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  • #2257929

    YASU (Yet Another Stupid User)

    Locked

    by dryflies ·

    One of my users came into my office this morning with the usual ?I have a question?.
    I had set her up with a VPN account to access our intranet. Her question was, I tried using the VPN client to access work last night, I opened the VPN client and clicked on the intranet entry and then clicked connect. It just sat there and then eventually gave me an error ?could not get a response from the security principal?

    I said, that?s ok, you probably had high traffic at that time, keep trying. Are you on broadband or do you have dial-up? ?I have wireless.? No, how do you connect to the internet? ?I have Wireless.? Who is your internet service provider? ?What? [frown] I have wireless.? Come to find out she has no internet connection at home. She thought her wireless and the VPN client would magically connect her.

All Comments

  • Author
    Replies
    • #3204573

      I got a better one for you.

      by why me worry? ·

      In reply to YASU (Yet Another Stupid User)

      Back in the day when I was doing desktop support, I got a call from a frantic user who said that her computer monitor (CRT screen back then) all of a sudden started letting out smoke and sending sparks flying from the ventilation holes. Also, I had noticed a strange wet spot under her monitor and around her desk area and suspected water damage to the monitor. Supposedly, this idiot user had a small flower pot on top of her monitor and was watering it, causing excess water to run into the vent opening and short out the picture tube. When I openly confronted her about it, she said that yes, she had a flowerpot on top of her monitor because she likes plants. I told her that having a plant in the office is fine, but a monitor is no place for a plant or anything else which holds liquids. I bet this idiot also blow dries her hair while standing under the shower. It’s a miracle she did not get electrocuted or the picture tube didn’t explode in her face. Because of her stupidity, a silly and pathetic corporate memo had to be circulated around the office, asking users not to keep potted plants on top of monitors.

      • #3204474

        Same Thing

        by jdmercha ·

        In reply to I got a better one for you.

        I had a user with the same problem, but the plant was on a shelf above the monitor.

      • #3205276

        Potted plants + Printer + Powerstrip = mess

        by cmiller5400 ·

        In reply to I got a better one for you.

        I had a building with plants on a ledge above the printers. Mind you they were NOT directly above the printers, but set back. Well the lady they hired to water them, overfilled the plant pot and it dripped down the wall onto a surge supressor thus tripping the circut breaker. Now for some history, this circut has always been a problem because of the amount of equipment on it. So I just thinking it was a normal trip, went and flipped the breaker. But NOOOO, I go back out there and start to smell that horrid burning plastic/electronics smell. I look behind the printer and the strip is spewing smoke out of it! I then yank the power cord from the wall, then after replacing the powercord for the printer, I leave a nice note for the watering lady to not overwater the plants. I also moved the strip away from that area.

        • #3205252

          People like that will someday get struck by lightning

          by why me worry? ·

          In reply to Potted plants + Printer + Powerstrip = mess

          The electron gods will get their revenge by sending a bolt of lightning from the sky to zap these folks out of their stupidity comas. I’ve heard that many people become supergeniuses after getting struck by lightning, but I don’t advocate trying it at home.

      • #3204132

        Thats not better

        by nz_justice ·

        In reply to I got a better one for you.

        the majik internet conenction is better

    • #3204537

      Same thing

      by lhatcher ·

      In reply to YASU (Yet Another Stupid User)

      I hade the same experience, except for my user actually had been connecting to her neighbor’s open wireless network, one day they moved, and no more connection.Took me an hour to convince her that I could not “beam” the internet to her from the office.

      • #3204530

        How to have wicked fun with stupid & gullible users

        by why me worry? ·

        In reply to Same thing

        Next time they call you with an internet related problem, tell them that they downloaded a virus and have caused the entire internet to crash, resulting in a worldwide shutdown of all web traffic and that the FBI will probably get involved. Watch this user crap his/her pants and start freaking out uncontrollably. The terrified look on their face is priceless.

        • #3204505

          Ha just say no

          by spankylogic9000 ·

          In reply to How to have wicked fun with stupid & gullible users

          I always like when they ask for help… or “can you help me with X ? just simply Answer “No” and sit there quietly and let the awkard slience eat’em up …

        • #3204475

          My suggestion

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to How to have wicked fun with stupid & gullible users

          I think that maybe you should consider another career. Frequently I read into your posts a level of contempt for users (and management) and a level of arrogance that makes me assume that you’d be happier in a field where you don’t have to deal with such folks.

          I get frustrated with users in my job, but generally I try to remember that they want to turn the key, hit the gas and get their computers on the open road without any problems. When they can’t, they call me. And that’s what puts food on my table.

          If I’m making too big of a leap of logic about your personality, then I apologize. But from my disinterested point of view, that’s what I see.

          Good luck.

        • #3204467

          Lighten Up..jack! I’m just having fun

          by why me worry? ·

          In reply to My suggestion

          I don’t have any contempt for anyone, but I absolutely do hate managers who think they are gods and look to please everyone at the expense of their subordinates. Also, what’s wrong with cracking a few jokes and gags about stupid users once in a while? If you can’t laugh about it, then you are taking your work too damned seriously.

        • #3204459

          OK, sorry

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to Lighten Up..jack! I’m just having fun

          Not really my business anyway. But nothing in your post above makes me change my opinion.

          Carry on.

          I’ve never had the misfortune to work for anyone that bad, so I guess I can’t relate to your comment about managers. Some haven’t exactly been princes, but…….

