<![CDATA[I got a call from someone I don't know.]]>I got a call from someone I don't know.

"Hi. We have a FreeBSD server. It's been working perfectly for years, but it hasn't been updated since then. We asked AI to update it, but now it won't boot anymore. It didn't even make a backup before starting. The AI keeps trying things, everything is down, and we've already spent over €500 in tokens. Can you help us?"

"Sure. €500, plus the time it'll take me to try to fix it. Assuming it can still be fixed and nothing important has been deleted."

"That much?"

Some silence.

"Well, I hope AI takes your job away!" And he hung up.

Believing that autopilot automatically makes you an invulnerable professional pilot will ruin far more people than job losses will.

I don't know if AI will take my job away, but it's already cost them €500 and, probably, their server.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/topic/6a4188ad-7858-442e-a571-9a66c392c952/i-got-a-call-from-someone-i-don-t-know.RSS for NodeSun, 18 Oct 2026 16:16:50 GMTMon, 12 Oct 2026 10:18:46 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:48:38 GMT]]>@stefano Giving a bot that has less intelligence than a toddler root on a machine... without even having any backups... and then have the gal to treat someone who can actually help them like this, yep, they deserve what they get!]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://pleroma.debian.social/objects/782d4cc2-9aa7-4963-a1e7-62901d54410chttps://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://pleroma.debian.social/objects/782d4cc2-9aa7-4963-a1e7-62901d54410cTue, 13 Oct 2026 12:48:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Tue, 13 Oct 2026 07:37:40 GMT]]>@peteorrall@bsd.cafe

Oh no! Reading human-written instructions! Like a caveman! 😀

CC: @stefano@bsd.cafe
]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://snac.bsd.cafe/evgandr/p/1791877060.789919https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://snac.bsd.cafe/evgandr/p/1791877060.789919Tue, 13 Oct 2026 07:37:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Tue, 13 Oct 2026 07:31:26 GMT]]>@slothrop@chaos.social

pkg upgrade
CC: @stefano@bsd.cafe
]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://snac.bsd.cafe/evgandr/p/1791876686.958323https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://snac.bsd.cafe/evgandr/p/1791876686.958323Tue, 13 Oct 2026 07:31:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Tue, 13 Oct 2026 07:23:20 GMT]]>@stefano F-yeah. Nice response. The amount of resentment toward people with IT skill is palpable. “You want to charge me for help with a free web page builder?”. “You’re charging me more than the device cost!”.

Shits going to burn down.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://bitbang.social/users/Random_Seed/statuses/117432398649762666https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://bitbang.social/users/Random_Seed/statuses/117432398649762666Tue, 13 Oct 2026 07:23:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Tue, 13 Oct 2026 06:52:23 GMT]]>@fullywoolly I was eating a carrot. Maybe it counts, too 😆

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.bsd.cafe/users/stefano/statuses/117432277008085075https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.bsd.cafe/users/stefano/statuses/117432277008085075Tue, 13 Oct 2026 06:52:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Tue, 13 Oct 2026 06:42:21 GMT]]>@stefano the only way this could have been made better is if you were coincidentally eating a bowl of popcorn

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/fullywoolly/statuses/117432237502825273https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/fullywoolly/statuses/117432237502825273Tue, 13 Oct 2026 06:42:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Tue, 13 Oct 2026 06:16:34 GMT]]>@bladecoder @stefano the review price tag is still too low.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://norden.social/users/duncan_blues/statuses/117432136156488682https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://norden.social/users/duncan_blues/statuses/117432136156488682Tue, 13 Oct 2026 06:16:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Tue, 13 Oct 2026 05:00:04 GMT]]>@mwl @nuintari @stefano Yes, and I WILL flex that VERY SOON…

Cuz when the - bursts and enough corporate is a burning mess, THEY WILL BEG FOR A SOLUTION AT ANY COST!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://tech.lgbt/ap/users/116655881384112498/statuses/117431835303204843https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://tech.lgbt/ap/users/116655881384112498/statuses/117431835303204843Tue, 13 Oct 2026 05:00:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Tue, 13 Oct 2026 04:55:55 GMT]]>@stefano when they call back, triple it

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://tech.lgbt/users/glitch25/statuses/117431819022313168https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://tech.lgbt/users/glitch25/statuses/117431819022313168Tue, 13 Oct 2026 04:55:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Tue, 13 Oct 2026 03:14:59 GMT]]>@stefano
No backup? No pity.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://troet.cafe/users/Firestarter_OL/statuses/117431422106352084https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://troet.cafe/users/Firestarter_OL/statuses/117431422106352084Tue, 13 Oct 2026 03:14:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:36:40 GMT]]>@teapot_ben @stefano I'm pretty sure with that mess, ai will cost them their jobs

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/dolanor/statuses/117430799620512773https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/dolanor/statuses/117430799620512773Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:36:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Mon, 12 Oct 2026 23:27:46 GMT]]>@stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafe More servers should end like this

