Computer Problems?

"Paige" <ppwalker DeleteThis @sympatico.ca> wrote:

  > > He gave me a bill for a minimum service call. As he was walking away, I
  > > called after him, "So, what was wrong?"
  > >
  > > He replied, "It was an ID ten T error."

From the Jargon File: <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/I/idiot.html" target="_blank">http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/I/idiot.html</a>

 > Tech-support people passing a problem report to someone
 > higher up the food chain (and presumably better equipped
 > to deal with idiots) may ask the user to convey that there
 > seems to be an I-D-ten-T error. Users never twig.

-- John<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Computer Problems? 

"John H. Morrison" <johnm307.TakeThisOut@sbcglobal.netmunist> wrote in message
news:40359339$0$3750$45beb828@newscene.com...
<snip>
<font color=purple> > From the Jargon File: <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/I/idiot.html</font" target="_blank">http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/I/idiot.html</font</a>>
 >
  > > Tech-support people passing a problem report to someone
  > > higher up the food chain (and presumably better equipped
  > > to deal with idiots) may ask the user to convey that there
  > > seems to be an I-D-ten-T error. Users never twig.

I like the PEBKAC error!
--
TTFN
Paige
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Computer Problems? 

Posted and e-mailed.
On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 09:05:57 -0500, Paige stomped through my
brain with:

 >"John H. Morrison" <johnm307.DeleteThis@sbcglobal.netmunist> wrote in message
 >news:40359339$0$3750$45beb828@newscene.com...
 ><snip>
<font color=green>  >> From the Jargon File: <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/I/idiot.html</font" target="_blank">http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/I/idiot.html</font</a>>
  >>
   >> > Tech-support people passing a problem report to someone
   >> > higher up the food chain (and presumably better equipped
   >> > to deal with idiots) may ask the user to convey that there
   >> > seems to be an I-D-ten-T error. Users never twig.
 >
 >I like the PEBKAC error!

I run into those more often than you could imagine... <sigh>

Tristaan

--
Beware Spam Trap!: "us" is an "ogre"
*******************************************************
Ogre-Monk, ICQ# 14668166, AIM TristaanOgre
God of Grilled-SPAM™ and Summer, Disciple of Babble
Assistant Librarian/Orangutan, Pedant Target,
Chief Brute, Husband of Amethyst, Father of Charis and Talia
Co-Owner of The Ogre, the Elf, The Imp, and The Urchin
Violinist for the ABML out-of-practice-musicians band
Keyboard Martyr, Keeper of the ABML Cookbook
PGP Public Key available
*******************************************************
You give me joy that's unspeakable
And I like it, I like it
Your love for me is irresistable
I can't fight it, I can't fight it
You carried the cross and took my shame
I believe it, I believe it
You shined your light of amazing grace
I receive it, I receive it
--"Joy" by The Newsboys
*******************************************************
"What is a Mennonite?"
Answers at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.thirdway.com/" target="_blank">http://www.thirdway.com/</a>
*******************************************************<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Computer Problems? 

Paige wrote:
<snippage>
 >
 > I like the PEBKAC error!

PEBKAC?

Is that related to "Do you still have the box the computer came
in?"

--
Purrt the ghatta
Smitten Kitten
Part-time gryphon
Disciple to the Goddess of Chocolate
Owner of a full Pedant's licenc/se
Goddess of Impertinence
Snikkrish the Tearer
Carpe Bean<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Computer Problems? 

Posted and e-mailed.
On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 10:55:31 -0500, Purrt stomped through my
brain with:

 >Paige wrote:
 ><snippage>
  >>
  >> I like the PEBKAC error!
 >
 >PEBKAC?
 >
 >Is that related to "Do you still have the box the computer came
 >in?"

Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair.

Another polite way of saying that the user is a total moron who
shouldn't be allowed to even have a computer.

