Dale Miller
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Apparently, the news articles have been misread as evidenced by the
number of comments regarding an 'operator' doing maintenance. The word
used (by British journalists) was 'operative' which according to my
dictionary has a first definition (as a noun) as follows: "a worker,
especially a skilled one ..." , which definition most system
programmers qualify for, although it seems the person making the
mistake might not have qualified as 'skilled'.
I recall the time when a two friends of mine approached me asking me
to install an IMS application development tool. One of them said "He
probably hasn't the competence". Seeing the astonished look on my
face, he quickly explained that he had employed the Continental
English meaning of 'competence' which meant 'authority'.
- Re: 'Inexperienced RBS tech operative's blunder...' Dale Miller
