Don't cloud the issue with facts!!!
You know, working in the IT field can sometimes be rewarding, and other times it can be just a tad frustrating. I very much enjoy working with clients that may or may not know about the Internet and the associated technologies, but want to learn. Then on the other hand there are those that don't know, will never know, should never know. You know, people like Jerry Taylor, city manager for Tuttle, OK. It seems that there was a server issue with the City of Tuttle's website, (a little tech insight here, the server is the computer run by the website hosting company, bear with me it will get clearer in a second, unless of course your name is Jerry Taylor.) Well Jerry went-a-surfing one day, and landed on the City website, which had a Linux Test page instead of the wonderfully crafted home page of the thriving metropolis of Tuttle.
Well Jerry seems to be a take no gruff kinda guy and he fired off the following to the company listed on that test page. (The company listed is CentOS, the developers of the Apache Linux server operating system for the server being run by the hosting company that is supposed to be hosting the site for the thriving metropolis of Tuttle, OK.......)
Well he did say please, didn't he? Well old Jerry got a response from the folks at CentOS, I like it, short and to the point, containing all of the information needed to correct the problem.
Well, that just didn't do it, in three more Jerryisms he managed to type the following:
Later he added,
"I have four computers located at City Hall. All of these computers display the same CentOS page when attempting to bring up Tuttle-ok.gov. Now if your software is not causing this problem, how does it happen??? No one outside this building has complained about this problem. This is a block of public access to a city's website. Remove your software within the next 12 hours or an official complaint to the FBI is being filed!"
And later,
"I am computer literate! I have 22 years in computer systems engineering and operation. Now, can you tell me how to remove 'your software' that you acknowledge you provided free of charge? I consider this 'hacking.'"
The short of the story is this. The folks at CentOS tried on several occasions to point Jerry in the right direction, but for some reason, maybe the accent in the emails, he just didn't get it. If you have the chance take a peak at the entire email tread here.
You would think that that would be it, right? Nooooooooo, it seems as word spread of the IT talent being hidden in the plains of Oklahoma, Jerry has been swamped with emails by people trying to help him out of his jam. In the following it almost seems as if I sense a bit of testiness amide the drawl.
Now I am being flooded with emails from CentOS users that after knowing the answer say the problem was simple. I think this is unjustified and would like for this to stop. Your website should provide useful information and be a credit to the IT world. I do not believe it should be used to incite the users. Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.
Oh that Jerry, he's quite the charmer, makes me think of pampers for some reason.......