        • #3203799

          Read this …

          by unni_kcpm ·

          In reply to OK, sorry

          Dear All,

          As a matter of “fun” the first writing is good enough. It’s a fact that the “The Good and the Bad, makes the World”. Now read below :

          Once a Client(PC Owner) calls a Help Desk to fix some software error in his computer(No CD/DVD(s) only floppy disk(s)).

          The Help desk person right asked the Client to gather the relevant floppy disk for installation/troubleshooting process and asked to insert the FIRST FLOPPY in the drive and to do the commands.

          After a while, the Client told the help desk engineer that “On the Monitor screen, it displays – Insert Floppy#2 … and the helpdesk person asked the Client to insert the Floppy.

          After a while, the Client told the help desk engineer that “On the Monitor screen, it displays – Insert Floppy#3… and the helpdesk person asked the Client to insert the Floppy#3, then the Client replied back that he can’t insert the Floppy#3.

          Now you “guess” what’s the “REAL” thing …

          Hope you will enjoy …

          Warm Regards
          Menon.

        • #3203769

          confused ?

          by busterduke ·

          In reply to Read this …

          This makes no sense. Are you telling a story about an incident or is this the makings of a joke? If it is indeed a joke, let’s hear the punchline.

        • #3140855

          I think I knew…

          by vinix ·

          In reply to Read this …

          I think I knew what happened… 😉
          I have not see anybody that really do things like that, but the world is big, right?

        • #3204391

          I know EXACTLY what you mean..

          by maecuff ·

          In reply to Lighten Up..jack! I’m just having fun

          Like when you insinuated that my husband probably surfed for kiddy porn when he made a suggestion to JDClyde’s inquiry in a different thread. Now that was funny. We laughed for hours. I mean, really, who would take something like THAT seriously?

        • #3205133

          I used to work for a humorless soul

          by too old for it ·

          In reply to Lighten Up..jack! I’m just having fun

          When the first version of the “put your computer in a box and send it back where you got it” joke made the rounds, he wrote a multi-page dissertation on proper customer service, and detailed how use of same would help the user be able to use thier computer, even tho the power was off. We all had to read and initial each page.

          Missed entirely that it was a joke.

        • #3141012

          Huh?

          by ali40961 ·

          In reply to My suggestion

          Where’d u get “all that” from their post? It was FUNNY. Nothing more, nothing less.

          R U sure u aren’t making a freudian slip? Maybe u r the one that should rethink their career?

        • #3204390

          Edited out

          by ontheropes ·

          In reply to How to have wicked fun with stupid & gullible users

          Edited out

        • #3205386

          I almost let out an uncontrollable ripper just reading that

          by why me worry? ·

          In reply to Edited out

          It’s hillarious but very true

        • #3141039

          Another one

          by gsg ·

          In reply to I almost let out an uncontrollable ripper just reading that

          The sharer… This is the person that comes from another dept to do his business in our department, and stops up the toilet. Then you are the one that has to call maintenance, who doesn’t believe that you are not the culprit.

        • #3205301

          I don’t care what anybody says…

          by wschindewolf ·

          In reply to Edited out

          That is FUNNY! Thank you very much…you just made me smile for the rest of the day.

        • #3205285

          slight incident

          by shellbot ·

          In reply to I don’t care what anybody says…

          i laughed so hard i almost snorted coffee out my nose..gross..but hilarious..

        • #3205286

          Personally,

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Edited out

          I save mine up for work…. I damn sure don’t get PAID for doing it at home 🙂

          [i][b]ESCAPEE[/b]
          Definition: a fart that slips out while taking a leak at the urinal or forcing a poop in a stall. This is usually accompanied by a sudden wave of panic embarrassment. This is similar to the hot flash you receive when passing an unseen police car and speeding. If you release an escapee, do not acknowledge it. Pretend it did not happen. If you are standing next to the farter in the urinal, pretend you did not hear it. No one likes an escapee, it is uncomfortable for all involved. Making a joke or laughing makes both parties feel uneasy.[/i]

          After one of these, if someone is standing at the next urinal, put a puzzled look on your face and ask “Do farts have lumps in them?”

        • #3205290

          You could always

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to How to have wicked fun with stupid & gullible users

          Do random Net Sends:

          “OH NO!!! Look what you’ve done now!”

    • #3204456

      Number of possible scenarios

      by jamesrl ·

      In reply to YASU (Yet Another Stupid User)

      In a major metropolitan area, like mine, even if you didn’t have an obliging neighbour with an open wireless router (which I don’t condone), there are options.

      We have Wireless broadband, our local electricity department is busy putting up acecss nodes on their poles for a city wide network, and of course many coffee hosues etc have wirless availability for free.

      It would have been quite possible for her to have wireless access that she didn’t pay for.

      You know I would agree that a user who puts a plant over a monitor is stupid.

      But to call people stupid because they aren’t as literate in technology as you? How bloody arrogant and rude. You weren’t born knowing what you knew. You learned. People who knew more than you taught you. Some of them must have been patient with you.

      How would you feel if you went to the doctor and he laughed at you because you didn’t know the difference between LDL and HDL. Would you like dealing with that doctor. Would that help you address your cholesterol problems? Or would you rather the doctor explain what it means and why its important?

      I used to manage a team of 20 desktop techs. If I heard you laughing about your customers like that, you’d wouldn’t have been one of them for long.

      James

      • #3204446

        Another so called anal “manager”

        by why me worry? ·

        In reply to Number of possible scenarios

        “I used to manage a team of 20 desktop techs. If I heard you laughing about your customers like that, you’d wouldn’t have been one of them for long.”

