Bastard Operator From Hell
Encyclopedia
The Bastard Operator From Hell (BOFH), a fictional character
created by Simon Travaglia
, is a rogue system administrator
who takes out his anger on user
s (often referred to as luser
s), colleagues, bosses, and anyone else who gets in his way.
The BOFH stories were originally posted in 1992 to Usenet
by Travaglia, with some being reprinted in Datamation
. They were published weekly from 1995 to 1999 in Network Week and since 2000 they have been published most weeks in The Register
. They were also published in PC Plus
magazine for a short time, and several books of the stories have also been released.
By extension, the term is also used to refer to any system administrator
who displays (or wishes he could get away with) the qualities of the original. The term has become common Internet slang
.
In the stories, the PFY (Pimply-Faced Youth) is the BOFH's assistant; this too has become a general term for a junior or trainee system administrator.
Early BOFH editions took place in a university, moving on to an office workplace over time (an exact transition is not given). BOFH 2k began with the BOFH and PFY moving to a new company.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
created by Simon Travaglia
Simon Travaglia
Simon Travaglia is best known as the author of the Bastard Operator From Hell stories, about a rogue system administrator. He lives in Hautapu , New Zealand with his three cows, dog, cat and Massey Ferguson MF135...
, is a rogue system administrator
System administrator
A system administrator, IT systems administrator, systems administrator, or sysadmin is a person employed to maintain and operate a computer system and/or network...
who takes out his anger on user
User (computing)
A user is an agent, either a human agent or software agent, who uses a computer or network service. A user often has a user account and is identified by a username , screen name , nickname , or handle, which is derived from the identical Citizen's Band radio term.Users are...
s (often referred to as luser
Luser
In Internet slang, a luser is a painfully annoying, stupid, or irritating computer user.It is a portmanteau of "loser" and "user"....
s), colleagues, bosses, and anyone else who gets in his way.
The BOFH stories were originally posted in 1992 to Usenet
Usenet
Usenet is a worldwide distributed Internet discussion system. It developed from the general purpose UUCP architecture of the same name.Duke University graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis conceived the idea in 1979 and it was established in 1980...
by Travaglia, with some being reprinted in Datamation
Datamation
Datamation was a print computer magazine published in the United States between 1957 and 1998. When first published it wasn't clear there would be a significant market for a computer magazine given how few computers there were...
. They were published weekly from 1995 to 1999 in Network Week and since 2000 they have been published most weeks in The Register
The Register
The Register is a British technology news and opinion website. It was founded by John Lettice, Mike Magee and Ross Alderson in 1994 as a newsletter called "Chip Connection", initially as an email service...
. They were also published in PC Plus
PC Plus
PC Plus is a Computer magazine published monthly since 1986 in the UK by Future Publishing. The magazine is aimed at intermediate to advanced PC users, computer professionals and enthusiasts. The magazine is specifically for users of PCs and related technologies, so features articles are...
magazine for a short time, and several books of the stories have also been released.
By extension, the term is also used to refer to any system administrator
System administrator
A system administrator, IT systems administrator, systems administrator, or sysadmin is a person employed to maintain and operate a computer system and/or network...
who displays (or wishes he could get away with) the qualities of the original. The term has become common Internet slang
Internet slang
Internet slang is a type of slang that Internet users have popularized, and in many cases, have coined. Such terms often originate with the purpose of saving keystrokes. Many people use the same abbreviations in texting and instant messaging, and social networking websites...
.
In the stories, the PFY (Pimply-Faced Youth) is the BOFH's assistant; this too has become a general term for a junior or trainee system administrator.
Early BOFH editions took place in a university, moving on to an office workplace over time (an exact transition is not given). BOFH 2k began with the BOFH and PFY moving to a new company.
Characters
The following characters appear regularly :- The BOFH, actual name of Simon. Faked his death in order to take an extended holiday, twice, with great success.
- The PFY (Pimply-Faced Youth) (BOFH's assistant, 1996—), actual name of Steven or Stephen.
- The Boss (changes throughout the stories as successive bosses are sacked, leave, are committed, or have nasty "accidents")
- "Beancounters" aka accountantAccountantAn accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
s (disposable, interchangeable, faceless, used on occasion as balls in a game of "blackout fire-alarm beancounter pinball") - The CEO - The PFY's uncle Brian from 1996 until 2000, when the BOFH and PFY moved on to a new company
- The Head of ITInformation technologyInformation technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
- HelldeskHelp deskA help desk is an information and assistance resource that troubleshoots problems with computers or similar products. Corporations often provide help desk support to their customers via a toll-free number, website and e-mail. There are also in-house help desks geared toward providing the same kind...
Operators (disposable, interchangeable, faceless) - The Boss's Secretary, Sharon
- SecuritySecuritySecurity is the degree of protection against danger, damage, loss, and crime. Security as a form of protection are structures and processes that provide or improve security as a condition. The Institute for Security and Open Methodologies in the OSSTMM 3 defines security as "a form of protection...
(who will tape EmmerdaleEmmerdaleEmmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
over CCTVClosed-circuit televisionClosed-circuit television is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors....
video tapes; useless with computers) - George, the cleaner (invaluable source of information)
- Sam, the janitor (scapegoat)
- Ron, the electrician (Mad Ron the Sparky)
- Engineers, from various suppliers
- The 'Coloured Crayon' Department - the users of Apple MacsMacintoshThe Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
for graphic designGraphic designGraphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience... - Code Hacks - Programmers
- Steve - Mentally deficient co-worker, gives a crayoned "X" as a seal of approval, used as a scapegoat for projects doomed to failure
Books
- The Bastard Operator From Hell (Plan Nine, ISBN 1-929462-17-4)
- Bastard Operator From Hell II: Son of the Bastard (Plan Nine, ISBN 1-929462-40-9)
- Bride of the Bastard Operator From Hell (Plan Nine, ISBN 1-929462-48-4)
- Dummy Mode Is Forever (Plan Nine, ISBN 1-929462-63-8)
- Dial "B" For Bastard (Plan Nine, ISBN 1-929462-94-8)