techrecovery | Feb. 9th, 2007

I've heard people post about this scenario, but never believed that it actually happened, until this happened to me.

Recap: In ur call center, fixin ur computers.

Me: Me, the overworked, underappreciated, highly stressed tech.
DA: The overwhelmingly dim Dumbass

Me: "Blankity blank blank call center, this is guitarguy1980, how can I help you?"
DA: "Um, my power supply isn't working.
Me: "Ok, are you plugging your PC into a UPS?"
DA: "Ugh, yeah, I guess."
Me: "Alright, what brand of UPS is it?"
DA: "Um, RadioShack? That's where I got it."
Me: *Perplexed* "You bought an uninteruptable power supply at Radio Shack? Did the office purchase this for you?"
DA: "No, I bought this myself and brought it from home."

Perplexed, I pause for a moment to ponder. Do you see where this is going yet?

Me: "Is this a surge protector?"
DA: "Yeah, that's what it is! It's not working."
Me: "Ok, do you have it plugged into the wall?"
DA: "No, the power is out."

At this point, I'm ready to ask if this is someone prank calling me, but I decide to play along and continue the conversation.

Me: Where do you have it plugged in?"
DA: "Into itself. It's not working."

The dumbass had a surge protector plugged into itself.

Me: "Um...yeah, that's right. If it's not plugged into the wall, it's not going to work. If the power is out, it's not going to work. If there's no external source of power, those things won't work."
DA: "Are you sure?"
Me: "As death and taxes."
DA: "Oh... ok. Thanks! *click*

I'm hoping, HOPING that this person actually bought an expensive surge protector and thought it was a UPS, because otherwise, this dumbsicle thinks that surge protectors power themselves. I'm guessing with tiny gerbils and exercise wheels inside. Yeah, that's it.