You got it; I think you're right.Ice Cream Jonsey wrote: No computer programmer would suggest undoing such a hack, or not allowing users to put their own screensavers there. At least I hope! I will always believe that this "turn off Linux on the PS3," "turn off the screensaver hack on the Kindle" crap comes from a non-programmer with a different value system. So. So, why the fuck aren't programmers telling their inept middle managers to fuck the Christ off? God, as a profession, software engineers can best be depicted by a weeping yellow spine a mile long.
Another issue is programmers agreeing to non-compete clauses. Most of us who worked at programming jobs were wage slaves working for a living, have families or responsibilities and when handed this by management, agree to it, and forget or are unaware that it's usually a lot harder and more expensive to find a replacement then they realize, and in most, if not all cases, if they refused, management isn't going to fire them, or in the alternative, if they demanded a non-compete clause to be struck from their contract (or struck it themselves) that they would get it struck.
Someone once said that if your contract has a non-compete clause, that they want it that bad, that they should have to pay your salary for the length of time that the clause is in effect.
The one at the company I was at wasn't really too onerous, it just said you couldn't work for one year for an exact competitor of theirs, any company making software for non-profit associations. But I probably should have refused to accept it, saying that if it was that important it should have been in the terms when I accepted the job.
I've heard on Slashdot how some people have moved across the country or otherwise been in expensive changes, then taking a new job and can't afford to be terminated, being hit with these on the order of 'accept it or we're cancelling the offer'.
These type of requirements are considered so bad that they are completely unenforceable in California. (I think there may be an exception for very high-paid people, like A-list actors or certain executives.)
Another bad point about them is that if you're laid off the company can still hold you to it, or if it goes bankrupt whoever the receiver, trustee or a purchaser of the corpse of your prior employer can still hold you to it; most people who sign these don't even realize this or get an exclusion for layoff, insolvency or involuntary termination (e.g. if they fire you it doesn't apply either.)