Stories with Tag Office

• The April Fools joke that might have got me fired

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  Posted: 2025-04-01 07:11:30

  Verbose tl;dr

  The author recounts an April Fool's Day prank where they altered a colleague's IDE settings to make spaces appear as the character for "n-width space" (a nearly invisible character), causing chaos and frustration for the unsuspecting programmer. While the author initially found the prank hilarious, the victim and management did not share their amusement, and the author worried about potential repercussions, including termination. The prank highlighted differing senses of humor and the importance of considering the potential impact of jokes, especially in a professional setting. The author ultimately confessed and helped fix the problem, reflecting on the thin line between a harmless prank and a potentially career-damaging incident.

  On the first day of April, in the year 2025, a software engineer, recounting their experience on their personal web log titled "Old VCR," perpetrated what they believed to be a harmless April Fools' Day prank. This jest involved the modification of a prominent metric displayed on a widely-utilized internal dashboard within their organization. Specifically, the engineer, whose identity remains undisclosed, altered the display of this key performance indicator, commonly referred to as a KPI, to present a conspicuously inflated and obviously fabricated value. This exaggeration was so substantial as to be immediately recognizable as a humorous fabrication to anyone familiar with the typical performance levels. The intent, as articulated by the engineer, was to elicit a brief chuckle from colleagues before swiftly revealing the deception and restoring the metric to its accurate state.

  However, the engineer's seemingly innocuous prank went awry due to an unforeseen concatenation of circumstances. Firstly, the engineer was called away from their workstation unexpectedly, delaying the planned revelation of the jest. Secondly, and more critically, the inflated metric was observed by a high-ranking executive within the company, one unfamiliar with the typical fluctuations of the displayed KPI. This executive, taking the inflated figure at face value, proceeded to disseminate this erroneous information in a communication to a broader audience, presumably stakeholders or other executives, thus amplifying the reach and potential consequences of the initial prank.

  Upon returning to their station, the engineer discovered the unintended ramifications of their actions and immediately rectified the displayed metric, restoring the accurate value. However, the damage, so to speak, had already been done. The engineer subsequently received a summons to a meeting with their manager and a representative from the human resources department, a meeting the engineer characterized as carrying an undercurrent of seriousness and potential disciplinary action.

  While the engineer was ultimately not terminated from their employment, the incident served as a stark reminder of the potential unintended consequences of even seemingly harmless workplace pranks, particularly within the context of sensitive information and readily accessible data dashboards. The engineer expressed a newfound appreciation for the importance of considering the wider ramifications of actions, even those intended purely for levity, within the professional environment. The blog post concluded with a reflection on the fine line between humor and potential career jeopardy, offering a cautionary tale to other professionals tempted by the allure of the April Fools' tradition.

  • April Fools
  • prank
  • work
  • Office
  • Humor
  • joke
  • fired
  • consequences
  • employment
  • story
  • blog
  • personal anecdote

  Summary of Comments ( 81 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43543743

  Verbose tl;dr

  HN commenters largely discussed the plausibility of the original blog post's premise, questioning whether such a simple April Fool's joke could genuinely lead to dismissal, especially given the described work environment. Some doubted the veracity of the story altogether, suggesting it was fabricated or embellished for comedic effect. Others shared similar experiences of jokes gone wrong in professional settings, highlighting the fine line between humor and inappropriateness in the workplace. A few commenters analyzed the technical aspects of the joke itself, discussing the feasibility and potential impact of redirecting a production database to a test environment. The overall sentiment leaned towards skepticism, with many believing the author's actions were careless but not necessarily fireable offenses, particularly in a tech company accustomed to such pranks.

  The Hacker News post "The April Fools joke that might have got me fired" (linking to a blog post about a fake VHS release of Star Wars) generated a fair number of comments, mostly focusing on the author's workplace dynamics and the nature of the joke itself.

  Several commenters questioned the author's judgment and professionalism. One pointed out that introducing fake products into a professional catalog, even as a joke, can cause significant confusion and wasted time for colleagues and potentially clients. This commenter suggested the author should have considered the impact on others before executing the prank. Another echoed this sentiment, highlighting the disruption to workflows such as database updates and catalog printing that a fake product listing could cause. They emphasized the importance of considering the potential consequences of such actions in a workplace environment.

  Another line of discussion revolved around the workplace culture that allowed or encouraged such behavior. Some users questioned the maturity level of the workplace, suggesting that a culture tolerant of such pranks might indicate deeper issues. Others speculated about the author's standing within the company, suggesting that a junior employee pulling such a prank might be viewed differently than a senior one. One commenter mentioned that even seemingly harmless jokes can be career-limiting, especially if they disrupt operations or are perceived negatively by management.

  Several commenters also discussed the joke itself, with some finding it amusing and others not understanding the humor. The technical aspects of creating the fake VHS artwork were also discussed, with some appreciating the effort put into making it look realistic. One user expressed interest in seeing the fake VHS cover art.

