Security/Fanboys

Securing Information

Different companies address this issue in different ways. Obviously, in most cases little can be done. However, each company sets in place a certain level of precautions. For example, STB at one time had cameras in the parking lot and other places. They would monitor what was being taken to and from the building. When 3dfx took over, this went away.

Another company actually went so far as to post security guards at the building exits, to inspect the different materials that were taken. (That case being more extreme, at the very least.) Most can be expected to have company email and web access monitored.

Oh Those Fans…

One of the slightly more amusing aspects of working within the industry is watching the fans. Specifically, those everyone likes to call “fanboys” are of great amusement. I admittedly used to be one myself, but after working within the industry, my perspective has changed. Why though?

Well fanboys are especially loyal to their favorite company, sometimes to the point of hating the other companies and even the people that work there. Anyone who likes that other company is also hated as well. Here is some surprising news to fanboys out there: in the industry, we are all friends. We all hang out together, drink together, joke together, etc. It is a lot of fun and there is no bitterness at all. Work is work and fun is fun. We keep it separate and just enjoy life.

An example of the fun we have was at Meltdown, roughly a year and a half ago. I was there for Bitboys and getting to know everyone. A joke was started that when people would come up to me they’d say Oy (the company is actually Bitboys Oy for those who don’t know, with Oy in Finland being equivalent to our Inc.). Well here I am in the restroom standing at a urinal (ok, I know, that is way too much information) and in walks Dave Kirk from NVIDIA and yells out “Oy!” to me. From which we both get a good laugh. And then there is the whole bloody lip incident with another, but that was an accident and all in good fun, so I won’t go there (if you read this... still love you man :-)).