(no subject)

[pixeltwist.livejournal.com]

It's really hard to powercycle when people don't do what you tell them to.

Shut down the computer does not mean restart.

Unplug your modem and router doesn't mean unplug your computer or shut them both off using your powerstrip.

Plug the modem back in does not mean turn your computer back on, even after it's plugged in. Please wait until I tell you to turn your computer back on.


On a somewhat unrelated note, I hate it when the people that call in go on about how illiterate they are about computers.

What do you want me to say? YAP, YOU'S A MORRAN!

I ususally lie and tell them I've had worse. Key word: lie


At least I'm done with work in 20 minutes. I need to go home to my working computer.

(x-posted to provisioned and techsupport)

Comments

[das-prompt.livejournal.com]

The best course of action:

"OK, now can you power cycle the phone you're on?"

[ravenshrinkery.livejournal.com]

Every now and then someone gets advised to remove all the cables from their computer so we can pull it out. Every now and then we get lucky and this includes them pulling the phone cord that kept them connected :).

[katyism.livejournal.com]

i honestly don't understand what they want us to say in response to "i'm really computer stupid, you know, boy i sure just don't know what i'm doing, i'm an idiot with technology" and go on about it everytime i try to issue an instruction.

sometimes i do your thing and lie and say "there've been worse, you're not so bad since you're trying to at least work with me here, blah blah blah..." even if they aren't really working with me.

sometimes i say something short and noncomittal, and that gets them to stop dissing themselves, like "you are? ok. click on start." or, "well, that's what we're here for, to help you" which is pandering in my opinion but oh well.

somtemes if the user's stupid AND annoying and won't shut up i'll get a little snippy. "you're not computer savvy? yeah, i can tell. just click on what i was saying earlier..." but i won't go further than that.

[the-s-guy.livejournal.com]

"That's why I'm giving you the version we tested on three-year-olds."

Personally, if anyone starts crapping on to me about how stupid I must think they are, I just send freezing silence down the line.

Still, there are compensations...

[fatesplaything.livejournal.com]

With the "I'm Techno-stupid" people, they are split fairly 50:50.

The first group just babble and waste about 90% of your call with stuff that you don't need to know, and still manages to do things wrong no matter how far you dumb it down.

The other half admits that they don't know what they are doing and follows your instructions exactly.