• (cs)

    Yeah, and no need to worry about the "Power" light being on either.

  • $|i(3_x (unregistered)

    Is it labeled, "FIST"? Then leave it alone.

  • (cs)

    Although the datacenter tech would ideally know what the ACT light means, it is otherwise better for the tech to include as much information about the problem then to ignore the fact that the big-red-error light is on just because the sleepy support person didn't think to ask about it.

  • Alex (unregistered)

    The real WTF is that they did not have bonded interface on that server. For, well in case one of the cables fail.

  • (cs)

    When does Part 2 of the story, in which a wtf occurs, come out? So far all we have is a typical datacenter story about a problem being identified and solved.

  • guids? lol? seriously? (unregistered)

    eh. The guy was probably freakin out, and sometimes when your freakin out, you make an ass of yourself - with something like forgetting the lights.

  • JG (unregistered)

    This is why the tier one guys get paid very little. Not much of a WTF here, this is why you have the guys who know WTF they're doing on CALL in the first place.

  • dolle (unregistered)

    The quality of this site is seriously starting to drop. Come on, forgetting to turn off the lights isn't a major WTF, it's something I could imagine myself doing if I'd been at work till 4:50 in the morning, while being stressed out by angry customers.

  • fregas (unregistered)

    Yeah Alex. You can do better than that.

  • (cs) in reply to dolle
    dolle:
    The quality of this site is seriously starting to drop. Come on, forgetting to turn off the lights isn't a major WTF, it's something I could imagine myself doing if I'd been at work till 4:50 in the morning, while being stressed out by angry customers.
    No one forgot to turn them off, they were off... the guy walked into a dark room and was asked to look for something and lacked either the common sense or initiative to turn them on.
  • (cs) in reply to $|i(3_x
    $|i(3_x:
    Is it labeled, "FIST"? Then leave it alone.
    Except in your case, it would be "MISSED".
  • (cs)

    Seriously, if you're complaining about the "quality" of the WTFs -- go out and do something stupid so someone can submit it and we can have another reason to laugh at you.

    He's not making these up; he can only work with what's submitted. Think of all the stuff he has to read through that's worse or less interesting than this. At least the fact that the guy was too dim to know he was in the dark sets it apart a little and elevates the guy to a WTF-level of stupidity.

  • (cs)

    When we got to the part about the lights, I was really worried that this was going to turn out to be an obfuscated rework of the old story of the support caller who can't see anything on the screen, can't see the electric cable, can't turn on the lights, all because there's a power outage and gets told to box up the computer and return it to the store because he's too stupid to own a computer.

  • (cs) in reply to BlueKnot

    Except for one recently where we were shown just how different the posted WTF is from the original submission. So maybe the "lights were off" is part of the added jest for humor and never really happened in the first place.

    I hereby veto this WTF and will quietly wait for tomorrows. I also expect a lack of WTF's the following day(s). Let Alex get some time off.

  • Tom Woolf (unregistered) in reply to BlueKnot
    BlueKnot:
    dolle:
    The quality of this site is seriously starting to drop. Come on, forgetting to turn off the lights isn't a major WTF, it's something I could imagine myself doing if I'd been at work till 4:50 in the morning, while being stressed out by angry customers.
    No one forgot to turn them off, they were off... the guy walked into a dark room and was asked to look for something and lacked either the common sense or initiative to turn them on.

    On top of that, the moron could not grasp the concept that only by wiggling the wire did it work, and then he argued with the person he called for help and advice. Then the guy did not understand what "ACT" meant on that type of equipment? (OK - that last one could be a major training issue, not the guy's fault...)

  • PoorContractorAtInternetGiant (unregistered) in reply to FredSaw

    That would be standard BOFH procedure!

    FredSaw:
    When we got to the part about the lights, I was really worried that this was going to turn out to be an obfuscated rework of the old story of the support caller who can't see anything on the screen, can't see the electric cable, can't turn on the lights, all because there's a power outage and gets told to box up the computer and return it to the store because he's too stupid to own a computer.
  • (cs)

    Hmm, an orange box you say? Was it attached to an orange cable?

  • evilghost (unregistered)

    The WTF is there is no WTF. That's how Alex get's you; in this case the WTF is you.

  • (cs)

    So in summary, this is a tech who: -is too dumb-witted to figure out to turn on the lights to see a bright orange box -thinks that an intermittent network cxn = a good network cxn -argues with Tier II support who is actually trying to FIX the problem -doesn't know what a network card activity light is for

    Yep, that's a firin'

    /reminded me of the old blonde/brunette robbers joke... They rob a bank, brunette is driving and tells the blonde to look out for cops following them. The blonde sees one and the brunette asks "are his lights on?" to which the blonde replies "Yes... no... yes... no... yes... "

  • (cs)

    Orange box?

    [image]
  • Franz Kafka (unregistered) in reply to Toger
    Toger:
    Although the datacenter tech would ideally know what the ACT light means, it is otherwise better for the tech to include as much information about the problem then to ignore the fact that the big-red-error light is on just because the sleepy support person didn't think to ask about it.

