On 2009-10-01 at 18:50 -0400, Esther Filderman wrote: > Folks, this is a list about systems administration not parenting > skills. While I'm sure your ideas on how to handle this sensitive > topic may be helpful I'd like to encourage you to move it off-list.
Technology does not exist in a social vacuum. Those who treat it as though it does are the stereotypical sysadmins who want everyone to learn to memorize high-entropy passwords etc. Learning when to implement technical solutions and how to phrase and push back is very definitely part of being a sysadmin. If the discussion had been "Prepare a list of the various breakdowns, take it to the boss, help steer the boss towards the solution you want" then I doubt there would be any question of appropriateness -- everyone would accept that in any corporate institution (or many non-corporate ones) this is part of the developing skillset of the sysadmin. The situation is different and the problems are different, but it is still part of the same general ... (oh gods I'm going to use the word) paradigm -- how you deal with impossible demands, present the solutions, deal with the social situations and be aware of the opposing interests of others (whether departmental rivalries or social workers). Knowing how to put your foot down and how to deal with the impacts of technological decisions on society is part of being a sysadmin and, I feel, very much on topic for the discuss list (but not the tech list). So I respectfully disagree. Regards, -Phil _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lopsa.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/discuss This list provided by the League of Professional System Administrators http://lopsa.org/
