Did you ever use your position as a developer to flirt with someone?

Tagged:

Sam, is that you?

I had a roommate once who I could just see asking something like this.

I had a job once as a IT technician / systems administrator. One of my duties was making client calls. One of my favorite clients was a doctor’s office, where all the ladies that worked there doted over me like a little puppy.

I wish I’d have been a little more alive to romance back then, I could have totally asked the gorgeous junior doctor chick out. But I never did. I still think back sometimes to that time I was sitting in her office talking to her about whatever and she was just hanging on my every word.

I was in a perfect spot to abuse my position to mess with her or send her things. I had access to the computers and could probably even read her mail if I was so inclined. It never seriously occurred to me to do so. You’re always cognizant of your control over the system and how much damage you could cause. If your job is security, then you have to consider those angles.

I’d like to say I didn’t because I had a sense of professionalism, but really it took many more years for my system of professional ethics to really coalesce. I didn’t mess with her because both because it was dangerous and it could easily backfire and cost me my job, and because I was too busy lusting after her to really consider doing something real about it.

I can’t say nobody’s ever thought to do this, my aforementioned roommate is way looser morally than I am and probably wouldn’t think twice.