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I have joined the ranks...

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  • K Konstantin Vasserman

    I am really sorry to hear about your troubles. :( At my previous job, management forced one of my friends (after he was fired) to bring his home PC to their office so they can check that he did not have any "confidential" files on it...

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    Nish Nishant
    wrote on last edited by
    #13

    Management was that stupid? If he wanted to, he could burn a CD and wipe the stuff from his hard disk can’t he? And he was dumb and crazy enough to listen to them as if he was a slave? Nish Sonork ID 100.9786 voidmain www.busterboy.org If you don't find me on CP, I'll be at Bob's HungOut

    K 1 Reply Last reply
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    • N Nish Nishant

      Management was that stupid? If he wanted to, he could burn a CD and wipe the stuff from his hard disk can’t he? And he was dumb and crazy enough to listen to them as if he was a slave? Nish Sonork ID 100.9786 voidmain www.busterboy.org If you don't find me on CP, I'll be at Bob's HungOut

      K Offline
      K Offline
      Konstantin Vasserman
      wrote on last edited by
      #14

      He wasn't listening until their lawyers started to phone him every 5 minutes and then he got scared and did what they told him... I am not sure I can really blame him for giving in...

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      • K Konstantin Vasserman

        He wasn't listening until their lawyers started to phone him every 5 minutes and then he got scared and did what they told him... I am not sure I can really blame him for giving in...

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        C Offline
        Christian Graus
        wrote on last edited by
        #15

        As has been said, the thing is that it proves nothing and makes him hate them. Not a smart move. I would have complied too, but I would certainly have planned a sweet revenge. I don't mind getting fired ( that is to say it would not put me into revenge mode by default ), but I wouldn't sit for that sort of treatment - no way. Christian I have come to clean zee pooollll. - Michael Martin Dec 30, 2001

        Sonork ID 100.10002:MeanManOz

        I live in Bob's HungOut now

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        • C Chris Losinger

          ...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c


          Smaller Animals Software, Inc.

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          Garth J Lancaster
          wrote on last edited by
          #16

          THAT SUX BIG TIME Chris !! I know it'll hurt for a while, but hopefully you'll find a job quickly, that pays you what you're worth (as if any company could actually pay you that much, but hey, 1/2 that much would still be a fortune :) ) Take some time out to smell the roses, get your breath back, lick your wounds etc Good luck & hope to see you around CP Garth

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          • C Chris Losinger

            ...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c


            Smaller Animals Software, Inc.

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            Jon Sagara
            wrote on last edited by
            #17

            I'm very sorry to hear that Chris. :( Jon Sagara What about :bob:? "Teve Torbes, I've only got one thing to say to you: Tuck Off!" -- Dob Bole

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            • K Konstantin Vasserman

              He wasn't listening until their lawyers started to phone him every 5 minutes and then he got scared and did what they told him... I am not sure I can really blame him for giving in...

              N Offline
              N Offline
              Nish Nishant
              wrote on last edited by
              #18

              Damnation! This will only get him pissed off, won't it? Christian is right. If it was me, I'd have gone into revenge mode. Nish Sonork ID 100.9786 voidmain www.busterboy.org If you don't find me on CP, I'll be at Bob's HungOut

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              • N Nish Nishant

                Damnation! This will only get him pissed off, won't it? Christian is right. If it was me, I'd have gone into revenge mode. Nish Sonork ID 100.9786 voidmain www.busterboy.org If you don't find me on CP, I'll be at Bob's HungOut

                K Offline
                K Offline
                Konstantin Vasserman
                wrote on last edited by
                #19

                Yes, but how much can you really do to a company as big as a country?

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                • C Chris Losinger

                  ...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c


                  Smaller Animals Software, Inc.

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                  A Offline
                  Alvaro Mendez
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #20

                  Man, that sucks. I was in your shoes about a year and a half ago as the .com industry was just starting to crumble. It was not a pretty sight, especially since I had no money in the bank and tons of bills. Luckily I was able to get another job two weeks later. I hope you at least have some money saved up so you can hang on till something good comes your way. Best of luck! Alvaro

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                  • C Chris Losinger

                    ...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c


                    Smaller Animals Software, Inc.

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                    George
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #21

                    The "put it on the web" story of your former company app sounds very interesting in the light of recent "make it a webservice and write it in C#" hype...

                    1 Reply Last reply
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                    • C Chris Losinger

                      ...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c


                      Smaller Animals Software, Inc.

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                      R Offline
                      Roger Wright
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #22

                      Crap. I feel for you, Chris. It's an ugly feeling, isn't it? I was laid off in '92, and I haven't had a decent job offer since. I was, for a time, over-qualified. Now I'm out of date. Can't win. What the hell, no one hires an engineer over 40 anyway, so I've pretty much given up trying. But you're young, your skills are current, and there are some good indicators that the market is recovering from its slump! Update the ol' resume and hit the streets, before depression and fatalism set in and paralyze you. It's not fair, what they did to you - get over it and move on. You're perfectly able to not only replace them, but better your position - get out there and do it. Good luck to you - don't let this glitch get you down! Life, as well as software, has bugs. I can't give you a recipe for success, but I can give you one for failure - Don't try. Works every time...

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                      • C Chris Losinger

                        ...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c


                        Smaller Animals Software, Inc.

                        K Offline
                        K Offline
                        Kannan Kalyanaraman
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #23

                        Sorry to hear about that Chris. Chris Losinger wrote: Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I know how I would feel if i where in that position... I hope you would get a decent job soon. All the best. Cheers Kannan

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                        • C Chris Losinger

                          ...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c


                          Smaller Animals Software, Inc.