Tristaan

--
Beware Spam Trap!: "us" is an "ogre"
*******************************************************
Ogre-Monk, ICQ# 14668166, AIM TristaanOgre
God of Grilled-SPAM™ and Summer, Disciple of Babble
Assistant Librarian/Orangutan, Pedant Target,
Chief Brute, Husband of Amethyst, Father of Charis and Talia
Co-Owner of The Ogre, the Elf, The Imp, and The Urchin
Violinist for the ABML out-of-practice-musicians band
Keyboard Martyr, Keeper of the ABML Cookbook
PGP Public Key available
*******************************************************
You give me joy that's unspeakable
And I like it, I like it
Your love for me is irresistable
I can't fight it, I can't fight it
You carried the cross and took my shame
I believe it, I believe it
You shined your light of amazing grace
I receive it, I receive it
--"Joy" by The Newsboys
*******************************************************
"What is a Mennonite?"
Answers at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.thirdway.com/" target="_blank">http://www.thirdway.com/</a>
*******************************************************<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Computer Problems? 

Tristaan wrote:
 > On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 10:55:31 -0500, Purrt stomped through my
 > brain with:
 >
  > >PEBKAC?
  > >
  > >Is that related to "Do you still have the box the computer
came
  > >in?"
 >
 > Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair.
 >
 > Another polite way of saying that the user is a total moron who
 > shouldn't be allowed to even have a computer.

Ah.
Yup, means the same as: Do you still have the box the computer
came in? Well, pack it up and ship it back 'cause you're too
stupid to own a computer.
<g>

--
Purrt the ghatta
Smitten Kitten
Part-time gryphon
Disciple to the Goddess of Chocolate
Owner of a full Pedant's licenc/se
Goddess of Impertinence
Snikkrish the Tearer
Carpe Bean<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Computer Problems? 

"Purrt" <ivaf DeleteThis @ptd.net> writes:

  >> On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 10:55:31 -0500, Purrt wrote:

   >> >PEBKAC?

   >> >Is that related to "Do you still have the box the computer came in?"

  >> Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair.

  >> Another polite way of saying that the user is a total moron who
  >> shouldn't be allowed to even have a computer.

 >Ah.
 >Yup, means the same as: Do you still have the box the computer
 >came in? Well, pack it up and ship it back 'cause you're too
 >stupid to own a computer.
 ><g>

Not quite in the "Stupid User Tricks" department, but when I logged
onto the computer this morning the daily fortune cookie was:

=======
Besides, its really not worthwhile to use more than two times your
physical ram in swap (except in a select few situations). The
performance of the system becomes so abysmal you'd rather heat pins
under your toenails while reciting Windows95 source code and staring
at porn flicks of Bob Dole than actually try to type something.

-- seen on c.o.l.development.system, about the size of the swap space
=======

Joe Morris<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Computer Problems? 

"John H. Morrison" <johnm307 RemoveThis @sbcglobal.netmunist> wrote in message
news:40359339$0$3750$45beb828@newscene.com...
 > "Paige" <ppwalker RemoveThis @sympatico.ca> wrote:
 >
   > > > He gave me a bill for a minimum service call. As he was walking away,
I
   > > > called after him, "So, what was wrong?"
   > > >
   > > > He replied, "It was an ID ten T error."
 >
<font color=purple> > From the Jargon File: <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/I/idiot.html</font" target="_blank">http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/I/idiot.html</font</a>>
 >
  > > Tech-support people passing a problem report to someone
  > > higher up the food chain (and presumably better equipped
  > > to deal with idiots) may ask the user to convey that there
  > > seems to be an I-D-ten-T error. Users never twig.
 >
 > -- John
 >

Then there's the other end of the scale, and for those of us who know enough
to be dangerous for Tech Support people are constantly being downtrodden...
can you believe it, I got downgraded to a power user today?!?!? *sigh*
I'll have to keep my eye out for the new administrator passwords so I can
get myself back up to speed.