        Nice way of retaining talent by punishing people for having an opinion and a good laugh once in a while. You must have a very high turnover rate if you take such a communist approach to people. I’m sure the customers laugh at techs and badmouth us no less than techs badmouth their customers, but that is no reason to fire anyone over it. There has always been a love/hate relationship between techs and their customers, but for you to go to such extremes as to fire techs for having a good laugh only shows what an ass of a manager you are. I pity anyone unlucky enough to have been working under you.

        • #3204442

          Assumptions……

          by jamesrl ·

          In reply to Another so called anal “manager”

          Go ahead and pity them. I have a pretty loyal crew. I’ve had top talent in other teams ask to join my team.

          I have a mature team. They get frustrated with techs, sales people, and customers. But they are PROFESSIONAL. They get miffed with people who have attitude, but I can tell you they don’t punish people who don’t know, unless they really prove they can’t be bothered to know – willfully ignorant.

          I’ve had two people out of 10 leave in the past 3 years, both went to other opportunities in the company, both I consider to be friends and maintain a good ongoing relationship with.

          I had a supervisor who worked for me call me a PITA – pain in the a$$. That supervisor and I are still friends 5 years after I left the company. I’ve called a former boss a dragon lady. I have a sense of humour – with people I have a relationship with, and in front of them, not behind their backs. If you get your jollies making fun of people who know less than you, you’re pretty sad.

          James

        • #3204399

          Alright…let’s just all chill out and get along

          by why me worry? ·

          In reply to Assumptions……

          I do admit that I tend to get fired up and hot under the collar at times, but in no way is my intention to offend, attack, or insult anyone here. You’ve seen many good discussions authored by me and I take your complements with much appreciation, but let’s not engage in he said, she said finger pointing and bashing. Someone please pass me my medication. 😛

          No harm intended!

        • #3204439

          I may regret this but…

          by tig2 ·

          In reply to Another so called anal “manager”

          Why Me Worry- I have seen other posts of yours and read them with interest. You’re a bright guy. But you have seemed lately like there has been a major chip on your shoulder- and that isn’t like you. Or at least, I have not ever read this in you before.

          I get where James and DMambo are coming from. We have all, at one time or another, indulged our frustrations with some (in many cases) really bad humour. I just know that any more, I can’t afford to even think down that road. That end user is my customer and I can never afford to forget that.

          I’ll tell you that for me, personally, the tone has gotten harsh. Not that I’m griping. I just hadn’t run across that element of your personality before so I am a bit taken aback.

          Incidentally, good discussion on wi-fi “hot-spots” and responsibility for security.

        • #3205280

          Right,

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Another so called anal “manager”

          We have it pounded into our heads by the media that stupid is funny!

        • #3204169

          Corrections

          by jeffykins ·

          In reply to Another so called anal “manager”

          It’s “anal so-called manager”.

          It’s fascist, not communist.

          But you’re right, of course.

      • #3204405

        Thank you, James. A voice of reason — as usual

        by maxwell edison ·

        In reply to Number of possible scenarios

        I hate “stupid user” discussions and charges.

      • #3204404

        James – A link for you

        by maxwell edison ·

        In reply to Number of possible scenarios

        • #3204389

          I’ve reached a restricted page

          by jamesrl ·

          In reply to James – A link for you

          Despite the honorific of “insider” and despite being the proud owner of a Tech Republic Mug(took me a whole thread to earn it), I still have problems getting to the insider section.

          Max, never worry, I take your word for it.

          James

        • #3204385

          Everyone

          by maecuff ·

          In reply to I’ve reached a restricted page

          has a mug but me, right?

        • #3204380

          Edited out

          by ontheropes ·

          In reply to Everyone

          Edited out

        • #3205415

          Three??

          by maecuff ·

          In reply to Edited out

          No kidding? Man, I hate that guy.

        • #3205409

          Edited out

          by ontheropes ·

          In reply to Three??

          Edited out

        • #3204346

          Hey!!!!

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to Three??

          Can I help it if I’m special?

          (And I don’t mean “special”)

        • #3205398

          HEY! Waitaminnit!!!

          by tig2 ·

          In reply to Edited out

          Want to come to Kentucky wiht Mae and I???

        • #3205395

          Edited out

          by ontheropes ·

          In reply to HEY! Waitaminnit!!!

          Edited out

        • #3205401

          I don’t

          by tig2 ·

          In reply to Everyone

          I say you and I drop in on Kentucky.

          We’ll BOTH leave with a mug!
          🙂

        • #3205388

          Edited out

          by ontheropes ·

          In reply to I don’t

          Edited out

        • #3205380

          Time Stamp

          by tig2 ·

          In reply to Edited out

          I replied to Mae before I read your post.

          We are going to get coffee cups!

          Of course you can drive. I’ll navigate. Poor you. I have no sense of direction.

          Maybe Mae will navigate…

        • #3205373

          Edited out

          by ontheropes ·

          In reply to Edited out

          Edited out

        • #3205315

          Raised there..

          by maecuff ·

          In reply to I don’t

          I know my way around and I know the lingo..but I didn’t know Mambo was in KY. I guess I don’t hate him THAT much, then. But I WILL still go and steal his mug.

        • #3205313

          Mambo is in VT

          by tig2 ·

          In reply to Raised there..

          I was thinking that we go straight to the source- show up at TR and demand that our need for coffee cups be satisfied. We are valued contributors after all!

          And wouldn’t it be fun!!!

          NeverBusted can bail us out…

        • #3205298

          Mae, hopefully…

          by techexec2 ·

          In reply to Raised there..

