What’s Really Ugly Is The Stupidity

The way our system is set up, any employee can work from any workstation, as the devices on the workstations are all linked to the server where the actual system is located.

One day, we have a colleague over from another branch.

Colleague #1: “Can you please help me? I can’t log in.”

Me: “What message do you get?”

Colleague #1: “I don’t know.”

I go over to see what the computer tells us.

Computer: “Server not found.”

This particular workplace has a bunch of sockets maybe a meter off the actual device, with an ugly LAN cable hanging between the only working socket and the computer. Said cable is suspiciously missing.

Me: “You can’t connect because the Ethernet cable is missing.”

I’m looking around, wondering who took it this time. Another colleague shows up, opens a cabinet, and hands us the missing cable.

Colleague #2: “The manager was over a few days back and told me to put it away as it looks ugly, which is bad for the upcoming audit, which in turn means a lower bonus.”

Our branch splits the bonus earned during audits among all employees, so it isn’t just the manager’s money on the line.

Colleague #1: “I don’t understand. What’s wrong?”

Me: “The finance department is doing IT’s job. If a cable is ugly, you ask IT for a new one instead of just unplugging everything and asking why the computer’s broken.”

Colleague #1: “But you fixed it now!”