Return of the Brats From The n-th Concentric Circle of Dante's Crockpot

[drquuxum.livejournal.com]

Oh, the new school year is so near, but yet so far away. What a drag. (That is a mild reference to the music mentioned, but I digress.)

The aforementioned demonspawn struck again. This time, $USER comes to my door looking forlorn as usual, saying "these kids have done something to my computer and it's frozen".

I go in and it's at the BIOS screen doing its memory check. She says, "what have you two been doing?" One reply: "[other kid] did it." "No I didn't! You touched that button!" "No, that was you!" *ears bleeding*

Anyway, it boots cleanly and all is well with that. However, as I begin to leave, she gives me one last directive..."You must tell them not to mess with my computer!"

NO I FSCKING DON'T. I'M NOT THEIR MOTHER. YOU ARE.

---

Oh, did I mention that when I walked in, I'd seen that these two had put about 7 cicada exoskeletons on top of the PC?

Comments

[jecook]

That tops my story of having to drag a computer that was full of mouse crap back to the shop, and hosing out the bed of my truck afterwards

[cadey.livejournal.com]

*facepalm*

My reply: $USER, it is not my responsibility to raise your children. If you don't want them doing anything to your computer, you might consider either leaving them with a family member or hire a babysitter instead of bringing them to work. As I am neither a family member or a babysitter, just a harried IT, I am rather tired of me having to fix the problems that they create, and I will not tell them that, as it is your responsibility.

*snerks* Probably not a FTW reply, but hey. I'm currently at work and have to "play nice" :)

[thalionar.livejournal.com]

I have a cicada exoskeleton on top of my computer, but just one :)

H*llspawn

[lwj2.livejournal.com]

Can you bill back for the time/parts used to repair the damage?

A hefty invoice from your department for "repair of damages caused by user's children to company property" might get their attention.

Alternatively, perform her repairs, et cetera as the last thing of the day. If she gets zapped for not getting stuff done, it might get their attention also. Canned response to demands to fix it now: "We have other urgent calls, yours will be done in order received."

Good luck.

[meandean.livejournal.com]

At this point, it's time to speak with some administrators.  Do it diplomatically, do it with well-chosen words...  But get the point across that this woman's crotch-droppings are putting the university's equipment in great peril, you've got better things to do than clean up after them, and the dept. you work in isn't a melon-farming playground.

It sounds like it really is a matter of time before they FUBAR major equipment in a major way.