Oh, and when you call tech support and tell them what you have done to fix a
problem, invariably the first thing they ask you to try is the first thing
you told them you had done!

--
--
Jeran (& Mrowser)

High Priestess of Hair Color Changing
Plenipotentiary of Removable Hair Color
Currently Brown
Prime Potentate of the church of Nonethinkeus
Honorary kitsune of the 6th level, Daughter of the house of Li
Official Historian of the Crystal Canada Archives
Dulcimer destroyer emeritus
Keeper of Useless Knowledge
Co-Founder of the ABML Innocent Club
SilverCarousel13 of AIM
Ghost Squirrel of ICQ #671877
Moon Dragon

if you wanna talk to me, dry me out! No water in the mail please.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Computer Problems? 

Posted and e-mailed.
On Tue, 02 Mar 2004 07:25:03 GMT, Wendy j stomped through my
brain with:

 >Then there's the other end of the scale, and for those of us who know enough
 >to be dangerous for Tech Support people are constantly being downtrodden...
 >can you believe it, I got downgraded to a power user today?!?!? *sigh*
 >I'll have to keep my eye out for the new administrator passwords so I can
 >get myself back up to speed.
 >
 >Oh, and when you call tech support and tell them what you have done to fix a
 >problem, invariably the first thing they ask you to try is the first thing
 >you told them you had done!

In most cases, it's because the user, in attempting that first
thing, did it wrong in the first place.

I don't know how many times I've taken a support call, given a
suggestion and gotten the "But I already did that!". After
calming the person down and jokingly saying, "Just humor me.
I've gotta figure out where the process is wrong" they try it
again...


....and this time it is fixed. Sure, it's annoying to the user.
But it's understandable. After all, you've already gotten
frustrated with a) the problem itself and b) your own failed
attempts to correct the problem. So, you get on the phone with
this faceless, know-it-all who tells you to do it all over again,
you bet your sweet pitui that you're gonna be angry about it.

Hint to all who call tech support: Make our job easier and
remember that we're just people trying to do our jobs, too...

Tristaan
--
Beware Spam Trap!: "us" is an "ogre"
*******************************************************
Ogre-Monk, ICQ# 14668166, AIM TristaanOgre
God of Grilled-SPAM™ and Summer, Disciple of Babble
Assistant Librarian/Orangutan, Pedant Target,
Chief Brute, Husband of Amethyst, Father of Charis and Talia
Co-Owner of The Ogre, the Elf, The Imp, and The Urchin
Violinist for the ABML out-of-practice-musicians band
Keyboard Martyr, Keeper of the ABML Cookbook
PGP Public Key available
*******************************************************
You give me joy that's unspeakable
And I like it, I like it
Your love for me is irresistable
I can't fight it, I can't fight it
You carried the cross and took my shame
I believe it, I believe it
You shined your light of amazing grace
I receive it, I receive it
--"Joy" by The Newsboys
*******************************************************
"What is a Mennonite?"
Answers at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.thirdway.com/" target="_blank">http://www.thirdway.com/</a>
*******************************************************<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Computer Problems? 

"Tristaan" <tristaanus.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:j04940dgjbedsfirgkl29tgbaf18iuudmh@4ax.com...
<snip>
 > Hint to all who call tech support: Make our job easier and
 > remember that we're just people trying to do our jobs, too...

Well, I can't say that's ever happened to me. In fact, I got quite the
apology from a tech guy who had me run through a solution twice. He also
thanked me for not saying, "I told you so." Turned out that the problem was
a piece of software that the last tech person I talked to had suggested I
use - seems he forgot I was using Windows 98 and it wasn't quite as
compatible as they thought it was.

Still, my favourite is when they read their little script at the end and
suggest that next time I try their website before calling in (the
pre-recorded voice had already suggested that I try this instead of tying up
the line). 9 times out of 10 I'm calling because I can't connect to the
internet....