    Ideally? If he's been there any length of time, he had better know. also, if someone argued with me about the cable, I'd tell him to cut the head off the cable until he did it.

  • Sgt. Preston (unregistered)

    Would someone please take pity on the benighted among us who don't work in a data centre and tell what 'ACT' means?

  • Ben (unregistered) in reply to Sgt. Preston
    Sgt. Preston:
    Would someone please take pity on the benighted among us who don't work in a data centre and tell what 'ACT' means?
    "Activity". That is, "stuff's going on".
  • Sgt. Preston (unregistered) in reply to Ben

    Thank you, Ben.

  • ah (unregistered)

    Here I thought it was going in the direction where the "other problem" to solve was caused by whatever device the tech jacked the replacement cable from...

  • Honest Opinion (unregistered) in reply to dolle
    dolle:
    The quality of this site is seriously starting to drop. Come on, forgetting to turn off the lights isn't a major WTF, it's something I could imagine myself doing if I'd been at work till 4:50 in the morning, while being stressed out by angry customers.

    This site jumped the shark when "The Daily WTF" became "Worse Than Failure". I think the site is named after it's mission statement.

  • Vark (unregistered) in reply to evilghost
    evilghost:
    The WTF is there is no WTF. That's how Alex get's you; in this case the WTF is you.
    Brillant! A meta-WTF!
  • (cs) in reply to gabba
    gabba:
    When does Part 2 of the story, in which a wtf occurs, come out? So far all we have is a typical datacenter story about a problem being identified and solved.

    I thought it was going to be when he got another call 5 minutes later because another website was down, and it would be traced to the running server the operator took the his replacement cable from.

  • (cs) in reply to Honest Opinion
    Pompous Asshole:
    dolle:
    The quality of this site is seriously starting to drop. Come on, forgetting to turn off the lights isn't a major WTF, it's something I could imagine myself doing if I'd been at work till 4:50 in the morning, while being stressed out by angry customers.

    This site jumped the shark when "The Daily WTF" became "Worse Than Failure". I think the site is named after it's mission statement.

    Considering this is a user driven site I believe the worst failures are the people complaining about the site sucking and doing nothing about it.

  • (cs) in reply to Ben
    Ben:
    Sgt. Preston:
    Would someone please take pity on the benighted among us who don't work in a data centre and tell what 'ACT' means?
    "Activity". That is, "stuff's going on".
    And 'WAN' is short for "Wanker". Yes, one is an acronym and the other is the first three letters of the word. I guess they could actually label the light "Activity", but then it wouldn't sound all fancy and technical like 'ACT'.
  • Flippit (unregistered)
    "But the network cable's not the problem," argued a defiant Dave, "it works when I move the cable to the side a bit."

    After five minutes of arguing, bargaining, begging, and pleading, Cid finally got Dave to switch the cable. It fixed the problem, so Cid tried to wrap up the call.

    BZZZT!! You deserve to waste time "arguing, bargaining, begging, and pleading."

    Try this one next time:

    "But the network cable's not the problem," argued a defiant Dave, "it works when I move the cable to the side a bit."

    You: "Great. Just hold the cable there."

    (pause)

    Dave: "How long am I supposed to hold it?"

    You: "For as long as you want the network to work. Or you could just replace the cable with a good one. Listen, I have a call on the other line and since the network is working, I'm going to let you go. Thanks, man." (click)

  • Stupidumb (unregistered)

    Ya Alex, this story sucks. I hate you. I could have solved the problem in my sleep! If I wanted to, I could even start my own software company. Did you know I can do a back flip? Make me laugh harder. I DESERVE BETTER ENTERTAINMENT. I will let it slide this time...

  • (cs) in reply to CodeRage
    CodeRage:
    And 'WAN' is short for "Wanker". Yes, one is an acronym and the other is the first three letters of the word. I guess they could actually label the light "Activity", but then it wouldn't sound all fancy and technical like 'ACT'.

    Most likely they can't label it "Activity" because there's only room for three letters.

    Maybe you should use more brains and less rage in the future.

  • (cs) in reply to Flippit
    Flippit:
    "But the network cable's not the problem," argued a defiant Dave, "it works when I move the cable to the side a bit."

    After five minutes of arguing, bargaining, begging, and pleading, Cid finally got Dave to switch the cable. It fixed the problem, so Cid tried to wrap up the call.

    BZZZT!! You deserve to waste time "arguing, bargaining, begging, and pleading."

    Try this one next time:

    "But the network cable's not the problem," argued a defiant Dave, "it works when I move the cable to the side a bit."

    You: "Great. Just hold the cable there."

    (pause)

    Dave: "How long am I supposed to hold it?"

    You: "For as long as you want the network to work. Or you could just replace the cable with a good one. Listen, I have a call on the other line and since the network is working, I'm going to let you go. Thanks, man." (click)

    Observe, student, a master at his craft!
  • Kinglink (unregistered) in reply to dolle
    dolle:
    The quality of this site is seriously starting to drop. Come on, forgetting to turn off the lights isn't a major WTF, it's something I could imagine myself doing if I'd been at work till 4:50 in the morning, while being stressed out by angry customers.

