I’ve been writing software since 1970, first for pay in 1977. So when Dilbert debuted in 1989, its characters resembled my experiences in the IT industry. I managed a Wally, and had a pointy-haired boss who turned into a minorityist CEO, underappreciated female co-workers, and unrealistic deadlines.
I’m uncertain how Dogbert and Catbert got their positions, but their consulting, tech support, and HR characterizations were spot on. Some could say Elbonia and the overworked immigrant intern were insults to demographic groups. Instead, the characters deride high-tech companies and their personal profit over work-life balance.
I’ve subscribed to the Free Lance-Star since 1983. On the comic page, the strip is on the upper left during the week and on the front page on Sunday. On any day, my read sequence ended with Dilbert.
In September 2022, Lee Enterprises, owners of the Free Lance-Star and most newspapers in Virginia, dropped color from their comic pages, puzzles, and many of their syndicated columns from their printed editions. They did include extra comic pages and puzzles in their online editions and a link to the Andrews McMeel website. The latter website contained links to many comic strips, puzzles, and columns.
My guess is Lee Enterprises’ changes were for cost savings. Their decision could have been right out of a Dilbert plot.
Scott Adams is the creator of Dilbert. He is my age, which is probably why I can relate to many of his storylines. I don’t know of his politics or personality, only those of the characters that he draws.
Sometime in early 2023, he made a controversial YouTube post, and Andrews McMeel canceled their relationship. The comic was removed from the GoComics.com site. So, I went to dilbert.com for my daily reading.
March 12, 2023, was the last original Dilbert strip published on dilbert.com.
Now when going to dilbert.com, there is a link to Dilbert Reborn. The link is to the locals.com website. To see Dilbert Reborn daily requires a $70 annual donation, something the cranium-raised CEO or pointy-haired boss would appreciate.
I’ve been writing software for 53 years. It started using BASIC on a teletype to the Dartmouth timeshare machine. My math teacher piqued my interest and allowed us to learn the language during lunch.
Does anybody write COBOL or FORTRAN anymore? I wrote a lot of COBOL until the early 90s, when open systems and relational databases became the norm.
Even after leaving IT and starting Race Timing Unlimited in 2007, I wrote our results processing software and the ASP.NET website.
Currently, I’m learning Android App programming and constantly evolving! Does anybody need somebody to maintain a COBOL-based system?