>
>
>If you are not permitted to examine or correct the whole equation (all 
>the computers and all the software), you will surely be blamed for 
>problems beyond your control the instant something goes wrong.
>
>I recommend politely declining to work on computers for people you don't 
>like (or who don't like you), to save you both endless grief.
>
I was about to say, "Just wait 'till you work for a company with more 
than three IT/dev people including yourself."  You'll be amazed at the 
things that otherwise normal, intelligent people will decide to 
politicize.  Technical workarounds to social problems are a norm.

--Alexander