Breaking Eggs

Today’s D word is dependant

Main Entry: 2dependent
Variant(s): also de·pen·dant /-d&nt/
Function: noun
1 archaic : DEPENDENCY
2 : one that is dependent; especially : a person who relies on another for support

One thing running [MC] & [CP] (ß hence forth to mean The Cheat Police) has taught me is that no matter how hard you try, you are always dependant on others. This is not always a bad thing but neither is it always a good thing either. Take [MC] for instance. Each squad has two leaders; each game has an HQ group made up of the squad leaders, two battalion commanders and a Deputy clan leader. The entire clan itself has a Clan Council made up of all the Battalion Commanders and Deputy Clan Leaders. They are my eyes and ears within the clan and help to make sure everything runs as it should. That’s a good thing.

The flip side is one of my Linux Admins. Most of our gaming servers run off of Linux boxes. Back when we first started getting our own boxes Tomcat, being the only Linux Admin set up the security on them as tight as he could. As he was the only one logging into the boxes via SSH he didn’t mind the strict security settings. As we’ve grown we now have additional people that need access and they are having a bit of a problem with the current security settings.

Having been dependant on Tomcat for so long it is like pulling teeth (something I know a great deal about) to get him to change things. He is a bit anal about security you see. Add into that that he lives over in the UK and there is a large time difference and perhaps you can begin to understand my frustration. It’s never easy to get someone you are dependant on to do what you want them to when it goes against what they want to do. Because we are dependant on him it is rather like walking on egg shells.

Last night I broke all the egg shells I think. I told him the way I wanted it set up and that it needed to be done that way. Surprisingly enough he did it with a only a small amount of complaining. Maybe he’s dependant on us just as we are on him? Then again it could just be a European thing.

I guess it is ok to be dependant on others. I know with [MC] it took me forever to relinquish control and delegate responsibility to others. I still have a hard time with in fact. I guess when making an omelet you have to break a few eggs…with running a clan I guess you have to step on a few toes now and then. Then again, if I could do it all myself I wouldn’t have to worry about that would I? Maybe it’s time to go buy “Linux for Dummies”