Tuttle, Oklahoma city manager threatens CentOS

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Brazen

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Jul 14, 2000
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This story is a few months old, but I couldn't find it searching ATF, and it. is. hilarious.

http://www.centos.org/modules/news/article.php?storyid=127

The story was picked up by Slashdot, the Register, even the little town's local newspaper! From what I've read, even on followup news stories, Taylor asserts to the very end that the problem was all CentOS's fault!

snippet from the email transcript:
I have four computers located at City Hall. All of these computers display the same CentOS page when attempting to bring up Tuttle-ok.gov. Now if your software is not causing this problem, how does it happen??? No one outside this building has complained about this problem. This is a block of public access to a city's website. Remove your software within the next 12 hours or an official complaint to the FBI is being filed!
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Here's more:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuttle%2C_Oklahoma#CentOS_Incident

http://www.tuttletimes.com/siteSearch/apstorysection/local_story_088201244.html

http://www.tuttletimes.com/letters/local_story_096101552.html

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03/24/tuttle_centos/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03/27/tuttle_email/page2.html

According to the Register's first article, Taylor (the city manager) seems to have even incited a "hacking epidemic" for Tuttle, OK, as city-related websites have been hacked following the incident.

Apparently, someone also put a Wikipedia article on Jerry Taylor, but it was taken down. He's famous (for being stupid, and rediculously vindictive), I think it's a valid wikipedia entry, but oh well :(
 
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Brazen

Diamond Member
Jul 14, 2000
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Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
Originally posted by: Brazen
Originally posted by: thereds
As old as your bawls.
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It just happened 2 months ago. Are you from Tuttle, by chance?
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2 months = 3.5 million years in internet time.
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That's why I was SHOCKED that I couldn't find a thread on it in ATF!!
 
GeekDrew

GeekDrew

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2000
9,099
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Originally posted by: Brazen
Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
rep0xy from HELL
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I searched, didn't find anything on ATF. You show me a link or quit being retarded.
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I don't know where it is, but it's definitely been here.
 
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Reel

Diamond Member
Jul 14, 2001
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Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Originally posted by: Brazen
Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
rep0xy from HELL
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I searched, didn't find anything on ATF. You show me a link or quit being retarded.
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I don't know where it is, but it's definitely been here.
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Yeah. I saw it on here before. It probably had a not so descriptive title but it was still funny and made for a good story to be retold at work.
 
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Brazen

Diamond Member
Jul 14, 2000
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Well, I would have been happy to resurrect the original thread and add my $0.02 to it, but AT search yeilded nothing... Anyway, to me though it's not JUST a funny story of a support call from HELL...

This guy contacted the developers for a product that he is not a paying customer for and DEMANDED help. I'm a little disappointed that Johnny actually helped him (I think it's a HUGE testament to Johnny's character). I guess what really bothers me is, the guy was helped, and rather curtiuosly at that, despite his behavior, and once it became painfully obvious that Taylor made a mistake, he still blames CentOS, and in followup comments he calls them "freaks" and says they have "too much time on their hands." Never even gave a "thank you" or an apology.
 
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chusteczka

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2006
3,399
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Johnny was not all that curteous to begin with. He could have been more helpful and less sardonic.
 
ElFenix

ElFenix

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Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,402
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Originally posted by: Brazen
Well, I would have been happy to resurrect the original thread and add my $0.02 to it, but AT search yeilded nothing... Anyway, to me though it's not JUST a funny story of a support call from HELL...
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because searching for 'tuttle' would be so hard.
 
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Brazen

Diamond Member
Jul 14, 2000
4,259
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Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: Brazen
Well, I would have been happy to resurrect the original thread and add my $0.02 to it, but AT search yeilded nothing... Anyway, to me though it's not JUST a funny story of a support call from HELL...
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because searching for 'tuttle' would be so hard.
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Do you mean it's too hard for you? Because, as I have said repeatedly, I did. Nothing came up, k thanx bye.

(I'm a little dissapointed that reading comprehension seems to be as bad here as it was with Taylor from Tuttle.)
 
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Brazen

Diamond Member
Jul 14, 2000
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Originally posted by: chusteczka
Johnny was not all that curteous to begin with. He could have been more helpful and less sardonic.
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What do you mean he was not all that curteous?!? He had no control over the guys computer and they guy gave him practically ZERO information, and Johnny TRIED explaining to the guy what CentOS was and why there was nothing he could do about it. What else was he supposed to do?! Not to mention CentOS was not getting paid to support, let alone develop (well, re-package, and some development), the OS for this guy.
 
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chusteczka

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2006
3,399
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Originally posted by: Brazen
Originally posted by: chusteczka
Johnny was not all that curteous to begin with. He could have been more helpful and less sardonic.
Click to expand...

What do you mean he was not all that curteous?!? He had no control over the guys computer and they guy gave him practically ZERO information, and Johnny TRIED explaining to the guy what CentOS was and why there was nothing he could do about it. What else was he supposed to do?! Not to mention CentOS was not getting paid to support, let alone develop (well, re-package, and some development), the OS for this guy.
Click to expand...

Johnny's reactions and communication stopped short of actually providing any information that could have helped the guy. By not being more forthcoming with helpful information, Johnny's behavior actually promoted the frustration that resulted in all of the turmoil. Johnny's communication skills leave a lot to be desired and he does not impress me. In my opinion, Johnny is just as much at fault as the Tuttle guy, if not more.

Johnny seemed too wrapped up in his own important elitism to have been able to properly communicate with someone he deemed to be his intellectual inferior.

EDIT:
These are my impressions of the communication, nothing more.

EDIT2:
Communication requires more than technical knowledge. It requires an understanding, and maybe even some empathy for the recipient, in order to know how to communicate in a manner in which the communication will be understood. Communicating in a manner that will not be understood is a waste of time for all involved.
 
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Brazen

Diamond Member
Jul 14, 2000
4,259
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It sounded to me like Johnny was trying his best to explain what CentOS was. I don't know what more he could have said, considered what little useful information he was given by Taylor. And the fact that he kept helping him even after being threatens shows that he MUST have empathized with the guy. And keep in mind, Johnny had no obligation to help him at all... he could have just said nothing.

Edit: granted, he MAY have kept helping him out of a desire to throw the guys err in his face, but that does not change the fact that he did help him and should have at least been thanked, and apologized to for the threats.
 
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chusteczka

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2006
3,399
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I just reread the communication, my previous post is based on the impression I remember from this situation. I agree with you that Johnny must have empathized in some way. Johnny's communications seem provocative and I think it could have been handled better than it was.
 
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