So I’m now a week and a half old at my new gig and I feel that this was a great move. The people here are friendly, the atmosphere is comfortable, the commute is a couple minutes closer – all positive things – as Jim Gates says: “I’m a Lucky Man!”
There has been one, specific learning experience for me in these two short weeks: a loss of self-control — on my computer.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the fact that I’m ‘Back in Mac’ (hmmm…. seems I should/could make a great AC/DC song parody with that) but I have lost control of my machine. No, it hasn’t developed a mind of its own like iRobot or HAL 9000 – I’m simply not allowed to ‘administer’ it any more. I know, I know, many of you have never had control over your work machines so what’s the big deal? I’ve always had control (over my computer) and I think that maybe I’ve taken that for granted.
Back in my support days, I always had to deal with users (I hate that word) on many different levels – many of them that I’d surreptitiously allow certain access (don’t quote me – I’ll deny it) and others I wouldn’t dream of allowing any sort of access for fear of an enterprise-wide melt down.
Well, I’m now one of the masses – and it has not been easy getting used to it. Sooner or later I’ll develop a work flow so that this loss of control will not affect me in such dire ways, but for now, it’s a struggle. I now, for sure, know what it’s like to ‘walk in someone else’s shoes.’ I’d always thought about it – but now I’m living it. (I know, ’suck it up and stop complaining, Dave!’)
I’ll learn to deal with it, albeit slowly.
I did have a horrible thought: they say when one moves to the Dark Side (administration/management) that one loses their faculties. Perhaps The Force has recognized this change and is starting to put up barriers to impede my developing soon-to-be-destructive tendencies? Up until now, my wife has been able to handle that.
Perhaps I’m developing DAD’s syndrome: Degenerative Administrator’s Disease? (My wife tells me I’m more and more like my father everyday.) Come to think of it, I do have the urge to chase kids out of my yard while waving a stick at them. D@mn kids — get off my lawn!
I guess it starts with a loss of control over your computer, then from what I understand, it affects the body and the mind.
So if you see me at NECC with a Metamucil shake and a bottle of Ginko Biloba, steer clear – especially if I’m holding a stick.
An Addendum…
The similarities of this blog post to other blogs is purely intentional. As I was cutting the lawn and reflecting on the above reflection, (yes i forgot to add music to my iPod) it came to me that this post was inspired by the Principals Page Blog. I’m sure their are similarities. So check it out for yourself – it’s much funnier than mine! 
Tags: administration, get off my lawn, ginko biloba, loss of control
Thanks for the mention. PrincipalsPage.com looooves the free publicity. Sorry about going 3rd person.
You are very welcome. I can’t tell you how many times you’ve made me smile over there. I hope others will visit also.
Cheers!
You’ve got a ways to go. Our school gives all the teachers full admin rights over their macbooks. The difference may be in the fact that our tech guy is first and foremost a teacher – NOT a techie Techies lock down. Teacher enable.
I can tell you that I could not nor WOULD NOT work with that computer at ANY time other than office hours. And, I would lobby weekly to get that policy revoked.
Good luck.
Jim — Thank you for your support. I have faith that the conversation is in the works.