          Hopefully they will drop the charges due to SENILITY! :^0 :^0 :^0

          P.S. You’re SO much fun to tease! 😡

        • #3205297

          Edited out

          by ontheropes ·

          In reply to Raised there..

          Edited out

        • #3205296

          Edited out

          by ontheropes ·

          In reply to Raised there..

          Edited out

        • #3205188

          Tech

          by maecuff ·

          In reply to Raised there..

          That’s good. I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.. I may be old, but I’m not senile. And I’ll just be waiting for the opportunity to get even. You’ve been warned..

          Hey, aren’t you the one who called me ‘hostile’? I haven’t quite gotten over that one yet..

        • #3205137

          Mae

          by techexec2 ·

          In reply to Raised there..

          You started by challenging me. And, I challenged you back. It’s strictly in good fun and never serious. Your mocking me is no more serious than my mocking you. Your being “hostile” is not serious, nor is my saying you are. Your being “senile” is not serious, nor is my saying you are.

          I’m quite sure you will have additional opportunities to poke fun at me and I’m looking forward to it. I always appreciate being roasted by someone who is as smart as you. And, I know you’ll appreciate and expect it when I roast you back.

          I don’t think you would [i]really[/i] like it if you mocked me and I did not mock you back. Would you?

        • #3205121

          err, Tech?

          by maecuff ·

          In reply to Raised there..

          I really wasn’t being serious..

        • #3205117

          Mae

          by techexec2 ·

          In reply to Raised there..

          I know. But, you’re so skeeery!

        • #3204283

          TE2,

          by old guy ·

          In reply to Raised there..

          Told you she was skeery. 🙂

        • #3204152

          Old Guy: The old are…

          by techexec2 ·

          In reply to Raised there..

          The old are to be respected. If for no other reason, they have been very successful at living among the skeeery people longer than you have! 🙂

          P.S. I keep at least one eye open around Mae at all times.

        • #3204366

          left

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Everyone

          I mean, “wrong”. no [b]MUG[/b] for me.

          B-)

        • #3204219

          Coffee cup?

          by willjamr ·

          In reply to Everyone

          What coffee cup? I don’t have a TechRepublic mug and I’ve been a member for years.

          I remember asking a coworker in another city why their colleague didn’t get the training they needed to do their job. They put the person’s boss on the line and I found out that they had the training, but they still asked stupid^H^H^H^H^H^H uninformed support questions.

        • #3205416

          I made a similar doctor analogy

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to I’ve reached a restricted page

          as follows:

          …in the case of IT, I’ve never been one to jump onto the “stupid end-user” band wagon. To the contrary, my job, per se, is to serve them, not insult them. And when I say something like, “serve them”, it doesn’t even come close to filling a subservient role. My doctor “serves” my needs, and if he wore a shirt that insinuated something that could be insulting to someone (“I’m wasting my time with another big-mac attack case”), he wouldn’t be my doctor for very long.

          On one hand, we (collectively as a profession) expect to be treated like professionals, not a bunch of lackeys. On the other hand, we often come across as a bunch of snobbish lackeys. If we want to be seen a certain way, we must present ourselves a certain way. It’s about as simple as that.

        • #3205096

          On the topic of doctors, why do they want to check your privates…

          by why me worry? ·

          In reply to I made a similar doctor analogy

          when all you have is a cough, probably due to a cold or strep throat?

          “Hey Doc, where has that tongue dispenser really been before you put it in my mouth?”

        • #3139949

          You’re kidding, right?

          by nogood ·

          In reply to On the topic of doctors, why do they want to check your privates…

          Hey WMW,
          I’m a noob to posting here, but occasionally scan the fourms for intresting articles.

          Couldn’t help but find it funny that you would have the balls to call a user stupid (although the story was kind of funny) and then turn around and ask a quesiton like this. Especially adding that you think it’s for a cold or strep throat.

          Okay, so you didn’t know that your MD. was checking for an inguinal hernia, basically a hole in your abdominal wall that your intestines can poke through between your abdominal wall and your skin; possibly becoming kinked causing stangulation and eventually necrosis if not delt with.
          Cool, now you know. That didn’t make you stupid to start with, just not knowledgeable in that area.

          Now a user watering his/her plants sitting on top of a CRT monitor on the other hand…definitely ID-10T material there. :c)

          PS, You can bet your MD doesn’t want to check your privates, but it’s part of the job.

          My 2 Cents

        • #3205413

          The honorific of “insider”

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to I’ve reached a restricted page

          Nobody goes there anymore; it’s too crowded. (Credit to Yogi.)

          P.S. I don’t have a mug!

        • #3205396

          Come to NYC where you will find all the “mugs” you want

          by why me worry? ·

          In reply to The honorific of “insider”

          you may not get a coffee mug, but perhaps a guaranteed mugging if you venture into the wrong neighborhood

        • #3205392

          Edited out

          by ontheropes ·

          In reply to Come to NYC where you will find all the “mugs” you want

          Edited out

        • #3205389

          I grew up in NYC, but now live in the suburbs of NY

          by why me worry? ·

          In reply to Edited out

          and yes, make one wrong turn in NYC and you will end up in a bad remake of Mad Max or Terminator 2

          overall, NYC is a safe place, but there are certain places among the 5 boroughs that you definitely don’t want to venture into

        • #3205385

          Edited out

          by ontheropes ·

          In reply to Edited out

          Edited out

        • #3205384

          James, you don’t remember

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to I’ve reached a restricted page

          the secret hand shake to get in?

