BASTARD SYSTEM MANAGER FROM HELL #10 - Why You Don't Visit Your BSM Unannounced
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It's only 11:20, I've barely had time to read two articles on netnews, when
something distracts me.  I look up and notice someone standing in front of me.
I don't recognise him.  Article three is a recommendation of a very fine twenty
year old scotch that someone has considerately posted to alt.sysmgr.from.hell.
We need more of this sort of post on this news group.  Article four is about...

"Excuse me."

I look up and blink.  There is someone standing in front of me again.  It might
even be the same person.  I try to return to my netnews.  I really don't want
any trouble this early in the day.

"EXCUSE ME."

Oh dear: shouting.  You all know what I think about shouting, expecially before
I've read my netnews.

"Yes?" I ask sweetly. "Can I help you?"

"I hope so," he begins, "the Morning Operator suggested I come here to see the
System Manager."

It takes a few seconds for this to sink in.  One of the operators has decided
to start making very risky career decisions.  Inviting someone to see the BSMFH
is not what I would call showing initiative.  Not unless this man has a crate
of scotch in his bag.  I press the hidden door button under my desk, just in
case.  The door bolts slip silently home.

"Do you happen to have a case of scotch on you?"

"No, why?  Never mind, I've a problem with my disk space."

This takes a few seconds to seep in:  The Morning Operator has sent a user with
a problem to me (without a case of scotch in his bag).  I slip two cartridges
into the sawn off twelve gauge taped under the desk and make a mental note to
have the Morning Operator clean out the inside of our large, air tight and
sound proof tape safe.  I knew it was a mistake to get in early.

"What's your username?"

"Oh there's nothing wrong with my username, it's my files.  Every time I log
out they vanish."

"And how do you know they do that?" asks I with a smile (I've got him).

"Because there not their when I log in again," he replies confidently.

"How do you know they don't just vanish when you log in?  This difference is
very important."  They do actually, his login.com has been modified to delete
every file he owns except login.com.  Well, I was bored last week.

"I see your point, but why does that matter?"  'I see your point', has this
guy been on a non-confrontational course or something.  Why not just say
'That's a load of bollocks'.

"It's very important actually.  We need to know whether to start looking for
the problem at the top of the stack or the bottom.  Pick the wrong end and we
could be looking into this problem for months."  He's got a slightly glazed
look.  My guess is he's a bean counter using the accounts package.  "Think of
the cost."  Got him.  "Well, when you know whether the files are deleted during
logout or login, call the operators and have them fix it."  The schmuck thanks
me and turns to leave.  "And one more thing..."  he turns back.  My trigger
finger itches like crazy, but I resist the urge, "have a nice day."

He leaves with a smile.  I here the ping of the lift arriving.  I wait five
seconds for the doors to close.

We're on the tenth floor.

Now where's the Morning Operator, I've a little tape safe cleaning job for
him...