PTSD: Post Technical Support Disorder

PTSD: Post Technical Support Disorder

The Hidden EpidemicBy Brian Briggs

Silicon Valley - That rude technical support person who just told you to "format C: and shove it" may not be the incompetent ass you think she is. Chances are she is suffering from a little known psychological disorder called Post Technical Support Disorder (PTSD). Symptoms of the disorder include: extreme irritability, telephone phobia, night terrors, recurring flashbacks and nausea. In extreme cases victims have suffered from hallucinations, usually about strangling callers with phone cords. PTSD is most common among telephone support personnel, but field support and internal help desk staff are also at risk.
Are you at risk?
Simon Yang who does support for Westlook Software and suffers from PTSD said, "The nightmares were the worst part of it. In the dream I would be on a call and the caller would keep repeating 'I didn't change anything and now it doesn't work' over and over and over. I would wake up screaming."
Help desk manager Kevin Dyer was unaware that most of his staff was suffering from PTSD until he held a special PTSD Awareness Day, "I just thought all my staff was pissed off at the world, you know, some Gen X rebellion thing. I was surprised to discover that 10 out of 11 people on my staff had PTSD. The other guy was just an asshole."
Jennifer Fassihi suffered for seven years before being diagnosed, "People thought I was just bitchy," said Jennifer, "so did I, until I found out it was PTSD. With therapy and medication I can now handle idiotic customers without breaking anything."
PTSD can be diagnosed by a doctor or psychiatrist using a simple questionnaire. A condensed version of this questionnaire is available as a pamphlet, which is being distributed to technology companies in Silicon Valley to raise awareness about the disorder. If you think you or someone you care about may be suffering from PTSD please visit http://www.ncptsd.org or begin drinking heavily.

Ref: http://www.bbspot.com/News/2000/10/ptsd.html

Some Ppl have the life

There is collegue in my office that works 12 hour shifts for 4 days a week, which totals his hours to 48 hours a week, the rest of them work 10 hours 5 days a week which totals to 50hours.

how is it that working a longer shift gives better hours (avoid traffic inconveniences), better renumerations (bonus 500 allowences), and less hours a week in general.

there are also break moments of 15min, lunch 1 hour, break 15 min, and 30 min break which totals to 2 hours for the 12 hour shift workers.

and for the 10 hour shifts, its 15,1hour,15...
looks like i would like to apply for a longer duration for a better life :P

P.S.
the downside of the 12 hour shifts is that i will have to work at least 1 day of the weekend and my off will be random within the week.
[which i think is beautiful as most office work like banking can be done on days like that :)]

The Moon's Slumber

The Night is Calm as a Desert Sky,
An Angel Prayer is Heard a Cry,
a Hymn is Sung from a Lowly Vessel,
At the Edge of the bed Upon a Tassel,
A Sound Resounds Back an Echo,
A Calm Breeze Which Stills the Heart,
To Beg the Mind to Let Go,
and Accept that Goodbye's the Only Will,
But a Prayer Still Sung out Upon Nigh,
Adamant Still Across the Plain Sky,
Do Not Forsake a Lovers Soul,
For to Break a Love is to Kill the World..

Maria Justin 22/11/2009