  Some users sympathized with the author's predicament, while others found the story to be a cautionary tale about workplace pranks. The overall sentiment leaned towards the joke being ill-advised, even if it was intended to be harmless fun. There was a general agreement that understanding workplace dynamics and the potential impact of one's actions is crucial, especially when it comes to humor.

• Microsoft won't support Office apps on Windows 10 after October 14th

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  Posted: 2025-01-15 16:16:58

  Verbose tl;dr

  After October 14, 2025, Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will no longer receive security updates or technical support on Windows 10. While the apps will still technically function, using them on an unsupported OS poses security risks. Microsoft encourages users to upgrade to Windows 11 to continue receiving support and maintain the security and functionality of their Microsoft 365 applications.

  Microsoft has announced that it will cease providing support for Microsoft 365 applications on the Windows 10 operating system after October 14, 2025. This means that after this date, users who continue to utilize Windows 10 will no longer receive security updates, bug fixes, or technical support for their Microsoft 365 apps, which include popular productivity software like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. This effectively ends the functional lifespan of Microsoft 365 on Windows 10, although the applications may continue to operate for a period afterward, albeit with increasing security risks and potential compatibility issues.

  This decision aligns with Microsoft's broader strategy of encouraging users to migrate to Windows 11, the company's latest operating system. While Microsoft will continue to support Windows 10 with security updates until October 14, 2025, the lack of support for crucial productivity applications like Microsoft 365 effectively makes Windows 10 a less desirable platform for businesses and individuals who rely on these applications for their daily workflow. This move underscores the importance of staying up-to-date with software updates and operating system upgrades to ensure ongoing compatibility and security. Users who wish to continue using Microsoft 365 with full support after the October 2025 deadline will need to upgrade their systems to Windows 11. Failing to do so could expose users to potential security vulnerabilities and limit their access to the latest features and functionalities offered by Microsoft 365. This effectively deprecates Windows 10 as a viable platform for continued use of the Microsoft 365 suite, pushing users towards the newer Windows 11 ecosystem.

  • Microsoft
  • Office
  • Windows 10
  • Microsoft 365
  • Support
  • End of Support
  • Software
  • Operating System
  • Apps
  • productivity
  • Technology
  • October 14th
  • 2025
  • Office 365
  • Applications
  • October 14
  • Windows

  Summary of Comments ( 55 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42712807

  Verbose tl;dr

  HN commenters largely discuss the implications of Microsoft ending support for Office apps on Windows 10. Several express frustration with Microsoft's push to upgrade to Windows 11, viewing it as a forced upgrade and an attempt to increase Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Some highlight the inconvenience this poses for users with older hardware incompatible with Windows 11. Others note the potential security risks of using unsupported software and the eventual necessity of upgrading. A few commenters point out the continuing support for Office 2019, although with limited functionality updates, and discuss the alternative of using web-based Office apps or open-source office suites like LibreOffice. Some speculate this is a move to bolster Microsoft 365 subscriptions, making offline productivity increasingly dependent on the service.

  The Hacker News post titled "Microsoft won't support Office apps on Windows 10 after October 14th" has generated a number of comments discussing the implications of Microsoft's decision. Several commenters express frustration and cynicism regarding Microsoft's perceived strategy of pushing users towards newer operating systems and subscription services.

  One highly upvoted comment points out the confusion this creates for users, especially given that Windows 10 is still supported until 2025. They highlight the discrepancy between supporting the OS but not the core productivity suite on that OS, questioning the logic behind this move. The commenter suggests this is a tactic to force upgrades to Windows 11, even if users are content with their current setup.

  Another commenter echoes this sentiment, expressing annoyance at the constant pressure to upgrade, particularly when they are satisfied with the performance and stability of their existing software. They feel this is a blatant attempt by Microsoft to increase revenue through forced upgrades and subscriptions.

  The theme of planned obsolescence is also raised, with one user arguing that this is a classic example of a company artificially limiting the lifespan of perfectly functional software to drive sales. They express disappointment in this practice and the lack of consideration for users who prefer stability over constant updates.

  Some commenters discuss the technical implications, questioning the specific reasons why Office apps wouldn't function on a supported OS. They speculate about potential security concerns or underlying changes in the software architecture that necessitate the change. However, there's a general skepticism towards these explanations, with many believing it's primarily a business decision rather than a technical necessity.

  A few users offer practical advice, suggesting alternatives like LibreOffice or using older, perpetual license versions of Microsoft Office. They also discuss the possibility of using virtual machines to run Windows 11 if necessary.

  Several comments mention the security implications, with some suggesting that this move might actually improve security by forcing users onto a more modern and regularly updated platform. However, this is countered by others who argue that forced upgrades can disrupt workflows and create vulnerabilities if not handled properly.

  Overall, the comments reflect a general sentiment of frustration and skepticism towards Microsoft's decision. Many users perceive it as a manipulative tactic to drive revenue and force upgrades, rather than a move based on genuine technical necessity or user benefit. The discussion highlights the ongoing tension between software companies' desire for continuous updates and users' preference for stability and control over their systems.