic concepts with him.

Go figure...

------------------
From another BBS:
"hmm... Cyrix III, huh? You can put syrup on sh*t, but that don't make it pancakes."

[liltaz]

Actually, I seem to have gotten to know a totally different over 40 crowd than you. Most of the ones I know are fairly decent people. It's just those people who think everything should be done their way, they're always right and they're the supreme being.

[possum37]

One lady in particular who has caused us more headaches in the last 3 months than we've had the last 3 years we've been open seems to be understanding that she's misbehaving. Of course, now she's interacted with most of the school, and people flee the hallways when they see her turn a corner...http://www.aliensoup.com/ubb/smilies/lol.gif...

Sigh...at least I can laugh about it now. I still need a new job tho. (hint hint hint to any possible employers out there...)

----------------------------
My knob tastes funny.

[liltaz]

she's baaaaaack!

----------------------------
"The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too."

- Samuel Butler

[possum37]

This maniac has never gone away. She's in every other day and I'm getting really tired of hearing her stupid DialPad.com conversations.

I also don't get paid what I deserve so I'm just gonna crank the volume on Napster and ignore her...


----------------------------
My knob tastes funny.

[JHowse]

Sorry to hear that, Poss, and it really is a shame how some of these pastors/ministers to be are so rude. I'm so lucky to at least have a pastor I can go to who is down to Earth. Hell, he got on his motorcycle and took it up to bike week in Daytona. He wears a leisure suit, and doesn't care if it's out of style or not! http://www.aliensoup.com/ubb/smilies/lol.gif The man is at least down to earth and very caring of the people he ministers to. I even went to him with the ordeal I am going through, and he didn't condemn me or anything to the "flaaaaaaaaames of HELLLLLLLLLL!!!!" In fact, he told me I did the right thing by coming forward.

Anyway, back to what I was saying. There are just good people and bad people in every profession. The best thing to do is to seek out the good people and try your best to ignore the bad ones.

I bet you run a good lab, Poss, are a credit to your employers, and have a staff who looks up to you, immensely. Hang in there, dude.

[liltaz]

Don't hang in there...get the hell out!

The girl needs to get a calling card and quit being so cheap and so darned annoying.

YOu need to post a sign that says "No internet telephone sites allowed" and if she starts up dialpad tell her that she is not allowed to use that in the lab anymore. If she asks why, tell her that it's disruptive and it's a security risk.

----------------------------
"The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too."

- Samuel Butler

[possum37]

Man, this thread was posted a LONG time ago...

And yet DialPad lady still comes in here! And she has every day since...since...well, like the gay guy in "Airplane!" said:

First, the Earth cooled. And then the dinosaurs came. But they got too big and fat, so they all died, and they turned into oil.

And then DialPad lady came in. I wonder if she's homeless or something; she's here nearly all day (I heard from someone in another department that she was waiting first thing this AM to get into the building) and doesn't leave till close to closing time.

She's not *as* talkative as she used to be - but I think that's because she's now taking impromptu naps here in the lab...http://www.aliensoup.com/ubb/smilies/lol.gif...must be nice - I wish *I* could do that too http://www.aliensoup.com/ubb/smilies/lol.gif

Man, she's weird. And now she's just awakened from her nap, and is putting the headphones on again.

The characters I see come thru here...

------------------
My knob tastes funny.

[appleBOX.org]

possum37- I know exactly how you feel. I worked as a lab assistant last year and I could not believe the things that came out of other students mouths. You think older people are bad...try cranky, over-studied undergrad students. Now there is a handful. Most of the time I would just have to force myself to laugh it off. Once I started doing that it became more entertainment than frustration. People can be so pathetic sometimes. I wish you much luck! Don't let them bring ya down. Smile http://www.aliensoup.com/ubb/smilies/tongue.gif

[possum37]

How's that song go? Oh yeah..."ain't no sunshine when she's gone". Hee hee hee - that is SO not the case!

Poss laid the ol' smack down on DialPad lady today (can you smell what the Poss is cookin'?) and gave her The Ban™. If she wants to come back in early June and talk things over with me, she's welcome to, but for now, the thorn in our side has been removed.

Free at last, free at last...

------------------
My knob tastes funny.

[liltaz]

FINALLY!!! YAY! how long has taz been tellin ya to do that? YAY! hehe

------------------
Zoopy: D2B

[JHowse]

Oh, no! Not....The BAN!!!! Anything but that!!! http://www.aliensoup.com/ubb/smilies/supergrin.gif That's great, Poss. I'm glad you took care of the situation. http://www.aliensoup.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

------------------
Does driving a car from Saturn make me an alien?

I'm just a quick pee. - liltaz, fastest pee in the West!

That which does not make me barf, makes me stronger - possum37, fugly.net guru.

[KNSinatra]

You finally did it! ::hugs Possum:: Boy, I'd love to know the details of this one! http://www.aliensoup.com/ubb/smilies/supergrin.gif

------------------
monsieurjohn: we have 2 yaks on campus
KNSinatra: you lie.
monsieurjohn: no i don't. i don't know what they're doing here, but they're real.

En fuego, bebe.

[liltaz]

I'd like to know those details too! hehe

------------------
Zoopy: D2B

[possum37]

In a nutshell, I basically shamed her for completely disobeying the rules & regulations I had specifically and explicitly explained to her last Thursday (the rules & regs she broke 2 days later). She babbled and basically showed she wasn't listening to me, which I brought up - that she never listens - and after our 30 minute "conversation" (and 6 or 7 times I mentioned "your computer lab priviledges are revoked"), she finally started crying, picked up her stuff, and left.

I was kind enough to berate her in a study room, rather than embarass her in front of others - although when she said "innocently" that "I didn't do that", I did have to take her out into the lab, fire up a PC, and show her how mistaken she was. And when she started talking, I said loudly, "No - don't talk, just look at this lie." I think that embarassed her...hee hee hee...

She had an excuse for everything I said, but I held my ground, and told her *I'm* the one who makes policy, so she best respect the Poss. Well, not in those words, but you know. Berated her for lying; being deceitful; disrespecting the lab, the patrons, the workers, and myself; I basically let her have it on many a front, and *still* I wasn't as mean & nasty as I *could* have been.

I've never had to use my managerial power like that before (and I've got - gee, 6+ years of managerial experience under my belt now) but I think I could get used to it.

I think I wanna be a bad-ass! http://www.aliensoup.com/ubb/smilies/supergrin.gif

------------------
My knob tastes funny.

[liltaz]

Poss ... you have finally proven to me that you *can* be a bad arse http://www.aliensoup.com/ubb/smilies/lol.gif but I don't think this can happen often...it's just not you.

------------------
Zoopy: D2B

[meezercat]

Feels good, doesn't it Poss?

I had a few times when I was a lifeguard/pool manager that I had to be a hard-ass, and it was kind of fun http://www.aliensoup.com/ubb/smilies/supergrin.gif