Operation Bright Eyes - tattle tale utility workers spying on customers

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

ummm because they aren't paid informants?

[MicroBalrog]

no i say you impose it upon yourself when you avail yourself of the benefits being part of society offer. you know schools roads grants etc.

So, pray tell, do you think these impositions are unlimited? Or is there after all a limit to what society can do?

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

sure  you can limit your involvement/dependency   of course thats like revolution MUCH  easier talked about than even attempted

[MicroBalrog]

sure  you can limit your involvement/dependency   of course thats like revolution MUCH  easier talked about than even attempted

That's now what I asked and you know it.

[Uncle Bubba]

I come down on the side of "don't like it at all" just because I'm old enough to know that if you give some people an inch or less they will take much farther than a mile. Some dork who feels inadequate in every other facet of his life will use the "power" he thinks he's got to mess with someone on his customer list for the most piddling of reasons, just so he can feel superior for a moment.


Now that I've got that out of the way, and speaking of that last, I'd like to ask what makes people think it's OK to sh*t on others about the way they make their living?

"cable guy without a sixth grade education" "min-wage employees who couldn't get a job better than 'cable installer'"

I suppose you sneer "McJob!" at the people who make your burger and fries or your taco and burrito, too. Is your own self image so bad that you have to put other people down to make yourself feel better? Whatever they're doing and whatever it pays they're out working and trying to make a living. It's honest work. Leave 'em alone about it.

Save your put-downs for people who deserve it, say...the ones who think they know better what to do with your money than you do.

[grislyatoms]

Now that I've got that out of the way, and speaking of that last, I'd like to ask what makes people think it's OK to sh*t on others about the way they make their living?

That irked me a bit as well. I used the term "utility worker" only to differentiate these folks from trained LEOs.

Whatever they're doing and whatever it pays they're out working and trying to make a living. It's honest work. Leave 'em alone about it.

My feelings exactly. I could easily make a 6 figure income, but choose to stay where I am as my schedule allows me lots of time with my kiddo. Not everyone is motivated by a fat paycheck and their name on a door.

[Manedwolf]

Now that I've got that out of the way, and speaking of that last, I'd like to ask what makes people think it's OK to sh*t on others about the way they make their living?

"cable guy without a sixth grade education" "min-wage employees who couldn't get a job better than 'cable installer'"

I suppose you sneer "McJob!" at the people who make your burger and fries or your taco and burrito, too. Is your own self image so bad that you have to put other people down to make yourself feel better? Whatever they're doing and whatever it pays they're out working and trying to make a living. It's honest work. Leave 'em alone about it.

Save your put-downs for people who deserve it, say...the ones who think they know better what to do with your money than you do.

Clue for you. Comcast installers deserve their reputation.

They are not satellite installers or electricians, who tend to be far more skilled. Satellite installers have to know how to aim the dish, gas people are at least efficient, have chirpy phones and know how combustion is meant to work. Comcast installers...I don't know where they get them, but goddamnit, are they STUPID. I mean, in a "How do these people remember to breathe?" blank-eyed sort of stupid. They've burned out countless electrical systems, broken countless walls, hooked up things wrong and had no idea it was their fault, and even blew up a house.

[Ned Hamford]

ummm because they aren't paid informants?

Well, it is made to be part of their job and they are paid for that job... Does it matter where the paycheck is coming from?

I personally have no real problems with the situation as presented.  I doubt there is much on the job encouragement.  Just a few hours of a seminar telling you the proper numbers to call for various things.  I don't think this is much different than the old 'see something, say something' program. 

Are these people given badges or even a direct phoneline different than the general public for reporting?  As I see it, they are just being informed as to proper reporting procedures. And as for the false reporting to get back at jerk customers, well, any indication they won't be held accountable for false reporting?

Anyways, always tip the cable man and offer him a soda.
 

[Manedwolf]

And as for the false reporting to get back at jerk customers, well, any indication they won't be held accountable for false reporting?

If it gets you a no-knock raid, does it matter?

[Uncle Bubba]

Clue for you. Comcast installers deserve their reputation.

They are not satellite installers or electricians, who tend to be far more skilled. Satellite installers have to know how to aim the dish, gas people are at least efficient, have chirpy phones and know how combustion is meant to work. Comcast installers...I don't know where they get them, but goddamnit, are they STUPID. I mean, in a "How do these people remember to breathe?" blank-eyed sort of stupid. They've burned out countless electrical systems, broken countless walls, hooked up things wrong and had no idea it was their fault, and even blew up a house.

Whatever rep a group has, if you treat them like idiots then you'll get what you expect from them, as well as what you deserve. Self-perpetuating, is that.

FWIW, the Comcast guys who installed our TV and Internet last week were polite and professional. So was the guy they sent a few days before who couldn't do the work assigned because the office staff had screwed up the work order.

[Manedwolf]

Whatever rep a group has, if you treat them like idiots then you'll get what you expect from them, as well as what you deserve. Self-perpetuating, is that.

FWIW, the Comcast guys who installed our TV and Internet last week were polite and professional. So was the guy they sent a few days before who couldn't do the work assigned because the office staff had screwed up the work order.

Alright, I'll treat them like geniuses when, both times, they swore the new DVR must be "bricked", and they'd have to try again next week, until I just picked up the remote, went through the setting menus, got it to renew DHCP lease and it came right online. Or when they swear that the internet won't work with a Mac, that you have to have a PC for that.

