Filed under: Developer, Fun, Troubleshooting, Humor
Troubleshooting with your Teddy Bear
"Proper troubleshooting requires a Teddy Bear."
As it was told to me -- long ago in a university computer lab not so far away -- there was a sysadmin who became frustrated with the number of questions he was asked by student developers. It wasn't that the questions were invalid, or that the students weren't thinking them through. Rather, his frustration was with questions which found their own answers.
Students seeking his help would begin to explain the problem they were working on. More often than not, they wouldn't finish explaining before having an "Aha!" moments; That tiny moment of clarity every developer, admin or desktop analyst seeks as a part of their job.
Being forced to explain the problem had some effect which thinking about the problem alone didn't. How can you achieve the same mind-altered state without bugging the sysadmin, or taking a handful of Adderol and Xanaax*?
The weary sysadmin found a brilliant solution. He attached a teddy bear to his desk, and forced anyone who wanted to ask him a question to address the bear and explain the problem.
So, the next time you're halfway through asking a collegue a question and find yourself saying, "Wait, I think I just got it, never mind!", remember to thank them for being your teddy bear.
* Download Squad does not condone the abuse of Adderol, Xanaax or any other prescription drugs. Just sayin'.
I don't know if this is a labor of love or merely the brainchild of four very gifted games designers, but Level Up is a really weird mash-up of gaming elements that you have probably never seen in a Flash game before.
Let's start with the premise itself: Groundhog Day meets Memento. The game experience revolves around 'days': you explore the world and the clock slowly ticks towards the evening. You bounce around picking up gems and talking to the denizens of 'Level Upland'. Eventually you feel tired and head back to ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Cam said 3:07PM on 10-16-2009
"remember to thank them for being your teddy bear."
now THAT would go over well. Thank you.
Reply
Sam Jordan said 3:40PM on 10-16-2009
"* Download Squad does not condone the abuse of Adderol, Xanaax or any other prescription drugs. Just sayin'."
You should have that disclaimer on every post.
Reply
Kenn.keeper said 5:03PM on 10-16-2009
Yea,,,,,,well my bear knows more than your bear even though it has its Paxil moments.....
Free is Good
Kenn.....
Reply
bj said 3:33PM on 10-17-2009
Isn't that also know as 'Rubber Ducking'
See 'The Pragmatic Programmer' ISBN-10: 020161622X
Reply
Grant Robertson said 3:37PM on 10-17-2009
I haven't read The Pragmatic Programmer (although it's been on my reading list for a while). I looked up 'Rubber Ducking' and, sure enough, you're right. Ha! At least I'm not the only one who talks to inanimate objects.
Although, I still say telling someone "Thanks for being my Teddy Bear" is way more fun. Trust me, the look you get is priceless. (Especially if you're 5'10" and pushing upwards of 280 like me).