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                          D Offline
                          David Cunningham
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #24

                          Chris, I can't believe they wiped your PCs, what the hell was the point of that? Why they wouldn't sit with each of you can have a discussion about "What parts of what is done to date do you think would be valuble to save" is totally beyond me, but I don't really know the environment you're coming from. Their approach seems borne out of fear and a lack of understanding. My thoughts are with you, for what it's worth. David http://www.dundas.com

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                          • C Chris Losinger

                            as far as we can tell, yep. when we came back down, they were all sitting at the "SafeMode" Win2K splash screen, so they definitely did something drastic. when we tried to login, we couldn't. i tried getting to the drives i had shared out from a different computer, but my old machine wasn't showing up in the list of available boxes. that's what 4 years will get ya. -c


                            Smaller Animals Software, Inc.

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                            N Offline
                            NormDroid
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #25

                            B*st*rds:mad: I would of thrown the PC thru the window just to finish job and lit the spec before throwing in the trash can. I can't believe companies act like that. Anyway my sympathies Chris, and I wish you luck on getting your next job, which I hope is pretty soon. Normski. - Professional Windows Programmer

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                            • C Chris Losinger

                              ...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c


                              Smaller Animals Software, Inc.

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                              M Offline
                              Mauricio Ritter
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #26

                              Sorry to hear that... At least you are in America, and with your talent you get a new job pretty soon. If you were here in Brazil you´ll probably be desperade. Your case makes me remember of a friend of mine. He was a network administrator of a company. One day his boss came to him with a list of people being fired, so that they have their account disabled (the people didn´t know they wore being fired). After he finished the work his boss told him to get another list in the HR department, with some more accounts to disable. What was his surprise that when he arrive at the HR department he was fired. When he came back from the HR, his boss was gone and his account was disabled. He get fired and done all the "dirty work" of disabling the others accounts... a shame... pretty cruel boss this one... Mauricio Teichmann Ritter Brazil mauricioritter@hotmail.com

                              1 Reply Last reply
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                              • C Chris Losinger

                                ...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c


                                Smaller Animals Software, Inc.

                                N Offline
                                N Offline
                                Neville Franks
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #27

                                Like the rest of us here I'm sorry to hear what has happened to you and wish you all the best for the future. I will offfer one bit of advice though, and that is if you think you've got some half way reasonable ideas, and have some entrepreneurial flare and want to have a go at doing your own thing then go for it. It is challenging working for yourself, but very rewarding. I haven't worked for anyone for what seems like forever and couldn't contemplate anything else, not for a second. Whatever you do, take the lessons you've learnt from this experience with you and use them as best you can. Neville Franks, Author of ED for Windows. www.getsoft.com

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                                • C Chris Losinger

                                  ...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c


                                  Smaller Animals Software, Inc.

                                  R Offline
                                  R Offline
                                  Ray Kinsella
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #28

                                  as an old friend of mine used to say 'fuck them to fuck' ! they aren't fit to clean your shoes! Regards Ray "Je Suis Mort De Rire"

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                                  • R Roger Wright

                                    Crap. I feel for you, Chris. It's an ugly feeling, isn't it? I was laid off in '92, and I haven't had a decent job offer since. I was, for a time, over-qualified. Now I'm out of date. Can't win. What the hell, no one hires an engineer over 40 anyway, so I've pretty much given up trying. But you're young, your skills are current, and there are some good indicators that the market is recovering from its slump! Update the ol' resume and hit the streets, before depression and fatalism set in and paralyze you. It's not fair, what they did to you - get over it and move on. You're perfectly able to not only replace them, but better your position - get out there and do it. Good luck to you - don't let this glitch get you down! Life, as well as software, has bugs. I can't give you a recipe for success, but I can give you one for failure - Don't try. Works every time...

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                                    Stan Shannon
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #29

                                    Roger Wright wrote: What the hell, no one hires an engineer over 40 anyway Man, that's grim. I've got a year on you and I'm out of work also. I'm not sure that being out of work in this industry is that big of a deal though. The computer industry sucks. I love to program, but I'd rather shovel shit than work in this industry. I wonder what the hell the big deal is about hiring older programmers? If someone *would* give me a decent job, I would probably finish my career with them. But, no, they'll hire a 20 something who will quit for greener pasteurs in a couple of years. Oh, well, just prooves that the people who manage this stuff are complete morons. And who wants to work for a moron?

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                                    • C Chris Losinger

                                      ...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c


                                      Smaller Animals Software, Inc.

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                                      Anna Jayne Metcalfe
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #30

                                      Chris I'm so sorry to hear that. :( Truly though it sounds like you're best out of that place - I'm certain someone with your skills will have little trouble finding another post. Good luck :rose: Andy Metcalfe - Sonardyne International Ltd

                                      Trouble with resource IDs? Try the Resource ID Organiser Add-In for Visual C++
                                      "I would be careful in separating your wierdness, a good quirky weirdness, from the disturbed wierdness of people who take pleasure from PVC sheep with fruit repositories." - Paul Watson

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                                      • C Chris Losinger

                                        ...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c


                                        Smaller Animals Software, Inc.

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                                        Matt Gullett
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #31

                                        Sorry to hear that. I wish you goog luck and God speed in finding a new and better job. Matt Gullett

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                                        • N Nish Nishant

                                          James T. Johnson wrote: I don't like it one bit, too many CPians getting fired lately Actually all around people are getting fired. Funny how quickly and unexpectedly it all happens. Nish Sonork ID 100.9786 voidmain www.busterboy.org If you don't find me on CP, I'll be at Bob's HungOut

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                                          Paul Watson
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #32

                                          Nish [BusterBoy] wrote: Funny how quickly and unexpectedly it all happens. Not to be negative but I think most people could see what was coming at least far ahead enough not to be surprised. If you just read the news and keep up with the rumours you can pretty much figure out who is going down and who isn't. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront

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