[gunsmith]

wrt making cable guys angry, they can turn off the cable for an entire neighborhood in less then ten minutes.

[Uncle Bubba]

Nothing personal, 'wolf, but what I mean is treat the proven idiots like idiots, they deserve it, just don't lump 'em all in together based on your experience with a few nor on tales from elsewhere.


And while I'm replying:

If it gets you a no-knock raid, does it matter?

Damn good point.

[grislyatoms]

Nothing personal, 'wolf, but what I mean is treat the proven idiots like idiots, they deserve it, just don't lump 'em all in together based on your experience with a few nor on tales from elsewhere.

Ditto. Especially the "nothing personal" part.

I did my time in fast food/service sector hell, and remember all too well what it was like.

[Balog]

This is why threads get locked.  Knock it off.  - mtnbkr

[HankB]

If I were a service tech, I wouldn't report anything except the most egregious violations of the law . . . something really extreme with a good chance of hurting others, like a bomb factory or meth lab.

For one thing, I wouldn't be getting paid extra to be a snoop for the .gov, would I?

[mtnbkr]

Or electricity? Or gas?

You do know that if gas service is interrupted, a gas person has to come in to do the water heater and all, right?

Not here.  When Mike and I replaced my water heater in 2004, I had to have the City send an inspector, but I was still able to light it and have hot water.  Theoretically, I could've not called and nobody would be the wiser.  All he did was eyeball the connection and make sure it was done properly. 

When I replace our gas stove, I didn't even call as it wasn't required.

Or did you mean something more substantial such as the gas being turned off at the meter?

Chris

[Manedwolf]

Not here.  When Mike and I replaced my water heater in 2004, I had to have the City send an inspector, but I was still able to light it and have hot water.  Theoretically, I could've not called and nobody would be the wiser.  All he did was eyeball the connection and make sure it was done properly. 

When I replace our gas stove, I didn't even call as it wasn't required.

Or did you mean something more substantial such as the gas being turned off at the meter?

Chris

When gas had to be turned off for a local linebreak near my parents' house, a gas rep knocked on the door of every house and had to either light the pilot on the furnace and water heater, or just check if they were lit that they were lit properly.

[alex_trebek]

Directed to the original post:

Instead of debating this issue I figured I would post this link. 

Service Locations


Above you will find a link to the company's service areas, as far as I can tell this program is limited to Bright House networks customers. 

If you support this program and live in the area, put your money where your mouth is and buy a subscription.

If you hate this idea, you only have something worry about if you live in one of the service areas.  For now (cue ominous music).....

[Thor]

I will admit that the installers are not among the best and brightest. AS a Head End Tech, I've had to work with them closely, because I was in charge of the Cable system telephony. That mean off the cuff troubleshooting, provisioning, etc. The installers, on the whole, that worked for my company, left a lot to be desired. We had a few that tried real hard or had some talent, etc.

Comcast does have some fairly minimally trained installers & techs and they won't hire seasoned techs. I know that from experience. It took me three months to get a return path cable plant problem resolved. If I had the proper equipment, it would have been resolved within an hour.

[Manedwolf]

I will admit that the installers are not among the best and brightest. AS a Head End Tech, I've had to work with them closely, because I was in charge of the Cable system telephony. That mean off the cuff troubleshooting, provisioning, etc. The installers, on the whole, that worked for my company, left a lot to be desired. We had a few that tried real hard or had some talent, etc.

Comcast does have some fairly minimally trained installers & techs and they won't hire seasoned techs. I know that from experience. It took me three months to get a return path cable plant problem resolved. If I had the proper equipment, it would have been resolved within an hour.

Thank you, yes. I had not meant to imply that all cable techs are idiots. It's that the ones Comcast hires are often idiots, because they won't hire and pay skilled ones with experience. That's the company's problem, and a lot of people have had the same experience.

[French G.]

Stuff like this makes me glad I have no reason for service people to come in my house. What might they see? Let's see, gun magazines, infant formula, pile of AR parts on the table, internet poker going,  rugrat gleefully playing with AR buffer spring.

Obviously I am cutting heroin with baby formula, running an internet gambling ring, employing child labor to build assault weapons for illegal sale all in an effort to raise funds to overthrow the government.

Or maybe I'm spending a quiet snowy day at home with my kid, relaxing and playing some poker and learning how to put together my AR on AR-15.com. 

Sinister.  :rolleyes:

More people in this world need to mind their own business.

[Uncle Bubba]

Thank you, yes. I had not meant to imply that all cable techs are idiots. It's that the ones Comcast hires are often idiots, because they won't hire and pay skilled ones with experience. That's the company's problem, and a lot of people have had the same experience.

I must've got lucky, then, and got the three guys with a clue, or the company operators in my area have a clue and hire good people. I hope it holds up if there're problems in future. Sorry y'all have such nimrods doing it in your area.

[Chuck Dye]

Is it really a prejudice if the observation/opinion is reinforced  by every contact with one of "THEM?"

Perhaps, perhaps not, but the process sure is producing some ugly, and off topic, posts here.


(Uncle Bubba, Nimrod got a single mention in the bible as being a mighty hunter.)

[KD5NRH]

I suppose you sneer "McJob!" at the people who make your burger and fries or your taco and burrito, too. Is your own self image so bad that you have to put other people down to make yourself feel better? Whatever they're doing and whatever it pays they're out working and trying to make a living. It's honest work. Leave 'em alone about it.

You forgot to ask him if he wanted fries with that.