BOFH vs PFY: There can be only one (on the exes chit) So the Boss has a bit of funding that he doesn't know what to do with. Okay, the Boss always has funding he doesn't know/understand what to do with, but this time it's different. The company has decided to allocate out "Professional Development" funds to key areas of the business to permit a staff member to receive advanced …
... would work out that if he can divide, he can conquer, because the BOFH and PFY would be too busy fighting each other to organise an accident for him. When the BOFH comes back from his fun and games, he could announce the availability of the next bit of junket budget.
Of course, he might still get caught in the crossfire.
They did have one a while back who was clued up and acted as part of the team. I think he got a new job elsewhere though, one of the few who escaped safely.
Of course, the really smart one would be able to disguise his intelligence until after he got the job. Think hunting elephants with a spear - it can be done but it's dangerous and the squish potential is quite high. This appeals to a particular mindset.
That was far too easy. It was all over in about five minutes, not enough time for the usual scheming and plotting. It's very rare for me to say this, and I'm normally not the type to grumble, but this is probably the first BoFH that didn't even make me smile and I've read every one I can get my hands on both on el reg and elsewhere.
I know its free and everything, I'm just disappointed that a much loved series of stories isn't being done justice. I'd rather Simon call it a day than keep going if his heart isn't really in it anymore, that isn't fair to the readers and it certainly isn't fair to him.
Oh and before anyone says "If you don't like it don't read it", I didn't know I was going to dislike this story until I read it and if the next couple are similarly disappointing I probably won't bother reading the new episodes in the future. Simon has still come out with some gems on occasion of late, I won't deny that, I'm hoping this is just a dry streak.
The BOFH was outBOFH'd by an outsider a couple of years ago... that episode and the subsequent, swift revenge are probably my favorite articles ever.
Of course, the PFY still has too much to learn before he can attempt something so bold, although it's unlikely that he lives until the time he gets enough experience
That was a nice touch on this week's BOFH web page .... the carrying of a situations vacant advertisement for an "IT Security Exploitation Officer" in MI5. Presumably that is .milspeak for a crack hacker and super duper spooky person, both of which are as rare as hens' teeth and an even rarer find whenever seamlessly combined in the one excellent agent.
"...has about the same enthusiasm attached to it as the 13th pint at the end of a long night; " ...... :-) That had me chuckling and recalling the experience which the wisdom of hindsight ensures is an exercise unlikely to be repeated, and certainly not with the same enthusiasm as delivered it in a misguided youth, in one's more advanced years. An experience which it appears Simon has sampled, given the oh so accurate description of its pathetic charm. :-)
I wonder if The Jay and Craig 28 are PFY types?
"Yeah. About how the US dumps nuclear waste into Tank-Buster shells to expend on countries that don't let them steal all their assets. So they can steal all their assets. Anyway now that avenue is running out they're using the waste to make super-hard components for various appliances – your monitor included. We tried the monitors for a while but it didn't work out." .... Ouch, that's a mighty cruel low blow, but impossible to avoid whenever thoroughly deserved. Do you think that is what really upset the PFY types?
I was thinking of adding my voice to the "too short" criticisms..then I remember those old Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom shows...and how in Nature combat for survival is often quick and brutal, with lightning-fast feints and counterfeints, where the victor is decided (and reaps the rewards) in mere moments.
or perhaps I'm just remembering Jackie Chan's older, Chinese-produced Kung Fu films..but I digress...
Ultimately, this episode was an unflinching, uncensored view into the savageness of Office Survival. The Quick and the Dead.
Perhaps a warning to the kiddies that it might be too scary would have been in order? :)
The Register 
Biting the hand that feeds IT
Copyright. All rights reserved © 1998–2024
