One of my favorite classic calls: Noman rumerals

[redqueenmeg.livejournal.com]

We use SecurIDs to remotely access the network at work. For anyone who hasn't seen one, basically, this is just a device with six digital numbers that change once a minute, generating a new random six-digit number each time.

Well, this guy first announced to me that he was having trouble with the "Roman numerals" on his SecurID.

So, I'm thinking he's either got a really old SecurID, or it's really broken.

No.

He just doesn't know what Roman numerals are and thinks that they are the Arabic numerals most of us use on a daily basis.

So that was what his "Roman" numerals were.

But that was not the dumbest thing.

Tied for dumbest thing in that call was that he could not say "Roman numerals." He tried three times, and each time came up with "Noman rumerals."

x-posted to my journal

Comments

[fragbert.livejournal.com]

Wait a sec, Meg...he thought 0 through 9 inclusive were Roman Numerals?

You have GOT to be shitting me.

[redqueenmeg.livejournal.com]

I am so not kidding. Noman rumerals, he said. They are noman rumerals.

[fragbert.livejournal.com]

I am reminded of Edna Krabappel on the Simpsons telling Bart's class that they NEEDED to learn Roman numerals ... so they would know when certain movies were copyrighted.

Noman Rumerals?

[drquuxum.livejournal.com]

Noman ruminates! Nomic rudiments! Gnomish rheumatism! Sorry; I'm feeling horribly silly today.

The most ironic part of this story is that the educational system that brought him up likely dated back to Roman times. ;-)

Re: Noman Rumerals?

[redqueenmeg.livejournal.com]

It could very well be, although he didn't sound old. Just foggy.

Re: Noman Rumerals?

[drquuxum.livejournal.com]

Don't have to be old to be in an ancient and decrepit educational system. See also Southern Arkansas.

I'd've liked to have been there to hear his presentation on "King Louie Xiv".

[dukesnorre.livejournal.com]

Now I wonder if there is someone out there that thinks we should use roman numerals in stead of terrorist numerals.
The fact that I was able to think of it implies that there must be at least a dozen organizations with such a goal. :P

[redqueenmeg.livejournal.com]

They're probably affiliated with that group who started the petition to get The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers renamed.

[dukesnorre.livejournal.com]

Hrr. Though it's not really tech-related, these figures probably should get to know a LART better.

...I have no LART. :(

[liakela.livejournal.com]

I ain't usin' no foreign terr'ist numbers!!

I use FREEDOM NUMBERS!

'Merica!

Fuck yeah!

[the-s-guy.livejournal.com]

You have, of course, sent a child's introduction on Roman Numerals to his manager, suggesting that this is an area the caller expressed an interest in?

[redqueenmeg.livejournal.com]

How I wish I could have done that. But it would have been tracked back to me and I'd have been fired for "attitude."

[the-s-guy.livejournal.com]

Anonymous remailer :)

Depending on how many others he's revealed his ignorance to, I guess.

[klytus.livejournal.com]

I bet this truly delivered a blushing crow to his workday.

[redqueenmeg.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, he never realized his mistake. Even though I tried to make him understand the difference between the two types of numbers, he persisted in calling them "Noman rumerals."

Kind of like the people who say they want their passwords "in all lower caps." Uneducable.

[jjjiii]

Compounding this confusion is the fact that the 0-9 numerals in the Times New Roman font are Arabic numbers, just like everything else we use.

[redqueenmeg.livejournal.com]

Wow, I never even considered someone would get that mixed up. I mean, it's not like Times New Roman was invented by Microsoft, although you'd never get them to admit that.

But you're undoubtedly right.