Gold Chainers and MCSEs

[giza]

When I wrote the last post, I was trying to figure out what was with MCSEs. At least the clueless ones that I loathe, who really don't know much about computers but act like they do. (Not necessarily including you in this statement, Orca)

Then I stumbled across this post on Slashdot where a poster responded to someone complaining about SGI machines with something to the effect of, "this, this, and this are all FAQs and easily solved. You did not check the FAQs, did you?" Then he compared the parent poster with a "gold chainers". He describes Gold Chainers at "Lottery winners will abuse their high performance cars and then complain when something goes wrong ("stupid imported piece of junk!")."

Now, my experience with clueless MCSEs has also been that they are in it for the money (you even hear this on radio commercials saying how you can make $60K as an MCSE with no computer experience), and not because of a love of computers or an aptitude with them. I'm not sure if it's fair to call them "the Gold Chainers of the IT industry", but there certainly are some comparisons that can be made. Hmm, something to think about.

Comments

[zenmouse.livejournal.com]

I haven't met so many MCSEs as I have met people 'becoming' one. None that I've met seemed to have a hobbist's interest in computers. Take that as you will.

[orca-and-mommy.livejournal.com]

Bingo! :-) That's one of the big differences. Those who have had computers and/or electronics as a hobby from childhood make some of the best techs out there. (They generally give a crap about what they do and take the time to do the necessary research and testing before implementing a solution.)

My 6th birthday present was my very first soldering iron. (An old 25W Weller with a red handle.) So either I had an interest early on, or my parents thought I ought to have my own electric pyro plug-in pencil. ;-)

I got my MCSE because I *wanted* to get it. I didn't get a pay raise after nor was is a mandatory requirement for my job, but it *did* open some VERY nice doors later on.

Orca _)\_

[orca-and-mommy.livejournal.com]

Don't sweat it. :-) I hate a lot of MCSE's and I'm and MCSE myself. ;-)

Orca _)\_

[giza.livejournal.com]

>There are stupid MCSE's out there, granted. But far from everyone. The one's I
>know here, knows probably more about programming, computers, hardware than both of
>us know. So there.

Maybe it's different in my country. Over here, we regularly have ads on heavy metal radio stations (consider the target audience here) telling people how, with no experience in computers, they can get an MCSE and make $60K a year. I think that sort of advertisement appeals to peoples' sense of greed, rather then getting people to do things they're actually good at.

I read Slashdot regularly, and there are regularly all sorts of disparaging remarks about MCSEs, such as in the post I linked to in a previous LJ entry.

>You generalize waaaaay too much dude, also goes for your intepretation that all
>furs should know what AC is, and who Uncle Kage is. Fortunately I happened to
>know what AC was? But not Uncle Kage.

I think that you are one of the few furs I've talked to who did not know who he is. Seriously. Based on my prior experiences, I would say that I had a reasonable expectation that most (but not necessarily all) furs knew who he was, no?