(no subject)

[mightyj.livejournal.com]

Dear User,

When I said 'log out' when you go to lunch and I'll work on your PC, I really meant 'log out' not 'shutdown'.

Signed,

Your Beleaguered System Administrator

Comments

[margaretc.livejournal.com]

What fun!

[jecook]

I know what you mean.

I am assigned a list of systems to perform Preventative maintenance on every month. Out of the 30-odd systems I was given this month, I was able to remotely log into almost each one and perform the software side of our checks: verify applications, verify that the scheduled tasks we deploy are set up correctly, and to gauge general system health. There were ten that I could not, because they were either powered off (Bad monkeys!), in use and on the floor (meaning I have to call them up and ask them if I could kick them off), or were not configured to allow me to log into them remotely (like the network administrator's machine) Those machines get to wait until I visit them with the vacuum clean and wet naps to do. ::sigh::

[evilbill1782.livejournal.com]

And of course these are always the machines with the Pentium-II processor and 128 megs of RAM, which take 35 minutes just to get to the Windows login screen. ;)

[lihan161051.livejournal.com]

Why does "log out" seem to mean either "shut down" or "turn off the monitor", with the next most popular interpretation being "close the currently active window"? (the latter is often also the response to "quit the currently active application"..)

And why does "log in" seem to mean "open your web browser?"

Yeah, I know what you mean. **sigh** And it's not like I'm not *scrupulously* careful with the wording of my instructions or anything .. I mean, I only refer to things with the EXACT WORDING OF WHAT SHOULD BE ON THE SCREEN .. feh ..

[lihan161051.livejournal.com]

Oh, and the monitor is often the "computer" and the computer itself is often the "hard drive".

Someone needs to teach a Use of English in Tech Support Contexts class .. and make it possible to check whether the person calling has passed it. And make passing it mandatory for talking to a support agent. Never happen, but it would sure be nice. >:-(

[compwizrd.livejournal.com]

where DID "hard drive" originate anyways? About a third of my end users call it the hard drive.. "The hard drive is making noise" and then they look at me funny when I show up with a brand new Seagate...

[canray.livejournal.com]

Because "Motherboard", "CPU", and "Brain Part Of The Computer" were too difficult for them to figure out.

[benatwork.livejournal.com]

I think the 'log in' one is due to the profusion of advertisements that say, "Log in to our website at www.misappropriatedgrammar.com for more information!"

[helpdeskian.livejournal.com]

I feel your pain on that one. I have the same problem in my labs. I have signs up everywhere to please leave all of the computers and printers on, but people are always shutting them off.

[davenh.livejournal.com]

I usually get the opposite: I ask someone if they've shut down their computer and they say they have, but when I have to pursue the question I find out they have in fact only logged off.