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mk.absturztau.be/notes/as9g5dlqvucu003thttps://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mk.absturztau.be/notes/as9g5dlqvucu003tMon, 12 Oct 2026 23:27:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Mon, 12 Oct 2026 21:56:05 GMT]]>@somebody @wizbean @stefano
I love "sloperator" and am definitely going to use it!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/BoloMKXXVIII/statuses/117430168146433776https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/BoloMKXXVIII/statuses/117430168146433776Mon, 12 Oct 2026 21:56:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Mon, 12 Oct 2026 20:32:03 GMT]]>@stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafe "that much" yet he didn't seem to mind spending the same amount on getting it broken ​​

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://thegayagenda.fans/notes/as99veqd1w2d00wshttps://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://thegayagenda.fans/notes/as99veqd1w2d00wsMon, 12 Oct 2026 20:32:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Mon, 12 Oct 2026 20:24:58 GMT]]>@stefano

Agreed.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.world/users/labbatt50/statuses/117429809889870022https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.world/users/labbatt50/statuses/117429809889870022Mon, 12 Oct 2026 20:24:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:59:52 GMT]]>@stefano What a dick

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://veganism.social/users/sashin/statuses/117429711164997563https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://veganism.social/users/sashin/statuses/117429711164997563Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:59:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:54:39 GMT]]>@stefano If he assumed AI is cheaper than sysadmins who actually know what they’re doing and he already spent €500 on tokens, then why is he surprised that you charge more than €500? Does not compute!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.nl/users/ArtHarg/statuses/117429690657036866https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.nl/users/ArtHarg/statuses/117429690657036866Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:54:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:32:45 GMT]]>@stefano
I don't get this attitude for anything broken. Once I realize something will be a complicated fix, I immediately think that paying a professional is the cheapest solution. My computer, the plumbing, the roof, my taxes. If I know I could dig myself a deeper hole on my own, I give it to someone who won't.

Some people were never taught "penny wise, pound foolish" when growing up.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://furs.social/users/heathen_cat/statuses/117429604520303140https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://furs.social/users/heathen_cat/statuses/117429604520303140Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:32:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:26:54 GMT]]>@teapot_ben @stefano In my experience, they have always been around. It was just easier to limit the damage they do to an organization.

Once worked with a lady, sweet as can be, but dumb as rocks. She would believe any simplistic forecast the computer would throw at her. Trusted these algorithms like the one true God. So you trusted your engineering judgment over her numbers, did your own research, took a longer term view etc.

I think about her a lot with AI.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://sfba.social/users/sewblue/statuses/117429581535855359https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://sfba.social/users/sewblue/statuses/117429581535855359Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:26:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:17:51 GMT]]>@BoydStephenSmithJr @trebor @stefano One trend that amuses me significantly more than it should is that AI already figured out that we all hate AI, while management keeps not understanding this.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hachyderm.io/ap/users/116947477577432109/statuses/117429545965280279https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hachyderm.io/ap/users/116947477577432109/statuses/117429545965280279Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:17:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:15:44 GMT]]>@nuintari @mwl @stefano This is helpful context, thank you.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://en.osm.town/ap/users/115702352497105111/statuses/117429537608991489https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://en.osm.town/ap/users/115702352497105111/statuses/117429537608991489Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:15:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:13:59 GMT]]>@theorangetheme @mwl @stefano I honestly hate doing it, but it is the only work I've been finding lately. I've had to sign an NDA for every single gig I have had doing it, they always wanna haggle over the price, and they always complain that the fix takes too long.

The last part is what really drives me bonkers. They spent a month wasting money on an AI solution that made their issue worse, but they expect me to wave my magic wand and fix it in an hour.

And so, so many of them will try it again. I've gotten three callbacks this year that were basically, "We aimed AI at your fix and now it's broke, we need you to come back in (and do a better job this time)."

I have taken to stating in my contract terms that if you use AI on my work, it completely voids anything resembling a warranty or culpability on my part. I will not be held responsible because people are idiots. Doesn't stop them from trying though.

If AI is the future of IT, I don't want to work in IT anymore.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.bsd.cafe/users/nuintari/statuses/117429530771377370https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.bsd.cafe/users/nuintari/statuses/117429530771377370Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:13:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:01:44 GMT]]>@stefano I say this all the time “you don’t know what you don’t know”. No LLM will proactively warn you about issues you don’t know about and no LLM will fill in the gaps of your knowledge for you.

It does what you ask it to do, so its context is your knowledge, not the other way around.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://chaos.social/users/lalalasombra/statuses/117429482590386025https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://chaos.social/users/lalalasombra/statuses/117429482590386025Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:01:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I got a call from someone I don't know. on Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:00:06 GMT]]>@trebor @stefano Last time I saw it, I search up and linked the original and got a reply indicating there was some metadata / signature of a particular generative AI that was in the image.

I'll try searching my history, but I don't know how long ago that was.

EDIT: https://sfba.social/@drahardja/117244750291481005

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/BoydStephenSmithJr/statuses/117429476162120772https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/BoydStephenSmithJr/statuses/117429476162120772Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:00:06 GMT