Tales from the Book, Part C
I just saw that E. Gary Gygax died. I never really got into gaming, not as much as I would have liked to, but he had such an impact on geek culture, that naturally it affected my part in it. I find it somehow appropriate that I learned of this from John Kovalic's Dork Tower feed. Goodbye Mr. Gygax. May the Great GM ensure your dungeon crawls are always filled with treasure.
Caller:It's not recognizing my username!
Tech:Are you typing it in with or without '@*isp*.com'?
Caller:With!
Tech:OK, you'll have to put it in without '@*isp*.com'.
Caller:FINE I'LL DO IT AGAIN! *yells their way through the process, and of course it works*
This one called me up, ranting and seething, in hysterics worthy of a preschooler:
"...and if you send me any of your stupid tech support things, I'm going to rip them up!"
A neat trick, considering we send e-mails. So...you'd have to print it off, wasting your own paper, to tear up a generic, computer-sent follow-up to prove a point to someone who wouldn't even remember your existence at the end of the day had you not been a bitch. Oh, and she finished up the call by calling me stupid, and when I warned her I'd release the call for abusive language, she tried to hang up, and failed. Either she didn't press the appropriate button, or she didn't manage to hit the cradle. (Personally, I think that probably happened when she was an infant.) I saved the troubleshoot before releasing the call to save on my aftercall (my handle time being well under target) and heard her start screaming again - actual, wordless, screaming, at the top of her lungs - when she got the follow-up e-mail. Then I hung up.
Caller:We can't sign on because the computer says Power Saver Mode.
Tech:So the computer won't start then?
Caller:No.
Tech:*explains scope of support* You'll need to call the manufacturer if the computer won't turn on.
Caller:Oh. Well, why should I call them? Maybe the phone company could help?
Tech:Press the Ctrl, the Alt, and the Del keys on the keyboard.
Caller:Ctrl, Alt, and what was the other?
Tech:Delete.
Caller:OK. Ctrl and Alt and Enter?
The next one looks to be long, so I'm cutting these off short. Hard to believe I've posted 100 entries worth of these already. Out of curiousity, if you were to read these in book-form, which would you rather have? A categorized list of stupidities - everything people misbelieve about installations and bungled technical terms - or the current diary-like format? Or some combination of both? I have no grand delusions of mighty sales and book tours, but I might self-publish through Cafe Press or something.
Caller:It's not recognizing my username!
Tech:Are you typing it in with or without '@*isp*.com'?
Caller:With!
Tech:OK, you'll have to put it in without '@*isp*.com'.
Caller:FINE I'LL DO IT AGAIN! *yells their way through the process, and of course it works*
This one called me up, ranting and seething, in hysterics worthy of a preschooler:
"...and if you send me any of your stupid tech support things, I'm going to rip them up!"
A neat trick, considering we send e-mails. So...you'd have to print it off, wasting your own paper, to tear up a generic, computer-sent follow-up to prove a point to someone who wouldn't even remember your existence at the end of the day had you not been a bitch. Oh, and she finished up the call by calling me stupid, and when I warned her I'd release the call for abusive language, she tried to hang up, and failed. Either she didn't press the appropriate button, or she didn't manage to hit the cradle. (Personally, I think that probably happened when she was an infant.) I saved the troubleshoot before releasing the call to save on my aftercall (my handle time being well under target) and heard her start screaming again - actual, wordless, screaming, at the top of her lungs - when she got the follow-up e-mail. Then I hung up.
Caller:We can't sign on because the computer says Power Saver Mode.
Tech:So the computer won't start then?
Caller:No.
Tech:*explains scope of support* You'll need to call the manufacturer if the computer won't turn on.
Caller:Oh. Well, why should I call them? Maybe the phone company could help?
Tech:Press the Ctrl, the Alt, and the Del keys on the keyboard.
Caller:Ctrl, Alt, and what was the other?
Tech:Delete.
Caller:OK. Ctrl and Alt and Enter?
The next one looks to be long, so I'm cutting these off short. Hard to believe I've posted 100 entries worth of these already. Out of curiousity, if you were to read these in book-form, which would you rather have? A categorized list of stupidities - everything people misbelieve about installations and bungled technical terms - or the current diary-like format? Or some combination of both? I have no grand delusions of mighty sales and book tours, but I might self-publish through Cafe Press or something.