Am I a bad person?

[chaotic_nipple]

Well, OK, but I mean for this in particular: Like any decent and civilized person, when I find that someone has left their email logged in on a public computer, I close it for them. First, however, I send them a politely worded missive from their own account pointing out that they should get into the habit of closing their email, so as to not get snarky self-addressed emails (Or worse things, like deleted inboxes or having someone send obscene messages to their moms). It has occurred to me, however, that some of them might not take this to heart. Maybe if I started "deleting" their mail by putting it into a folder labeled "Oh noes! They be erasin my emailz!" they'd get the hint? Or would that be too mean?

Heh. That reminds me of a funny Army story. In a SCIF, you're not supposed to ever leave yourself logged into an unattended computer without at least locking the screen saver first. Failing to do so would lead to stern lectures on the importance of proper handling of classified materials, and/or many pushups. Some NCOs, though (not me, heaven forbid) would engage in more creative chastisements. For example, taking a screen shot of the desktop, setting that .gif as the wallpaper, and then moving all the desktop icons to a folder labeled "I am an idiot who should learn to log out properly" hidden somewhere on the hard drive, which would still be accessible from the start menu. Then try to avoid laughing out loud when the hapless individual couldn't figure out why they couldn't open anything. Ah, those were the days... :-)

Comments

[creidylad.livejournal.com]

Well, that is just funny. And you taught them a valuable life lesson. So no, no evil here!

[argonel.livejournal.com]

It's actually a common enough occurance that it has an entry in the Jargon file under baggy pants. The history of that being the custom of posting a baggy pants message to a local usenet news group the publicly mock the person who didn't log out. After all it isn't a learning experience without a dash of public humliation right?

[theal8r.livejournal.com]

*heh* those are some great ideas! Better than the old stand-by of leaving porn all over the unattended computer...

[lillian-green.livejournal.com]

oh god that is evil genius. I immediately sent that to all my sysadmin friends >:-)

[larksdream]

For example, taking a screen shot of the desktop, setting that .gif as the wallpaper

Nice! Wish I'd thought of that. *G*

did that very thing not a month ago..

[silent-n-sleepy.livejournal.com]

In my case i am the System Administrator and had to explain why this is a very big NO/NO. Luckily for them i didnt make it too hard to enter the System.. This time it was verbal counseling Next time i wont be as forgiving!