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What would you do? Boss thought I copied code from Web

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Re: What would you do? Boss thought I copied code from Web

#33
post #32

Show of hands. Who DOESN'T copy snippets of code from the net occasionally? Anybody? Cobol programmer in the back, your hand has been noted, you can put it down now...

Um... most people? Unless you're counting explicitly open source software with a compatible license.

Re: What would you do? Boss thought I copied code from Web

#35
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I only know his history in broad strokes. He has a "reputation," I just don't know the specifics. He hated the guy that I replaced - 3 months later and he is still publicly bad mouthing the guy. Very unprofessional, makes for a hostile work environment.

A general policy of mine is to avoid people who are frequently bad-mouthing other people. I think this is your key indicator of his character, and yes it does make for a hostile, and corrosive, work environment.

I regularly bad mouth people, but in an equal opportunity humorous way. Myself included.

Re: What would you do? Boss thought I copied code from Web

#36
post #32

Show of hands. Who DOESN'T copy snippets of code from the net occasionally? Anybody? Cobol programmer in the back, your hand has been noted, you can put it down now...

Do answers on StackOverflow count?

I would count that, yes. Any time you think "I need to do X" but don't know the syntax, do you hopelessly read through help docs or do you Google it and keep going?

Re: What would you do? Boss thought I copied code from Web

#37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds like he barely has any idea what he's talking about...or you two are talking about totally different things. Has this happened before with him? Has he done this to anybody else?

I only know his history in broad strokes. He has a "reputation," I just don't know the specifics. He hated the guy that I replaced - 3 months later and he is still publicly bad mouthing the guy. Very unprofessional, makes for a hostile work environment.

"How he talks about his ex-girlfriend is how he will talk about you."

Word substitute accordingly. There's a reason it's a bad idea for candidates to bad-mouth their current employer, and it's the reverse of this situation.

Re: What would you do? Boss thought I copied code from Web

#38
post #35
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A general policy of mine is to avoid people who are frequently bad-mouthing other people. I think this is your key indicator of his character, and yes it does make for a hostile, and corrosive, work environment.

I regularly bad mouth people, but in an equal opportunity humorous way. Myself included.

Do what you like. Are you aware of the impression you give ofyourself when you badmouth others?

Re: What would you do? Boss thought I copied code from Web

#39
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I was accused of plagiarism, I'd start making plans to leave. I don't say that lightly; this might, I think, be the first time in my overlong time on HN to give that piece of advice.

this is my first job in the industry, and i've only been there for less than 3 months. i'm afraid i won't be able to find another job with my experience.

You don't have to quit right this moment, but you can use the knowledge that you are quitting to change how you deal with your current job; you can keep your head down and chug away for a little while, calmly oblivious to politics and promotion and overtime and all that stuff, because you know you're not staying.

Re: What would you do? Boss thought I copied code from Web

#40
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

this is my first job in the industry, and i've only been there for less than 3 months. i'm afraid i won't be able to find another job with my experience.

You are probably drastically underestimating the marketability of "can write production-ready JavaScript given sufficient time browsing docs & without copying it directly from StackOverflow." And I only say "probably" because it sounds like you're looking for a local W-2 gig, and there are some places (e.g. rural Idaho) where there's likely to be a shortage of potential employers. Elsewhere, consider "any company wit…

Thank you for the perspective. I take the requirements on job listings very literally and definitely underestimate what I have to offer. I will broaden my search. I am not in a tech hot spot, but also not in the middle of nowhere.
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