ad tedium
It seems that no matter where I go in my career, having to do repeatative tasks never is far behind. Maybe I kid myself to think that I have gotten beyond the laborer class.
At work, I was annoyed that what I was doing was mostly useless because I could be replaced by a very simple shell script. I was going down two lists of parts, making sure that they matched. I did feel slightly smug because I had pushed two computers together, and was running both mice, scrolling through the lists, comparing the excel sheet to the main system. Unlike excel, the system that we use to keep track of our parts has one weakness: the mouse scroll wheel has no effect.
I wanted to make sure that the problem wasn’t with me, so I sent an email to our support people:
The scroll wheel on my mouse has no effect in [this program]. Is this a problem with my system and settings or is simply a feature of [the program]?
Either way, how can I make the scroll wheel move the displayed data so I don’t have to click the arrows on the scroll bar?
Thank in advance,
—Tobias
Well, ok, maybe I knew the answer already; so the reply didn’t surprise me too much:
[the program] doesn’t work with a scroll wheel.
Maybe you don’t use a scroll wheel all the time, or at all, but I do. That way, rather than going over and finding the little buttons, you just move your finger–without taking your eyes off your work–and you can make the display change. This became a standard feature in the late 90’s. This program is a main pillar in many huge companies. They pay people large amounts of money to interact with it. And it is lacking basic modern functionality. Good thing I’m paid by the hour! I get paid to stop what I am doing, move my mouse over to a tiny button or slider, interact with it precisely, and then go back to work. Sure it only take a moment. But hundreds of time a day, hundreds of users…I’d expect better from the system. Not like the rest is polished, but a scroll wheel seems obvious these days.
So, I am annoyed by the tedious tasks. The little things that I do, over and over that I really don’t have to. And as I scanned down a list of parts…”this assembly, and it’s components…yep, matches this list…” it reminded me of some other lists. See, I’ve been reading Ezekiel lately, the end of it, and it goes into great detail about the temple, the dimensions, the chambers, each level, the walkways and gates…kind of like Exodus, with the tabernacle “…forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards, two sockets under one board for its two tenons and two sockets under another board for its two tenons;” It struck me: if God thought it worthwhile to put all these detail in, and have scribes copy it over and over for millennia, maybe I should be ok with a little repetition. Sure, I’m not building a temple, a house for the glory of God to dwell, but my life and my work should show His glory. Even while making extra clicks, if that is what I have to do to get the job done.
July 19th, 2007 at 9:54 am
“And it is lacking basic modern functionality.”
1.) Programmer’s are essentially lazy.
2.) Adding even basic functionality to be a big, expensive program runs counter to the essence of “lazy.”
QED
And honestly, even when we aren’t lazy, a lot of times “just adding this one thing” is so much more expensive that good businesses don’t let their programmers add it.
July 19th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
You should try working at Lowen. For one of my jobs, I have to load items off a slow-moving conveyor belt for hours on end. I could be replaced by a properly inclined table. At least I have time to think.
July 23rd, 2007 at 1:50 pm
A famous man once said: “We landed on the moon almost 40 years ago and we are still washing dishes by hand!” Drudgery reigns! Tedium rocks!
July 27th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
Are you still working on some form of protest for the casino vote? I liked the idea yo u presented. Are you familiar with the web site nocasinoshere.org?
August 1st, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Yes! This Saturday at 4pm, in front of the Library. That is a good site, thanks!
December 3rd, 2009 at 9:54 am
Thank you,
very interesting article
December 6th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Nicely article
December 29th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Hello!!! tobias.digennaros.com is one of the most outstanding informational websites of its kind. I take advantage of reading it every day. Keep it that way.
January 20th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
thank you, very interesting idea
January 23rd, 2010 at 5:34 pm
The author of tobias.digennaros.com has written an excellent article. You have made your point and there is not much to argue about. It is like the following universal truth that you can not argue with: There is no such thing as a tiger. Thanks for the info.
February 11th, 2010 at 11:52 pm
I am to a great extent impressed with the article I have just read. I wish the author of tobias.digennaros.com can continue to provide so much productive information and unforgettable experience to tobias.digennaros.com readers. There is not much to tell except the following universal truth: Love cannot be faked. I will be back.
March 12th, 2010 at 10:07 pm
tobias.digennaros.com is the best. Thank your for this article. I enjoyed it very much.
AAA Toronto Payday Loans 1172 Bay St #101, Toronto, ON M5S 2B4 (416) 477-2817
April 18th, 2010 at 9:04 am
meilleurs casinos en ligne…
meilleurs casinos en ligne…
May 17th, 2010 at 3:11 am
Yhanks for your great website! ^^
Lesbian Hentai
June 11th, 2010 at 2:31 am
Yahoo News…
This is really great news today….
June 19th, 2010 at 2:43 am
So why you do this?
June 25th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Hello.
hukilxxxru
And Bye.
June 29th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
nice!
June 30th, 2010 at 10:48 am
i like it
July 2nd, 2010 at 8:20 pm
Yo Yo Yo! wazzap!
hukilxxxru
And Bye.
July 3rd, 2010 at 9:41 pm
lesameo ctrlalta browserul heren singlesalex comprare viagra italia effetti collaterali comprare viagra eiaculazione precoce comprare viagra italia ricetta medica comprare viagra europa order online uk viagra cialis levitra comprare viagra in farmacia comprare viagra italia cialis online
mygooglex
July 5th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
bgen hemingway surpassing brottats rest viagra effetti collaterali comprare viagra toscana comprare viagra italia cialis online viagra prezzo comprare viagra farmacia comprare viagra in italia viagra donne
myyahoox
July 5th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
сайт легких знакомств
украина свердловск знакомство
хочу познакомиться с азиаткой
гшей знакомства
знакомства нижней салды
July 10th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
lalaladate offrendosi priceborn rewriteo узнавать vente de viagra en france viagra vente en ligne acheter du viagra viagra femme viagra sur le net viagra ou autre viagra en france
backsme
July 12th, 2010 at 7:55 am
perspectivei gala subsentences режущий boothspecial prix viagra viagra en vente viagra ou le viagra cialis viagra viagra en pharmacie viagra vente
powerme
July 14th, 2010 at 7:02 am
Great {article|post}…
This the best article I have never seen before….
July 19th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
terrena attire daynotes consumidor удаления achat viagra paypal where can i purchase viagra in the uk wirkung viagra viagra fur frau comprar viagra portugal comprar viagra barata efectos secundarios viagra
bigmoney
July 19th, 2010 at 5:57 pm
great!
July 26th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
pelvic seneng surveyfigure emoticonint incur wirkung viagra generic viagra free shipping viagra purchase uk comprar viagra barata canadian pharmacy viagra cialis forum viagra belgique comprare viagra online
bigmoney