work idiots, buck passers and finger pointers

@dawnald (85135)
Shingle Springs, California
August 25, 2009 11:19am CST
Sunday I was on call and got a problem regarding an online screen error. We had just implemented some new code, but this was puzzling since the screen that was the problem was not anything to do with code that we modified. I looked at the data and determined that there was nothing in the data that should be causing this particular error. We then proceeded to try and track down our resident expert on that particular system to get an opinion. His response was, "I'm nowhere near a computer and I'm not on call. Call so and so." So we not only called so and so, but also one other person in his group, both of whom were very nice and willing to discuss the problem. We came up with a solution and all agreed upon it. Well the solution did not work, and yesterday the guy we first called who wouldn't take our call told us that it wouldn't work, why it wouldn't work and assigned the problem over to us. If the idiot had been willing to take 5 minutes out of his day to talk to us, he could have told us that it wouldn't work and we would have tried something else. Now he's pointing fingers in our direction for doing the wrong thing. My reply to him started out, "what a shame that we weren't able to have a conversation about this on Sunday. I did call so and so on your recommendation and also so and so and we agreed on a resolution." Gosh I sure hope I wasn't RUDE. Do you hate people who are deliberately unhelpful and then point fingers?
4 people like this
8 responses
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
25 Aug 09
I run in to that here in the Ozarks...seems like they try to be as vague as possible and then stand back and inwardly laugh their butts off when you can't figure it out. Directions are impossible to understand and if you ask a cashier or customer service person about something you get the expression.
2 people like this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
25 Aug 09
He wouldn't even take the call and give us directions, that's the thing!
@babyangie27 (5176)
• United States
25 Aug 09
This guy sounds like a pompous jerk IMO. Sorry but this really bugs me. People who do this drive me nuts. OK so you were too busy to take time out and help fix this problem and now because we did the best we could you want to point fingers instead of owning up to the fact you were just too busy to lend 5 minutes to anyone? I don't think you were rude enough LOL. By the way Kudos for the title love it.
2 people like this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
25 Aug 09
Pompous jerk is right. I didn't want to be as rude as he deserves because it's a lousy economy and I kind of need my job. But if I don't get help in resolving this, his boss is going to get an earful!!!
2 people like this
• United States
26 Aug 09
not as much as i hate people who take credit when you figure out a successful solution yourself.i had a boss that would be the first to point fingers if something F'd up..and the first to take credit when back patting was called for.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
26 Aug 09
There was a programmer there who was notorious for that. Stole ideas from everybody and everybody who didn't know thought he had such great ideas!
• United States
25 Aug 09
Yeah i have run into people like this at just about every job i have ever had.... Of course he was all too happy once on the clock to let you know just how easily he COULD have helped you IF he had felt like it....geesh....does anyone ever remember that there is a customer in there somewhere that is getting the short end of the stick because you couldnt spare a minute of your time? Sure its not his problem on his day off...but when the customers get mad and leave and the company goes out of business he will have EVERY day off then.....
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
25 Aug 09
Well the customers are internal, but it does affect our brokers who are external customers. Anyway, if he had just taken the 5 minutes to talk to us, we would have pursued a different solution.
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
25 Aug 09
I am an analyst for a health insurance company. I work on enhancements for their billing and broker systems.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
25 Aug 09
YES, very much so & ALSO PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY KNOW everything.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
25 Aug 09
or even worse, people who think they know everything but they can't be bothered to help you with what they know.... lol
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
25 Aug 09
I'm sending evil thoughts towards one like that right now!
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
25 Aug 09
tHAT'S what i was talking about. Can't stand people like that.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
25 Aug 09
It is not only annoying but very unprofessional - not to help a colleague in the work place. What a piece of work. One thing that I learnt to do over the years was to ask the person in a very soft and pleasant tone - also with a smile - if they meant to be so unkind. They usually become flustered.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
25 Aug 09
I wish I were in the same office as he is so that I could do that. In front of people... OK maybe not in front of people...
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
25 Aug 09
lmao Maybe I can get Jack to do it for me. Jack will do almost anything for a large diet Coke from McDonald's! :-)
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
25 Aug 09
Yes, it MUST be done in front of people with plenty of smiles. The voice must be soft and gentle and possibly, a little bewildered. Milk it!
1 person likes this
25 Aug 09
Hi dawnald, Sorry to hear you had problems, but this so and so seems a bigger problem then the problem itself, lol. . Tamara
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
25 Aug 09
I'm laughing because I was just able to prove that it was the OLD code that caused a problem so I am having it reassigned right back to the finger pointer. lol
@savypat (20216)
• United States
25 Aug 09
Most likely this is the result of feeling a little guilt, many people react to that by defense type actions of pointing the finger at someone else. You are right it's a waste of time all around. Hope you can point this out to him when he is in a more receptive mind set.
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
25 Aug 09
I don't talk to this person unless I absolutely have to on business!!!