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My first discussion today

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by gsg 2 views

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This was the first discussion that I had today to start my day off as "one of those days". This is a user who was wanting help with a personal project, and caused me to do a faceplant, and come back to my office and raid my gumball machine that is full of ibuprofen. Enjoy my pain...

User: Hey, is it easy to scan pictures in my laptop?

Me: It depends on your laptop and scanner. Some are faster and easier than others to use.

User: Scanner? Whats that?

Me: Its the device that you use to scan the pictures.

User: I dont understand. You mean my laptop wont scan them?

Me: Yes, if you have the scanner attached.

User: I thought I put the picture in the laptop and closed the lid and it would be there. I dont understand.

Me: You have to get a scanner. It looks like a small photocopier, and you put the picture on the glass and a light runs across it to take a picture of it, then you save it on your laptop.

User: ?! Why do I have to put it on my laptop?

Me: You want to save a copy of the picture electronically, right?

User: No, I want to email it.

Me: Then you have to save it, and attach it to an email.

User: I dont understand.

Oh. My. God.

16 replies

by jamesrl

When the tech writer tells you, "its good enough" referring to documentation, remember this user.

by gsg

Her daughter bought her a laptop for Christmas, and showed her how to turn it on, get on the internet, etc.... but neglected to explain a few important things. So when the user got back here, several thousand miles away, she didn't understand why she couldn't get on the internet. Boy was she mad when she found out that the internet just wasn't floating free in the air for anyone to magically connect to. She didnt' realize that she'd have to subscribe and pay for a service. Plus, we're in the boonies out here, and there are a lot of places where your only option is dial up.

She's a sweet lady, but she needs some serious lessons.

by deadly ernest

And she needs to be re-taught how to send an email every other week. Oi vey, it's quicker to type her emails for her, which is what i think she's after.

by tigger_two

Remember the old "blast with a cluebat?" This user needs one. Desperately. NOW.

Consider it a mercy beating.

I am grateful for my home office and the utter lack of end users. Even my cat knows how to properly use her USB device. (Ask me about my foot warmer)

Remember that if you strike your co-worker with an office supply, it isn't considered workplace violence, it is an accident caused by an improperly maintained work environment. A paper cutter is an office supply. So are scissors.

In all probability, a jury of your peers- IT professionals- would never convict you. Especially if they hear that story.

People laughed, but there was a reason that I kept a miniature bottle of scotch on top of my monitor. Even had a sign- "In case of emergency, break seal"

by gsg

She works in food service and could spike our food. OK, it's lousy hospital food, but it's all we've got. We only get 30 minutes for lunch so it's impossible to go out and get something, and only 2 pizza places deliver, so it's the cafeteria, or bring your own.

by seanferd

My sympathies empathies.

Hey, I was wondering if my printer* could be used to email stuff instead of using a fax**.
What model is the printer? (Looks it up.) Your printer has a glass platen?
Yes. I use it to photocopy stuff.
[Headdesk.]

*Printer he's owned for three years.
** I had made the suggestion long ago to check on this as his faxing habits are annoying.

by gsg

"Does this hurt?" Said by a dentist as he smacks the tooth that the filling came out of yesterday, and that the xray shows is cracked and needs a root canal.

I wanted to kick him in the daddy parts and ask, "Did THAT hurt, Einstein?"

by seanferd

But I don't suppose you made an appointment for, "Hey, my tooth doesn't hurt", did you? I swear, sometimes medical professionals seem to have the behaviors of mechanics and repair-oriented professionals, as if there weren't pain receptors and sentience at the other end of their tools.

"Daddy parts", LOL.

Perhaps the dentist could have used some form of this:
"Forward my missive to them then:
Explain why elbow dropping toilet bowls while crapping in the trousers is bad form."
https://www.techrepublic.com/forum/questions/101-341289-3418924
-Tony Hopkinson

by tigger_two

Lordy, lordy, I could share some stories!

Doc: You MUST be depressed!
Me: I don't think so.
Doc: Considering everything going on in your life, it is only reasonable.
Me: It might be reasonable, but it isn't my problem.
Doc: I'm certain you are depressed.
Me: I suppose it's a thought. Let's discuss it again when I see you next.

One hour later...
Me: Hi, I need to cancel an appointment.

Beating them is frowned upon but taking access to your insurance away isn't.

by hal 9000

After waiting 2 months I got back a NB that had the M'Board fail.

Naturally it's owner has been nice and saying it doesn't matter keep it for years of you like. :0

After lots of daily phone calls to the maker they finally sent it back with a OPK Install of 7. No biggy there I expected that and set about reloading the entire system and restoring the users Data which I saved before sending the NB back.

First thing was enter the users name and then the Product key for Windows. Everything went smoothly and when it was all finished for some reason I looked at the Specs of the unit only to find that the Repairer in Question had used a 32 Bit OPK Install Disc not the 64 Bit one that comes with this unit.

Well as it's going back today no matter what, it's going back with the 32 Bit OS but what got me was I thought that the 32 & 64 Bit Product keys where different and one wouldn't work on the other. Apparently not M$ insisted that it's right when they Activated it. :^0

Col

by av .

Its probably why I'm still employed. Remember when *everyone* said that computers would be so simple in the future that support people like us would no longer be needed? They lied.

AV

by nicknielsen

They have all they can do to get their shoes on the proper foot every morning. Asking them for more strenuous thought is like trying to swim the Atlantic Ocean: it can probably be done, but so far nobody ever has.

"Every day, man is making bigger and better fool-proof things, and every day, nature is making bigger and better fools. So far, I think nature is winning."
-- Albert Einstein

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