    I was waiting for the power to be off at the building.... Sadly disappointed.

  • (cs)

    I think this WTF was a fake lead-up to past WTFs.

    He can't find the server... OMG someone moved it! It's dark in the room... I bet the electricity went out! Everyone is bitching like a bunch of superfags... nothing new there!

  • Ytram (unregistered) in reply to KattMan
    KattMan:
    Except for one recently where we were shown just how different the posted WTF is from the original submission. So maybe the "lights were off" is part of the added jest for humor and never really happened in the first place.

    I hereby veto this WTF and will quietly wait for tomorrows. I also expect a lack of WTF's the following day(s). Let Alex get some time off.

    I hardly read the comments on this site any more, but which article did someone compare the original submission to the published article? I'd like to see the difference.

  • (cs) in reply to Zylon
    Zylon:
    CodeRage:
    And 'WAN' is short for "Wanker". Yes, one is an acronym and the other is the first three letters of the word. I guess they could actually label the light "Activity", but then it wouldn't sound all fancy and technical like 'ACT'.

    Most likely they can't label it "Activity" because there's only room for three letters.

    Maybe you should use more brains and less rage in the future.

    Or use smaller letters, duh!

  • (cs) in reply to akatherder
    akatherder:
    Everyone is bitching like a bunch of superfags... nothing new there!
    Could you elaborate on the bitching of a bunch of superfags as compared with that of a bunch of ordinary fags?
  • cake (unregistered) in reply to Dark Shikari
    Dark Shikari:
    Orange box?

    [image]

    The cake is a lie!

  • (cs) in reply to BlueKnot
    BlueKnot:
    Seriously, if you're complaining about the "quality" of the WTFs -- go out and do something stupid so someone can submit it and we can have another reason to laugh at you.

    He's not making these up; he can only work with what's submitted. Think of all the stuff he has to read through that's worse or less interesting than this. At least the fact that the guy was too dim to know he was in the dark sets it apart a little and elevates the guy to a WTF-level of stupidity.

    He never took the one about SMART data being counted in 64-minute hours. I thought that way really funny.

  • Mark (unregistered)

    What do you bet the front-line guy kept the cable around to reuse later?

  • bah (unregistered)

    -Doesn't know to turn on the light to look for the orange box -Try to fix cable by moving it

    Come on ppl.. This is obviously a fake.. Someone with that kind of intelligence probably doesn't even know to look for the right person to call for help.

  • Anon (unregistered)

    The real WTF is whiny-assed crybabies who subscribe to this site's premium service and would rather cry and grizzle and groan all day long, rather than doing the intelligent thing and demanding their money back.

    After all, if you're paying to be entertained life is too short to moan about it.

  • (cs) in reply to Ytram
    Ytram:
    KattMan:
    Except for one recently where we were shown just how different the posted WTF is from the original submission. So maybe the "lights were off" is part of the added jest for humor and never really happened in the first place.

    I hereby veto this WTF and will quietly wait for tomorrows. I also expect a lack of WTF's the following day(s). Let Alex get some time off.

    I hardly read the comments on this site any more, but which article did someone compare the original submission to the published article? I'd like to see the difference.

    It is in the How everyone builds in post: http://worsethanfailure.com/Articles/It%e2%80%99s-How-Everyone-Builds-It.aspx The original is here: http://evenworsethanfailure.blogspot.com/

  • jtl (unregistered) in reply to KattMan

    Looks like they just removed superfluous information. Who gives a shit if the guy was a good or bad programmer, (other than the trolls who post here), the fun was in the ridiculousness of the manager, which was still conveyed without having to read a novel. The story wasn't supposed to be about the guy, it's about his manager, he's just being vain because he didn't come across as the guru he wanted to.

  • wait what (unregistered) in reply to Anon
    Anon:
    The real WTF is whiny-assed crybabies who subscribe to this site's premium service and would rather cry and grizzle and groan all day long, rather than doing the intelligent thing and demanding their money back.

    After all, if you're paying to be entertained life is too short to moan about it.

    The real WTF is that this site has a premium service. O_o

  • (cs) in reply to wait what
    wait what:
    The real WTF is that this site has a premium service. O_o
    No... that's an unreal WTF.

    If you want the real WTF's, you have to sign up.

  • J (unregistered)

    Here's a little IM conversation between my buddy (b) and myself (m) regarding this post:

    b: did you read wtf today? m: nope, going... [time passes] m: lol "initrode" b: i did not get that m: name of one of the companies in Office Space b: ahhh m: I think Dave should be fired b: Dave who? m: did you read wtf today?

  • Theo (unregistered) in reply to Stupidumb
    Stupidumb:
    Ya Alex, this story sucks. I hate you. I could have solved the problem in my sleep! If I wanted to, I could even start my own software company. Did you know I can do a back flip? Make me laugh harder. I DESERVE BETTER ENTERTAINMENT. I will let it slide this time...
    That post made my day, thanks. Good you were there because frankly this WTF is just... <bonk>

Leave a comment on “Leave That One Alone”

Log In or post as a guest

Replying to comment #:

Log Out

« Return to Article