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Sharky

Shark Tank

Gimme!

This pilot fish does whatever is needed in IT for the environmental consulting firm where he works -- databases, computer builds, anything with electronics that's sent his way.

And fish takes it all in stride -- mostly. "We have a particular user, though -- he's special, in the crash-helmet sort of way," says fish. "Before I came to work here, he was given a new laptop to do his work, and he demanded a 300 GB hard drive so he could store his photography. He's in the field occasionally, so he was given something light and portable.

"When I started, I was allowed to order my own system. I went with all the bells and whistles -- until my boss said I couldn't have more RAM than he had -- and ended up with a nice unit.

"That's when this user went to my boss demanding that he be given the unit I assembled for myself. Thankfully, that didn't fly and I got to keep my machine.

"Fast forward a few months. A higher-up in the company was leaving. She sent an announcement around that she was resigning effective two weeks from the date of the e-mail.

"Ten seconds later, I kid you not, IT had an e-mail from this user stating only this: 'I demand her computer!'

"And we gave it to him -- after we reduced the hard drive down to 160 gigs and told him not to save his personal stuff to our computers anymore."

Sharky doesn't demand your story -- I'd rather ask nicely. Please send me your true tale of IT life at sharky@computerworld.com. You'll snag a snazzy Shark shirt if I use it. Add your comments below, and read some great old tales in the Sharkives.

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