Related to a previous post

[xforge.livejournal.com]

A small component of an extremely frustrating morning.

Guy from Aruba: "I can't log into webmail."
Me: "Okay, are you trying webmail.[our stock symbol]corp.com, or the new site at webmail.[full company name]corp.com? Because the old one won't work correctly any more and you have to use the new one."
GFA: "Yes."
Me: "All right... nope, nothing wrong with your login account... let's take a look. Are you using a company computer?"
GFA: "Yes."
Me: "Okay, let's get the IP address... and..."

I remote in and he's looking right at webmail.[our stock symbol].com.

Me: "Okay, you need to be sure to use [full company name]corp.com here from now on, the old one won't work any more."

GFA: "Yes."

Me [thinking]: Yes? Yes what? Yes you know to use the new web site now, or yes you're completely ignoring everything I say and I may as well be saying "Have a nice day and don't forget to shave your head and make a bonfire of everyone's shoes today! Bye now!!" Which is it????!!

GAHHH!!! LISTEN TO THE TECHNICIAN!!!

Comments

[mouser.livejournal.com]

Never ask a yes or no question - always ask a fill in the blank question. (Sometimes it takes a while before they admit to HAVING a computer, but it helps in the long run.)

XOR (xor) OR

[scottish-alth.livejournal.com]

Erm "are you a, or b" 'yes'

Happens all the time with me, to the point I'm going to start asking those questions in boolean.

Re: XOR (xor) OR

[xforge.livejournal.com]

Guffaw!!!

[eyeamahuman.livejournal.com]

Yes = Yes, I'm stupid. Please kill me to save the human race.

[lightforce.livejournal.com]

Is it possible that the caller's native language is something other than English? In my experience, non-native speakers of a particular language, especially those with a poor grasp of the language, will simply respond with "yes" or something similar when they don't know how to respond to something.

[xforge.livejournal.com]

They speak a hodgepodge of languages in Aruba, this guy's mother tongue is probably Spanish I'd guess, but his English was really good and I'd be surprised if that was the problem. But I wouldn't rule it out altogether.

[mouse-from-marz.livejournal.com]

"sorry, I don't speak English, I only learned enough to give that speech and this one."

"you've gotta be kidding me!"

"que?"

[darkrose.livejournal.com]

If I was in Aruba, the last thing I'd be worrying about is e-mail.

Just sayin'.

[xforge.livejournal.com]

Heh. Well, this is a honkin' resort and casino we own/manage/whatever down there.