techrecovery | At least the job isn't boring (Reply)

Every so often, we receive calls that just deserve some sort of reward.

Caller: I have a computer problem (why else would you call us?) and I need it fixed. I've tried to turn on the computer and it still won't get passed the black screen. I've tried five times. What am I doing wrong?
Me: You've booted the computer?
Caller: Yeah, I'm pressing the button over and over. It still won't work.
Me: (knowing how people think) You've booted the CPU, right?
Caller: No, I'm trying to turn on the computer.
Me: Yes, the CPU.
Caller: No, the computer. It won't turn on.
Me: Press the button on the CPU.
Caller: The...what?
Me : The tower. There should be a button for you to press.
Caller: Wait, the tower, the CPU...what? I'm trying to turn on the computer.
Me: Press the button on the tower.
Caller: But that isn't the....Oh, nevermind.
Me: (dies a little inside)

Who actually taught these types of people that the monitor screen is your actual computer?
Why do we get at least two calls like this a month?

--

Caller: Hey, come somone come over and help me plug in my USB mouse?
Me and my co-workers: .........Plug it into your USB port.
Caller: No, can someone come in and help me do it?

This is why our Technicians insist on having us. We may have some less-than-great workers at the Help Desk, but at least the majority of us know how to weed out really stupid calls. This way, they only get moderately stupid requests.

There's a reason why this university does not offer a Computer Science major/minor.