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Years ago, I joined a company making games for handheld consoles.

Because a game's audio needs to be tested, too, I connected earphones to the console so that:
0. I wouldn't bother others w/ the sounds coming out of the console.
/* !Everyone wants to hear that crap. */
1. I could hear the sounds better.

PM: * Enters the room. *
Me: * Focused on testing the game. *
PM: * Walks up to me from the side, starts talking. *
Me: * Focused on testing the game. *
PM: * After approx. 30 seconds of complete lack of response from me, kind of irritated, knocks on my desk to get my attention. *
Me: * Take out the earphones. *
Oh, hi, how can I help you?
PM: Haven't you heard a word I said?
Me: Well, no. I am testing the game, including the audio.
PM: You need to pay attention to what's going on around you.
Me: Testing audio is one of my responsibilities. I am using earphones because of the reasons [0-1].
PM: Even still, you just need to pay attention to what's going on around you.
PM: * Finally explains the reason for him bothering me, then goes back to his lair. *

Moral of the story: Fuck being good at what you do && knowing your responsibilities.
When PM wants something from you, you better give him the attention he wants.

/* The expectation being I grow an extra pair of eyes && ears, so that I see the guy coming && am prepared to listen to him whenever he wants something _while_ doing the best job I possibly can. */

Comments
  • 15
    Before start talking, he should first ensure if the audio channel is open by saying hello and awaiting some ACK from you
  • 9
    @cafecortado Yup.

    Personally I have this habit of walking up to a person && entering their FOV, to see whether I've grabbed their attention.

    If that doesn't help, I start waving so that the person sees something moving in the corner of their eye - that usually does the trick.
  • 6
    The PM doesn't matter. You're the engineer in the room, so you tell them how to do your work, not the other way around :D but yeah, they can be like that sometimes, but I wouldnt let it sour my mood too much
  • 8
    @Hazarth PM had this 'I'm important, pay attention to me!' attitude.

    The guy increased my blood pressure for no more than 30 minutes.

    Got over the situation pretty quickly.
  • 6
    Oh yeah, people like that exist.

    My boss for example comes in and just stands in the door frame for half a minute when I don't notice him.

    Then he usually goes back to his office and calls me.

    That's much better than the POS you work with.

    ...still weird.
  • 1
    @retoor Yeah!

    He throws an unhandled exception ;-) .
  • 1
    @retoor Pass. The guy was 1.5x / 2x my size...

    ...width-wise.

    Dodging seems to be a better strategy.
  • 1
    yeah so... this happened to me with a few people and it gives me anxiety

    seriously what the fuck

    last time it happened at a job I got let go soon after. people are insane. I think it's a canary in the coal mine
  • 1
    @retoor oh I had a lead dev and former dev turned manager both agree to do this to me =]

    they made it a whole stink like that somehow meant I wasn't doing my job. am I your waiter or am I producing code. choose one
  • 2
    Damn shit PM. Good rant
  • 1
    Had a similar situation, sent them an outlook invite for a question discussion in five minutes. Surprisingly they saw that.
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