Last week, John at work passed around a post about how much SQL Server sucks (read the article for the sarcasm). 

Well, today I found that the article speaks a lot of truth and SQL Server really does suck.  I mean, why can't SQL Server figure out what to do with data in a column like this:

5, 9, 11, 17,

Yes, that's an example from a real table in an upgrade project I'm working on.  Yes, that data exists within a single row in a single column. Yes, those are real values that relate to primary keys in some other table.

Why use a relational database if you're just going to muck it up like this? A database should be cared for, hugged, petted, and treated with the respect that it deserves. Not poked with a stick and taunted with "Dr. E.F. Codd is tied up and locked in my basement, now what are you going to do about it!!??".