          Click on “start discussion”. then hit “back”. Then do a page refresh and you are in.

          (sure hope no one else sees this!) B-)

        • #3205259

          Tried that

          by jamesrl ·

          In reply to James, you don’t remember

          Didn’t work for me last night.

        • #3204368

          Well, maybe

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Tried that

          you had your head tilted to the right a bit when you were clicking on your mouse? You know that will get ya every time! 😀

        • #3139661

          Serendipity

          by kiltie ·

          In reply to James – A link for you

          Thank you Maxwell
          I, too, reached a restricted page with your link, but on following the Click here link, I found a discussion on
          “How to uninstall software on Linux”

          As is my wont, I followed the path….

          In there was a Post by
          Palmetto “I’m sympathetic” in which he gives a link to an article by Eric Raymond about
          “How To Ask Questions The Smart Way”
          http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

          It sorta loops back to the topic of this thread, as it describes Looooooosers/Winnnnnners (but not in a facetious way)

          Very nicely presented article, a great find, thank you for that, Maxwell.

          —————-

          Serendipity: to make discoveries, by accident and sagacity, of things not in quest of.

      • #3204388

        Absolutely

        by maecuff ·

        In reply to Number of possible scenarios

        Our IT department is away from nearly all the users, in it’s own little building (attached to one of our warehouses), so it’s very easy for us to let off steam every once in a while, however, if any of my people behaved in an abusive or disrespectful way toward any users, they would get one warning from me and if it happened again, they’d get a trip to HR. Seriously, If I had an employee flat out tell a user that he/she wouldn’t help them just to watch them twist? I’d have a serious problem with that. It’s our job to assist the users. IT is a service department.

        And being in management has NOTHING to do with it. I felt this way long before I went into management. I can’t stand the high-handed, self-important attitude that you see with (some, not all) IT people. It reeks of insecurity.

        • #3205381

          The user

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Absolutely

          IT has one purpose, and that is to make it so the user can do their job.

          Not to make sure a system never crashes, or to keep a user from playing a game, but to give them the connectivity they need and the applications to perform their work.

          Today, many of the users are people that use computers, not computer users.

        • #3205261

          An aside..

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to The user

          And that’s what gets me about some IT people’s attitudes. They admit they are there to basically serve the user, but then they insist on forcing and enforcing policies, etc. As I’ve said before, in my opinion, it is the user’s supervisor who is responsible for making sure their employees are doing their job, not the IT department.

        • #3204227

          You’re right about that JD

          by dawgit ·

          In reply to The user

          And there is a big difference between the two. One gets help right away (the person who uses the computer to do their work) The other, well, that’s another problem…

      • #3205405

        JamesRL: You make an important moral and ethical point

        by techexec2 ·

        In reply to Number of possible scenarios

        You make an important moral and ethical point and I completely agree.

        Humiliation of an ignorant user, or a patient, is something that should never be done. And, people who specialize in a technical discipline should not be too cocky about their skill. Technically skilled people whose [i]job[/i] it is to help customers/users/patients should view it as a privilege. Work is a gift.

        On the other hand, sometimes it is difficult to not find humor in things that a person does because they are ignorant of a given subject. This is just part of being human. The key here is how you do it — Never to the subject’s face or in a way that hurts them personally in some way (such as discrediting a specific person behind their back).

        THE QUESTION FOR YOU

        How do you know that “dryflies” is not just telling a funny story?

        “Dryflies” did not mention [i]anything[/i] about humiliating that user and did not identify him/her in this post. It does not [i]have[/i] to be [i]”bloody arrogant and rude”[/i]. You slammed the door pretty hard on “dryflies”.

        The only harm I see that could be done by dryflies’ post is to encourage people who do not understand the ethic that you have pointed out so very well. That is not to be taken lightly and his post would have been complete if he made that disclaimer at the end.

        EPILOGUE

        I know you meant well with your post and I think everyone should take it to heart. I applaud you for making your point, especially in light of recent events here on TR.

        All the best to you.

      • #3205402

        Edited out

        by ontheropes ·

        In reply to Number of possible scenarios

        Edited out

    • #3205414

      You have to

      by zlitocook ·

      In reply to YASU (Yet Another Stupid User)

      Have a great personality and be able to explian what they have done wrong? You can laugh to yourself latter.
      And explain to them that they need a connection to the internet before they can use the VPN and connect to the network at work.
      Expain to them that a wireless connection at home is not a connection to work and ask what kind of wireless connection they have?
      It needs to be a internet connection and you need to be able to connect to work.

    • #3205312

      chill…

      by shellbot ·

      In reply to YASU (Yet Another Stupid User)

      ok..maybe it shouldn’t be called a “stupid user” story..but it is an amusing Tech Support incident.

      Whats wrong with having a bit of a chuckle (in private of course)??

      Some days i pick up the phone in a nice cheery voice “Hello, Shell speaking, how are you today?” only to recieve “that f*cking computer..&**&%$%^ RAISED Voice..fix now..me want..it broke..blah blah” . I calmly try and get the full picture from them, reassure them, and talk them through it, and end the call with “thanks for calling me and if there is anything else dont hesitate to call me back or drop me an email.”

      THEN i go to my collection of “quirky” user stories and have a bit of a laugh to remind myself that its not all that bad. I’m not a bad guy though, and i would never dream of offending my users..well..ok, i dream of it a lot..but you know..

      • #3205287

        This is a great post, Shell

        by techexec2 ·

        In reply to chill…

        This is a great post, Shell!

