Information Technologies

Did you know that all IT/technical/electronic data people aren't the same? It has taken me roughly three years to understand that Tech Support is who I need to go to if I am having trouble with my work PC or phone, Programmers are the ones I must approach for problems with internally created software programs, another vague population of IS folks if I need network assistance, and a corporate group if I need to set up a new procedure for transmitting electronic data from a client to our company. How insulted would any one of these groups be if they knew that the majority of non-techy office staff lump them all together as IT? Or are they used to it the way administrative support staff are commonly referred to as secretaries?

And not all IT people get along! I found out today that the guy I'm working with trying to set up a new electronic data transmission procedure gets really frustrated with what he calls "IT" people that he has to work with. I thought they'd be a big old band of brothers shooting the breeze about how stupid the non-techy people are and comparing gadgets and speaking in binary code, just like they probably imagine I get together with the other secretaries around the water cooler and shoot the shit about the best method for opening the mail, how to prevent neck cramps when answering the phone, and whatever else it is secretaries do.

One thing I have found that is somewhat common amongst programmers, tech support, et al is that if I approach any one of them with an attitude that says "look, I'm really lacking in expertise when it comes to what you do so please be patient with me and understand that I don't really know what I'm doing", I am more likely to be treated well. If I cold call someone I'm directed to, I am likely to be told, in an annoyed voice, that that person isn't really involved with what I'm talking about and doesn't know why s/he always gets bothered by it and please tell the administrative contact to quit transferring calls.

One universal, it seems, is that the stereotype of a smug, arrogant, better than you, generic IT Guy still exists. This comic is dedicated to my new friends, Geoff and Chris.