Ledger

Issue date: 10/18/06 Section: Opinion

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The bureaucratic nonsense that we see every day in our lives is slowly consuming our brains. I don't care if you agree or not. I'm just saying that when it comes down to not being able to move computers around in our office on campus without paying 40 dollars an hour for the privilege of tech support holding our hands through the endeavor, the bureaucratic nonsense has gone too far. This is exactly what happened in the Ledger office last week. I do understand the rationale behind tying the proverbial hands of the average individual so as to stem the tide of expensive repairs to broken or mishandled equipment, but this is utterly ridiculous.

What credentials must an individual have in order to qualify to handle and manage the extremely sensitive computer equipment in our office? If this equipment is so susceptible to breakage that only qualified individuals can manage and care for it, then why are we even allowed to use this equipment? It seems to me that if the establishment truly wanted to protect their investments against abuse and misuse, then they would impose a managed system where an individual couldn't even use a device without the direct supervision of an authorized controller.

Aren't we just moving up a rung on the ladder toward Big Brother's absolute control and imposition? It's time to reevaluate the mentality that is gradually confining our abilities to function. The more we limit the abilities of the individual in society, the more we foster the attitude that micromanaging and henpecking is standard operating procedure.

I've been on both ends of this spectrum. I've fixed the broken equipment of novice users and felt the pain of PEBKAC (Problems Exist Between Keyboard And Chair) incompetence. Yet there is no justifiable reason why exceptions to the rules can't be given when an individual shows the aptitude necessary to fulfill the requirements established by the powers that be. It's time to unchain our hands and acknowledge that not everyone in this system is woefully ridiculous.

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