Programmer Fired for using SETI on server

[johnsmatrix]

Search for intelligent life in outer space has ended

(10/08/04 - COLUMBUS, OH) — The search for extraterrestrial life has ended at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The department on Thursday fired a computer programmer who admitted to using a state-owned computer server to process data for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence project, run by the University of California at Berkeley.

Charles E. Smith, 63, told administrators he didn't think loading the SETI software on the server was much of a problem because he ran the program only on weekends and on weekdays between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., when the server wasn't being used, according to a disciplinary report.

Department director Tom Hayes disagreed.

"I understand his desire to search for intelligent life in outer space, because obviously he doesn't find it in the mirror in the morning," Hayes said. "I think that people can be comfortable that security has beamed this man out of our building."

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[johnsmatrix]

This sucks, you would figure they would maybe at the most give him a warning and tell him to remove the program. Theres minimal if no security risk involved.

[Betamax]

Is SETI available for PS2 or X-box?

[moneoa]

Department director Tom Hayes disagreed.

"I understand his desire to search for intelligent life in outer space, because obviously he doesn't find it in the mirror in the morning," Hayes said. "I think that people can be comfortable that security has beamed this man out of our building."

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Tom Hayes sounds like an asshole, of course to be a programmer you need to be dumb as bricks right?

[Star Guitar]

I'm thinking, at the age of 63, he could have breathed the wrong way and they would have fired him. SETI was just a lame excuse to avoid paying retirement benefits. It's sick.

[MrCoggy]

Who thinks starting up a petition to get Tom Hayes booted out of his job on trumped up charges would wipe the smart arsed smile off his face? What a wanker.

Clearly Tom Hayes' mirror loves what it sees. Prick!

Tell you what. Why don't a few of us send our thoughts for Mr Hayes to read for himself.

Tom Hayes wants you to write to him (http://jfs.ohio.gov/director.stm) Click the feedback link on the left hand side.

[Mels_Smileys45]

Thats a good idea. I'll email him a fuck you letter. Thats total bullshit.

[MrCoggy]

Here's the email I just sent him:

FAO Director. Tom Hayes

I would just like to congratulate you, Mr Hayes for not only getting rid of such a liability as Mr Charles Smith, but for using the press opportunity to allow the world to see what you truly stand for.

I had never heard of you until 20 minutes ago, but after your "hilarious" tirade against the aged programmer that has recently been banished from your establishment's employ, I can safely say that not only have you managed to save valuable tax dollars, but you have also allowed the world to see what a collosal press whore you really are.

I can only hope that when the time comes for you to be handed your hat that your own doubtless skeletons surface out of the closet to strangle what little humanity is left within.

Perhaps you could try alternate slogans such as "Castigating Ohioans" or "Looking out for number one" as opposed to the misleading "Helping Ohioans"

Regards,

Russ




Karma certainly seems a lot quicker in this day and age.

[SanDiegoKid]

It wasn't his computer to use for that purpose.

If he broke the rules, he broke the rules. I hope he likes mopping floors.

[MrCoggy]

It wasn't his computer to use for that purpose.

If he broke the rules, he broke the rules. I hope he likes mopping floors.
Nice. I'm sure if he was your father or grandfather you would feel the same way. He wasn't even doing it for personal gain. It was an entirely altruistic action and he was shafted.

I'm sure you have never broken the rules. Ever download/upload anything that wasn't yours to own/share? Eh? Think you should pay the price for that?

[SanDiegoKid]

If he's smart enough to run SETI@home on a work computer, he's bright enough to understand their Acceptable Computer Use Policy. My uploading/downloading habits have nothing to do with this guy. Yes, I've broken "the rules" as it were in various situations thoughout my life, and deserved what I got every time I got caught. I'm not relishing in his lost employment, but he knew it was wrong.

I want those floors to shine, Charles E. Smith.

[CRLocky]

i use SETI at home, my 3 year old compaq laptop is slaving to find those extra terrestrials

[SanDiegoKid]

I don't use the Seti@home... but I do my part, for instance:

I drive late at night down country roads, and periodically let the car stall by turning the ignition off. Then I'm all like, in a loud voice, "Damn looks like I'm all alone out here in the middle of the night with no one around to see me get abducted! I sure hope no ALIENS come down to scare the crap out of me and take me to their ship!" and the whole time I have my DV camera hidden in some fast food trash on the back seat, waiting for them to try somethin'.

I'll let you know.

[MrCoggy]

If he's smart enough to run SETI@home on a work computer, he's bright enough to understand their Acceptable Computer Use Policy. My uploading/downloading habits have nothing to do with this guy. Yes, I've broken "the rules" as it were in various situations thoughout my life, and deserved what I got every time I got caught. I'm not relishing in his lost employment, but he knew it was wrong.

I want those floors to shine, Charles E. Smith.
His understanding of their acceptable computer use policy is not what makes this situation so unpleasant. What is so appalling is the director's attitude, making glib remarks when all he needed to say was "There was a breach of policy. He knew the rules and he paid the price". His actual remarks to the press were nothing short of insulting, to the man and the SETI community as a whole.

[SanDiegoKid]

His glib attitude, while perhaps offensive to you and (ahem) SETI, has nothing to do with the black and white terms of employment Charles E. Smith was bound to. He could have run that program at home. After all it's called SETI@HOME, not SETI@WORK.

<sarcasm>
Perhaps if everyone who's dedicated their life to searching for a message from the skies, would just face reality and mop some floors, we would have some really shiny floors. Why worry about some alien's floors when we have dirty floors right here on EARTH.
</sarcasm>

[MrCoggy]

Sounds like you and Mr Hayes would probably get on.

[SanDiegoKid]

Looks like we agree on something, then!

[XLR8R]

I don't use the Seti@home... but I do my part, for instance:

I drive late at night down country roads, and periodically let the car stall by turning the ignition off. Then I'm all like, in a loud voice, "Damn looks like I'm all alone out here in the middle of the night with no one around to see me get abducted! I sure hope no ALIENS come down to scare the crap out of me and take me to their ship!" and the whole time I have my DV camera hidden in some fast food trash on the back seat, waiting for them to try somethin'.

I'll let you know.


bwahah when your in the ship you should convince the aliens to fly by that dudes house and abduct his daughter, or his cat, or maybe just smash in his house or something :gj

[SanDiegoKid]

This thread is older than my grandmother's balls.

.. and anyway I got sick of waiting, so I just probed myself...