        And bravo to you for doing such a great job at tech support, the “front lines” for all of us in IT.

      • #3205266

        Shell, I don’t

        by maecuff ·

        In reply to chill…

        disagree with this one bit. Trust me, we all have a good laugh over ‘user’ incidents. We’ve had our share. And we b*tch about the ones that need their hands held, are overly demanding, etc. What I take exception to, is when an IT person gives a user misinformation just to make them squirm, or tells them that they won’t help them just to watch them twist. That isn’t what we do. Quite frankly, I am of the opinion, that if you are being paid to do a specific job, then you have an obligation to do that job. And I’m pretty sure that ‘torturing users’ isn’t in many IT job descriptions. 🙂

        • #3205256

          Well,

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Shell, I don’t

          not specifically anyway…. I have a formal job description where 10% is “other duties as assigned”. Maybe it falls under that 🙂

        • #3205253

          i agree

          by shellbot ·

          In reply to Shell, I don’t

          professionalism all the way..

          i do have a few mates who are users..and i must admit to pulling a few fast ones on them..but they can take it 🙂

          hmm..if you run across and job specs with torture in them..pass it on to me will ya 😉

        • #3205192

          The only one like that I’m aware of

          by khigh ·

          In reply to i agree

        • #3204272

          Bring out the iron maiden and shackles

          by why me worry? ·

          In reply to i agree

          oh man, I can have a field day with this one

        • #3205250

          Mae, I presume you are referring…

          by techexec2 ·

          In reply to Shell, I don’t

          [i]”What I take exception to, is when an IT person gives a user misinformation just to make them squirm, or tells them that they won’t help them just to watch them twist.”[/i]

          I presume you’re referring to the “Why Me Worry?” post. I appreciate your strong reaction and I could not agree with you more. Giving misinformation or refusing to help a user would almost certainly result in an immediate termination from me. I cannot imagine a satisfactory explanation for such behavior.

          It sounded like “Why Me Worry” was just trying to be funny (unsuccessfully in my view).

        • #3204286

          Do not confuse my twisted humor and sarcasm for rudeness

          by why me worry? ·

          In reply to Mae, I presume you are referring…

          I was trying to be funny and would never belittle or make an end user, being my customer, feel stupid or inadequate. Yes, email and written text may me misinterpreted or taken offensively or out of context without being able to see a person’s true intentions when writing it, but rest assured that I have no ill intentions. I’m just a comedian and have been known to pull of some pretty funny office pranks on Halloween and April Fools day.

        • #3204369

          I have to confess

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Shell, I don’t

          When certain users call me up and tell me their system is down or can’t connect to the network, that I tell them to send me an email with the details of the problem and I will get right on it.

          The stunned silence is golden…. 😀

          They know I take good care of them. B-)

        • #3204223

          You are not alone in that…

          by dawgit ·

          In reply to I have to confess

          I know of a few IP providers who do just that. Or my T-Com, when their service is interupted (doesn’t happen often, but…) has a recording on their computerized tele sys that directs people to report it to http://www.xxxxx.de. real helpful people. X-(

        • #3203639

          Our power company did that

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to You are not alone in that…

          Whole city is blacked out, and if your power is out, go to http://www.BlowItOutYourEar.com to report it.

          Huh?

          And someone at sometime probably got a raise for that idea! :0

        • #3204094

          nice one :)

          by shellbot ·

          In reply to I have to confess

          I’ve done similar 🙂 (but only to Users who i know will not be offended and will have a good laugh at it)

          one guy always takes a while to “catch on”, but then roars with laughter when he figures out i’ve sent him off to do the impossible..he pulls stuff on me..so he gets me back.

        • #3203637

          The DE brigade strikes again…..

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to nice one :)

          please never talk about someone that “pulls [b]stuff[/b] on me” again unless you send photos….. :0

          😡

        • #3203634

          Shell, he WHAT??

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to nice one :)

          ick.

          ickickickickick

          Hope it “came out” ok….. if not, feel free to use the vitriol DMambo asked for to clean his Playboy magazine with……

          😀

          GG

          Sorry, Shell, couldn’t help it…….Fridayitis….y’know……..

        • #3203798

          taking foot out now

          by shellbot ·

          In reply to Shell, he WHAT??

          ouch..ok..after i re read my post..i realise why JD got so excited..

          don’t take much does it boy ]:)

        • #3203751

          These daze

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to taking foot out now

          a breeze is about all it takes now…. :0

          And then you run around giving visuals like THAT and , well, WOW! ]:)

          Take foot out? Foot fetish? not quite the same appeal, but who am I to judge, right? ;\

          😡

      • #3205244

        Edited out

        by ontheropes ·

        In reply to chill…

        Edited out

      • #3204320

        Yes, but…

        by shelleykm ·

        In reply to chill…

        How come we techs are supposed to be respectful, etc, etc, and can’t expect a modicum of politeness/civility from the other end of the phone/conversation/whatever? Yes, once in a while, we all get a little jacked but *all the time*? I think not. That’s an environment I am happy to be removed from.

        The measure of a person is not how nicely you act when everything is going your way, but how nicely you act when it isn’t.

        • #3204221

          Service

          by jamesrl ·

          In reply to Yes, but…

          Unless you are working on the product end of a software company (which I do come to think of it), people in IT are in the service sector. Their job is to do what they do to enable all the other groups to function.

