>Really? I've heard this from many different sources and I have to wonder is it such a good thing. > >How many of you have heard comments like, "Things were much easier before we got computers." When fixing a bug in a program (yours or someone else's). "I guess this is what you would call 'Job Sec> >The point is that it is not just the jobs that our important. It is people's attitudes in general towards programmers. Look at how public opinion towards M$ has changed in the last few years. I ha> >What about some sort of "program" to allow younger aspiring programmers the availability of an "advisor", to get past some of the road blocks that hindered us all. I believe that we all have a respo> >Look at the movie "Lorenzo's Oil" as an example. When the efforts of the best of the science community comes together to work as a team, science can make leaps, where normally they would be crawling> >These problems, like the year 2000 problem, may provide us with more jobs, but it really points to a deeper problem within the programming community. > >UT is a good example of a good environment in which to learn and develop, because many are willing to provide support. At the same time they are not a profit driven organization which speaks very hi> > This problem is not exclusive to programming. The problem is people don't understand the other persons job function. This can be seen in Chiropractic, Accounting, Management in General, etc... The only thing you or anyone else can do is 1) Not to take it personally, they just don't understand period. 2) try to educate the people who want to understand. I manage a computer system that runs a $12 million a year print shop with 30 PCs. I have heard some sales reps say that all I do is sit there in front of my computer and stare at it. I could say a sales rep just goes out and bull shits people all day and gets paid a lot to do it. I know better than that because I've been in sales and just about every other aspect of printer in my 30yrs in the business. I know what they have to do to sell a job but they don't know what it takes to keep a network up and trouble free. I know for myself (the ONLY one I need to keep happy) that if I wasn't there they would be in deep _____. I may not be running around all day putting out fires because I have put a lot of time and effort cutting back the brush so fires don't start. Hence the job looks easy just like programming looks easy but you and I and everyone else on the list knows better. It's brain busting work. All I can say in closing is you know what's going on and 90% don't care about it and 9% do but won't ask and 1% will be interested enough to ask. Your own peace of mind is what is important take care of yourself and let the others do the same. Andy Roth andyroth@electriciti.com