Monday, February 27, 2006

Horoscopes.
Every time a bell rings, a tech support consultant breaks down and cries because some idiot has called him.

Aries: (March 21—April 19)
Your inability to follow simple step-by-step instruction in order may cause a choking hazard next Tuesday when the wrapper on your deli sandwich says "1: Remove toothpick. 2: Eat sandwich."

Taurus: (April. 20—May 20)
The Page Up and Page Down toolbar buttons can be used to view the diagram above or below the current selection.

Gemini: (May 21—June 21)
Many of your problems can be solved by taking the manual, putting it on your chair, standing on it so you can see over your cubicle wall, and shouting "does anyone know how to read a manual?"

Cancer: (June 22—July 22)
The stars can't help you understand the complexities of the English language because phrases like "click the 'Add Block' toolbar button to add a new block" baffle them, too.

Leo: (July 23—Aug. 22)
The Page Up and Page Down toolbar buttons still change the view to show the diagram above or below the current selection, just like last time.

Virgo: (Aug. 23—Sept. 22)
It is true that your supplier's delivery date was pushed back by several weeks, but when you evaluate them, the stars recommend you keep in mind that it was you who sent the wrong user requirements document. Unlike the stars, the supplier isn't telepathic, you know.

Libra: (Sept. 23—Oct. 23)
The stars really have to wonder why you think the poor technical consultant really needs to know every detail of your plans for the next 8 months. The snoring coming out of the phone is because you bored him to sleep. Please hang up and try your call again never.

Scorpio: (Oct. 24—Nov. 21)
Y'know what? You can change the view to above or below the current selection by using the Page Up and Page Down toolbar buttons. No, really. It still works that way.

Sagittarius: (Nov. 22—Dec. 21)
A "Standalone" install is for use on a single computer. A "Network" install allows many users access to the software on a network.

Capricorn: (Dec. 22—Jan. 19)
In case you hadn't figured it out from the previous horoscope, a "Network" install is, in fact, more appropriate for a network server.

Aquarius: (Jan. 20—Feb. 18)
The Page Up and Page Down toolbar buttons can no longer be used to change the view. Nah, the stars are just messing with you. Of course they can. Just like the last 50 times you asked how to change the view.

Pisces: (Feb. 19—March 20)
All your calls to the help desk will go unanswered next week because the Technical Support Consultant hung himself on his phone cord.

6 comments:

  1. Obviously Joe has been there. Pardon me while I clean the spit off the monitor from laughing so hard.

    -- Dad has been there too....

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  2. I got a service call that got bounced out of IT and back at out department becuase the request was so aweful:


    IT Guy: "Hey Blue Fox, I don't have time to deal with (fecal matter) like this. (un-named cow-rorker) wants me to setup (her/his) laptop at thier desk. This is bull (fecal matter). You deal with it."

    Me: "Is it broken?"

    IT Guy: "Naw man, just mouse and (fecal matter)"

    Me: "You're kidding right? Isn't (she/he) work on our technical/demonstration staff?"

    IT Guy: "Yes, but (She/he) is not technical, and it is a freaking laptop."

    Me: "ok, ok, I'll do it...."

    Process:
    Put keyboard on docking station. Plug in USB mouse
    Plug in USB keyboard.
    Plug in power.

    ~The Blue Fox

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  3. Almost unbelieveable that these type of computer users exist! Take the time to be informed. A few minutes with a manual will save you ten minutes on the phone--and it may keep those poor tech support people from hanging themselves.

    A related anecdote: A few years ago, an office supervisor purchased a DV camcorder. The in-duh-vidual came into my cubicle and asked me if I was busy. I said "No" (mistake #1), so this person pulled out the recently purchased DV cam and a manual. This person asked me to read it so I could tell this person how to work it.

    I took about 15 minutes paging through the more interesting features of the cam. I then went back to this person's office and demonstrated the required switch flip and button press.

    I didn't inform this person how to turn it off, so he/she may be running through quite a few batteries.

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  4. I had a Gemini today.

    Q: How is the lognormal distribution calculated?

    A: Look in the manual on p. 273. Searching the index for "Lognormal distribution" might help.

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  5. Emotional support for tech support:
    http://www.techtales.com/techroom.html

    I think induhviduals calling tech support for obvious answers to easy questions is proof that no man is an island: perhaps this is the only human contact these people have. Well, that and they're too dang lazy.

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  6. I'm reminded of one of my former bosses who had problems remembering that the paperclip button in his email program meant "attach file", even though that was how we filed the actual hard copies of things in his office -- using paper clips to attach a document to a letter, for example. Yeesh.

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