          I find sometimes civility is a two way street. If they think you are not sympathetic to them and following the party line, they rant and rage. If you continue to demonstrate that you are at least trying to help them and understand their point of view, they soften. Don’t be defensive or hide behind process and procedure – for some customers thats like throwing raw meat in the shark pool.

          Two years ago, I was on my first call where a customer – who pays us thousands a month – screamed at me. Today that same customer is one of our best test sites.

          I develop a thick skin, but there are limits. I have had some of my staff receive personal insults, and that sometimes results in talks with HR (who call the client and advise them that they can’t do that). But there is a difference between threatening and getting insulting on a personal level, and simply venting your frustration.

          James

    • #3205304

      for instance..

      by shellbot ·

      In reply to YASU (Yet Another Stupid User)

      this user is a pain..gets frustrated very easy..and takes offence very very quick..he was onto me about files which the “computer” deleted. I was trying to see what was going on..feasible that there was an IE issue (we’ve had it happen before) but this time it was him who had gone and deleted several files (ID & date time stamp) but anyways..my mail to him:

      Hi [ ],
      The original client file for [ ] seems to have been deleted last week. The history log says it was your log-in ID which deleted the file.
      Its entirely possible it was done by accident, but I just need to ask if its possible that someone else has your log on details if you are certain you didn’t delete the file?
      I have re-enabled the file, and will transfer the information from the new file for you, so you don?t have to worry about it. I should have that done within the hour 🙂
      If you come across any more, just let me know and I will get it all sorted out.
      Thanks very much
      Shell

      *keep in mind he has short fuse and is arrogant and rude to me..

      His reply:

      During the week i was practicing exploring the computer and i must have deleted [] by mistake,how i dont know,i didnt even know i could. was i on the database at the time? very sorry for any proplems ive caused and ill be more carefull in future and stick to my windows for dummies book
      kind regards
      [ ]

      Then he called me to verbally give me a going over..

      Now..when i have days like that..”quirky user” stories make me laugh..and keep me sane.

      • #3205271

        Cool!!!

        by shellbot ·

        In reply to for instance..

        I’m at position number 69 ]:)

        • #3204374

          Well then

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Cool!!!

          If I can’t join you, can I at least watch? ]:) 😡

      • #3205260

        As the network guy

        by jdclyde ·

        In reply to for instance..

        I get people calling me all the time that “The VPN is down”.

        “Can you get to yahoo?”

        “no”

        ~sigh~

        Before people get their laptops, I spend a few hours going over this. It is still the same people calling about he same thing.

        After a while you learn who really are the “dumb users” that all the jokes are told about. While I try not to join in on the bash, I do understand it. Just like road rage against the loser in the fast lane that refuses to go the speed limit, and has to match the speed of the cars in the slow lane. I don’t advocate or condone, but I surely understand…….

        Anything that can make us laugh, at least to ourselves, can’t be all bad, can it?

        😡

        • #3205254

          And sometimes

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to As the network guy

          you have to laugh…. so you won’t cry.

        • #3205237

          The difference

          by jamesrl ·

          In reply to As the network guy

          I will retell the one stupid user story I repeat. I’ve told it here before, but we have some newbies.

          At one company I worked many years ago, we were transitioning from PCs to Macs. For a short period of time people had both on their desk.

          One user had the Mac installed, and asked me where he could print to – he had a laserjet in his cube. I told him that the Macs printed to the network printer around the corner. He asked if he could use his laserjet connected directly to the mac. I said no, we don’t have that capbility, they don’t interface to each other (this was before PostScript Lasserjets.

          Now the laserjet’s parallel connection has the same plug/pin combination and the SCSI port on the back of the Mac. You can guess what happened.

          I would call that a stupid user because he ignored information given to him.

          But the difference, in the original post, is not someoen who ignores good information, but someone who doesn’t know.

          Face it even within the realm of IT, we all have gaps in our knowledge. Not knowing something doesn’t make you stupid.

          James

    • #3205270

      We had one

      by tonythetiger ·

      In reply to YASU (Yet Another Stupid User)

      A colleague was teaching a user how to enter workorders into a mainframe application. This particular program requires pressing ‘PA2’ to finalize the transaction.

      Our user was having a tough time figuring out the ‘keyboard template’ concept, so my colleague thought she’d help the user out by taking a pencil and writing ‘PA2’ on the space under the center ‘PageDown’ key on the keyboard.

      Next she had the user enter a workorder, and when my colleague told the user “Now press ‘PA2′”, she pressed on the letters that had just been written 🙂

      • #3205257

        “Where is the Any Key”. “I don’t see it on my keyboard”

        by why me worry? ·

        In reply to We had one

        I’ve had the luxury of getting such a call from a user earlier on in my career. It’s extremely hard to keep a straight face when confronting the user when you are laughing your ass off subconsciously. Are some users really that out of touch that they just don’t get it? Ok, start the random drug testing because I think many users are smoking something illegal.

    • #3205251

      I don’t want their job !!

      by white rabbit ·

      In reply to YASU (Yet Another Stupid User)

      I?ve been it IT for about 15 years mostly in Telecom and Networking but it?s all been in Healthcare. Once at a HMO with 24 clinics and 15 PBXs and now in a 300 bed hospital. I?ve seen the stresses that our RNs and unit secretaries go thru dealing with patients and their families. Talk about bad users, think about people in the hospital for the first time or grieving families. While I can come up with funny stories and some very difficult users, I?ve always treated my users with empathy for what they go thru and have to deal with every day. I try to make their job easier how ever I can. I know what I do is fairly easy for me usually, but I also know I could not and would not want their job.

