Of helping people and the Sirocco Anti-Pattern!

Normally on the weekend, my routine is to post two family history projects per weekend day (4 on a normal weekend, 6 or more on a holiday weekend). I am going to shake things up a little this weekend and post two Technology posts today instead of two Family history posts. Today is instead doubling up on technology post. Let me put a disclaimer on this post. I was a helpdesk person in the early days of personal computers moving into the business world. Helpdesk people that are evaluated on customer satisfaction learn early on; you don’t abandon calls. That, helping people when I can, the attitude has permeated my IT career.

Based on that, and my long time chasing of Communication Patterns and Anti-patterns I have come across a new Anti-pattern that conflicts with the way I was taught. That conflict makes it difficult for me to respond to that anti-pattern with anything other than complete and total disdain. First off the pattern is as stated above, trying to help other people. But it also crosses the most important thing a helpdesk person always does, where is the other person now. What is the problem, what are the variables, and let’s start removing variables?

The anti-partner needs a cool name; I am going to call it the Scirocco anti-pattern. It starts with a reassuring calm statement and then tells you that you are wrong or that you have reached too far in what you are saying is wrong. I make it a point to dress down anyone with this anti-pattern. Why? First off they seldom have the right answer. They know that you are wrong, but they don’t have an answer. Secondly the use a fake calm to present their concept to you. “I don’t mean to offend, but you can’t say that.” The thing that bothers me about this anti-pattern is that they don’t ever read the issue, they jump in. They don’t look to see what has been tried; they throw out the fake rational voice. I can honestly say when I enough the Scirocco Anti-pattern I quickly respond to the false information. It is false, misleading and technically not a good idea in every case.

When I was a teacher, I was taught to listen to children as they struggled. You find answers in their struggles. But grandfather always told me “do not suffer fools.” The Scirocco Anti-pattern is at best a fool, so I don’t suffer them ever.