TTFN
Paige
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Computer Problems? 

Paige wrote:

 > Still, my favourite is when they read their little script at the end and
 > suggest that next time I try their website before calling in (the
 > pre-recorded voice had already suggested that I try this instead of tying up
 > the line). 9 times out of 10 I'm calling because I can't connect to the
 > internet....

Oh yeah! That one's a real knee-slapper.

'wyrm (who *really* gets irritated when she hears that little bit of
advice)<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Computer Problems? 

"Tristaan" <tristaanus DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:j04940dgjbedsfirgkl29tgbaf18iuudmh@4ax.com...
 > Posted and e-mailed.
 > On Tue, 02 Mar 2004 07:25:03 GMT, Wendy j stomped through my
 > brain with:
 >
  > >Then there's the other end of the scale, and for those of us who know
enough
  > >to be dangerous for Tech Support people are constantly being
downtrodden...
  > >can you believe it, I got downgraded to a power user today?!?!? *sigh*
  > >I'll have to keep my eye out for the new administrator passwords so I can
  > >get myself back up to speed.
  > >
  > >Oh, and when you call tech support and tell them what you have done to
fix a
  > >problem, invariably the first thing they ask you to try is the first
thing
  > >you told them you had done!
 >
 > In most cases, it's because the user, in attempting that first
 > thing, did it wrong in the first place.
 >
 > I don't know how many times I've taken a support call, given a
 > suggestion and gotten the "But I already did that!". After
 > calming the person down and jokingly saying, "Just humor me.
 > I've gotta figure out where the process is wrong" they try it
 > again...
 >
 >
 > ...and this time it is fixed. Sure, it's annoying to the user.
 > But it's understandable. After all, you've already gotten
 > frustrated with a) the problem itself and b) your own failed
 > attempts to correct the problem. So, you get on the phone with
 > this faceless, know-it-all who tells you to do it all over again,
 > you bet your sweet pitui that you're gonna be angry about it.
 >
 > Hint to all who call tech support: Make our job easier and
 > remember that we're just people trying to do our jobs, too...
 >
 > Tristaan
 > --
be that as it may, it gets rather old, when calling tech support to report a
black screen (with the msg: hard drive not found) to be told ' try formating
the drive and reinstall windows' (got a repeat of the msg).
Rex<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Computer Problems? 

Posted and e-mailed.
On Tue, 02 Mar 2004 17:58:56 GMT, Rex Reynolds stomped through
my brain with:

 >be that as it may, it gets rather old, when calling tech support to report a
 >black screen (with the msg: hard drive not found) to be told ' try formating
 >the drive and reinstall windows' (got a repeat of the msg).

They're just doing their job...heck, I've done that job. In
order for them to be able to escalate to the next level of
support, they need to have some indication that the "easy fixes"
have all been tried. As much as they would LIKE to, they cannot
take your word for it. Bosses don't work that way...

Tristaan
--
Beware Spam Trap!: "us" is an "ogre"
*******************************************************
Ogre-Monk, ICQ# 14668166, AIM TristaanOgre
God of Grilled-SPAM™ and Summer, Disciple of Babble
Assistant Librarian/Orangutan, Pedant Target,
Chief Brute, Husband of Amethyst, Father of Charis and Talia
Co-Owner of The Ogre, the Elf, The Imp, and The Urchin
Violinist for the ABML out-of-practice-musicians band
Keyboard Martyr, Keeper of the ABML Cookbook
PGP Public Key available
*******************************************************
You give me joy that's unspeakable
And I like it, I like it
Your love for me is irresistable
I can't fight it, I can't fight it
You carried the cross and took my shame
I believe it, I believe it
You shined your light of amazing grace
I receive it, I receive it
--"Joy" by The Newsboys
*******************************************************
"What is a Mennonite?"
Answers at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.thirdway.com/" target="_blank">http://www.thirdway.com/</a>
*******************************************************<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Computer Problems?