    • #3205094

      Here’s another reason JamesRL is right

      by old guy ·

      In reply to YASU (Yet Another Stupid User)

      http://tinyurl.com/q6yyl This from a TR member since June 2005. Her tone and sentence structure appears to be translated into English. Maybe we do need to be careful how we say things. Just my opinion.

      Edited to add: Maybe not a foreign person but still shouldn’t have been made to feel that way here. Actually, just found out she’s from Norway.

      • #3204317

        I’m gladly helping this nice lady

        by why me worry? ·

        In reply to Here’s another reason JamesRL is right

        her PC is funking out with an internal modem that she wants to disable

        • #3204304

          Yes, I have been

          by old guy ·

          In reply to I’m gladly helping this nice lady

          keeping up with you and TechExec2 helping her and that is commendable. I hope you two can help her get it fixed. I was just stating that maybe we do need to be careful how we say things.

          I just agree that we shouldn’t make any user feel that way.

      • #3204217

        Ouch.!.

        by dawgit ·

        In reply to Here’s another reason JamesRL is right

        That looks real bad to me, I glad you posted that, kind of opened my eyes, Thanks. We have enought problems with communications, we don’t need to be creating more. In Europe things are just a little different, since people are all from some where else, it’s just expected courtisy. (or- you’re in Italy, then… oh-well, the food is good 🙂 )

        • #3204163

          dawgit

          by old guy ·

          In reply to Ouch.!.

          I saw your post in the other discussion before seeing this one. I know the other two are trying hard to help her out and I’m really glad you got in there too. Great suggestions and questions for her.

          RE: this post, sometimes we have to have our toes stepped on a little–all of us. Glad I got you connected over there.

          You are one cool dude. See, we can revisit the 60’s sometimes. Peace, brother!

    • #3204131

      It should off

      by nz_justice ·

      In reply to YASU (Yet Another Stupid User)

      I want majik wireless internet conenction too. :p not having to pay an isp would be awesome, I could connect anyware, unlimited download and upload bandwidth. play games anyware 24 seven, could even psp or nds connect gloabaly that would be awesome. I reckon you shouldn’t blame the user for the majik net connection not being avalible.

    • #3141040

      Modem

      by gsg ·

      In reply to YASU (Yet Another Stupid User)

      We sent a transcriptionist home with her pc and modem, circa 1999. We color coded everything… plug the blue cable into the hole with the blue dot, green to green, etc… She calls us mad as can be becuase the modem didn’t work. After HOURS of phone support and making sure she was plugged into the wall, we had her bring it back in and demonstrate how she was setting it up. She demonstrated and come to find out, she wasn’t plugging it into the wall. She thought all she had to do was plug the modem into the pc and it would magically find a phone line. Two months later we ended up taking the equipment back and she was not allowed to work from home any longer.

    • #3140935

      Forgive, for they know NOT what they do !

      by rheaton ·

      In reply to YASU (Yet Another Stupid User)

      You must forgive them, users like these account for a portion of the sustenance of our existence, not to mention proliferate huge entertainment value!

    • #3140915

      Ignorant vs Stupid

      by onbliss ·

      In reply to YASU (Yet Another Stupid User)

      Unless the user has proven to be stupid, I would’nt call them stupid. Maybe ignorant.

    • #3138263

      Just my opinion

      by pilgrain ·

      In reply to YASU (Yet Another Stupid User)

      I have seen lawyer posts about clients and DR posts about patients. All of which have been funny. In fact, I have laughed at myself for thinking the same things their clients did.
      If we can’t laugh at the situation, then there is a problem. We are not laughing at the people. Each profession has its “funnies.”
      I had a CEO get a new laptop with wireless. He called me later that evening to tell me it wouldn’t power up. I asked if he had his power cord with him. He said he didn’t need it. When I inquired as why, he said “it’s wireless goofy! It charges without a cable!” I was silent for about 5 seconds until he finally laughed. He realized what he said. He said, “guess that is going into the archives or company newsletter huh?” I explained I don’t do that. He knows (as does anyone) that techs tell funny stories. We do delete the names and titles (except this time to make a point) to protect them from embarassment. Believe it or not, he WANTED it in the newsletter. He said that he would like everyone to know that everyone makes mistakes!
      I understand everyone’s point.
      My opinion is just that, my opinion.
      I enjoy reading the stories and know that I am not alone.
      Surf the web ladies and gents. I can almost bet there is a story out there from a different profession that talks about something you have probably done. I enjoy laughing at the things I have done. I’m sure your users tell their family and friends and get a good laugh too.
      I even have a gent that calls himself “write click!” He was in a class and was told to “right-click.” He opened Word and typed “click.” He loves the story and doesn’t mind telling others himself. Everyone has some sense of humor. Some are different than others.
      I truly feel dryflies was not trying to bash anyone. It is just a funny story.
      Hope everyone has a great weekend!

    • #2868261

      Buisness Cards

      by galane ·

      In reply to YASU (Yet Another Stupid User)

      One of the funniest PC problems I ever encountered was at a small shop I worked at. Went in one morning and the boss says there’s a computer on the bench for me to look at.

      I took one look and just busted out laughing because the entire motherboard side of the case was covered with magnetic business cards.

      He’d taken it to other shops where no problems could be found. Turned out he’d always removed all the cards first but was in a hurry when bringing it to us. 🙂

      The fix was simply removing the cards and an explanation of why magnets, even a large number of weak ones, don’t mix well with a computer. Probably wouldn’t have caused trouble if he stuck them on the other side of the case, but I didn’t tell the owner that!

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