slant eyes

last year, i was working as an on-site computer technician. we did repairs on the hardware side, as well as on the software side of things. we even set up networks.

well, mid october of 2002, we were in the process of migrating a client's server from an nt server to a newer, faster dell server with windows server2k. while i was delivering the server, an employee at the client's location thought he would sound smart and come ask me some questions.

him...'what's that?'
me...'it's your new server.'
him...'is it better?'
me...'it's newer, faster and it has a newer operating system, windows 2000 server'
him...'oh, is it for Y2K?'

i could barely contain myself. it's near the end of 2002 now man. if it took us 2 years to resolve a y2k issue, you would have known about it and we'd be out of business.

well, thought i'd share with you all.

The_Dude

that's pretty funny.

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micah67

Or you could have fun with him and say it's to fix the Y2K3 bug - a new one every year...

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bermuDa

tell him it's not y2k compliant, and could explode any minute now.

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slant eyes

good one, should've thought of this one, i would've loved to see the expression on his face....'a new one every year?'

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catback

Although I know everyone can't be computer savvy the idiots still irritate me

Mephisto2

But was he employed as a computer technican?

Maybe the guy had an interest and was trying to learn or strike up conversation.

Give the guy the benefit of the doubt (if he wasn't employed in the IT area).

We ALL started somewhere.

Mr Mephisto

slant eyes

while you make a good point, what made this funny was that he didn't ask something totally computer related, it was more on the common sense side of things. y2k was totally publicized by the media to take its supposed toll the second it turned jan 1, 2000. so that is why we found it so funny. had he struck up some conversation dealing with like ram or comp speed, that would be totally understandable since it's a common mistake.

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Mephisto2

Yeah, but that IS the whole point.

If he wasn't a computer guy, and he heard "Windows 2000", then he probably wanted to try to engage in conversation.

He asked if that was something to do with "Y2K". He didn't come out and say something stupid like "Yeah, that's really gonna fix our Y2K problem...", as if he knew something.

How many of you have been in the presence of a professional, in some area where you have no expertise, and have asked an innocent question that probably shows your ignorance in that area?

I'd say most...

Mr Mephisto

sub zero

HAHAHA! That's hilarious.

I've got a story for yah. When I was up in college some guy came up to me and my friend and asked us "can you put the internet on a cd for me?"

Yeah, we asked him "ugh, what do you mean on a cd?"

He goes "like yah know the internet right?"

"yeah"

"well, can you put that on a cd for me?"

"so you're saying you want us to put the whole internet on a cd?"

"yeah"

"mmkay give us a minute" *barely able to hold in laughter at this point*

We then sent him back to his dorm room so that we could die in laughter.

Those were good times.

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Jesus Pimp

It's people like these who are taking all the jobs..

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oblar

mmm internet cds.... I want one.. .If i had one, could I honestly take the internet hostage?

*rubs hands in sweet, sweet anticipations*

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Tandem

lmao - you gotta laugh

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nostalgic1

i myself am not the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to computers.. i like to think of myself as computer literate.. but i'm sure every now and again i ask questions or do something completely out there...

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CSflim

I think its safe enough to assume that he meant can you put the "internet software" on a cd. (The browser and some sort of connecyion wizard etc.)

But yeah, it's pretty funny, but you should judge someone supposed ignorance on such an innocent mistake.

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obediah

I know it's easy to bash ignorant computer users, and it's fun to share stories gained during support work. But whenever I hear support people being malicious, or using their stories to feel more about their own crappy job, I can't help but take them to task.

* So you do all your own car maintenance? Oh, but at least you know the correct lingo for every car part, mechanical process, and repair type?

* You handle all your own medical emergencies? Oh, but at least you understand human anatomy, and basic medical problems right?

* Of course you're a skilled carpenter, and can build homes?

* Electrician? Professor? Well digger? TV repair person? etc ...

Computers are popular enough now that they are a tool, not a lifestyle choice. They are new and abstract in a way that many other tools aren't, which makes them more intimidating if not more difficult to work with.

If you are handling computer support, it is your job to be helpful and courteous. It's easy to get a swollen head working support, but try to keep your feet on the earth.

(I'm not directing this at anyone in this thread, the barbs here seem to be pretty good natured. I'm just sick of dealing with snotty support kiddies that think they are gods and that everyone that knows less about computers than them is a moron. )

TwistedFate

I have to agree. I have plenty of stories, but I usually only tell the ones that are funny. And I tell them as just that, funny stories. I don't try to belittle somebody for not knowing something unless I know they are trying to act high and mighty and spouting of stuff that they nothing about trying to look knowledgeable. (also not directing this at anybody in the thread, just joining in the conversation)

One of my favorites takes place back when 5.25 floppies were the mainstay. On some of the paper sleeves that they were stored in was printed "Remove from sleeve before using" or something to that extent. Well in the computer lab at William & Mary they had a floppy disk stapled to the announcement board where somebody had actually pulled the actual flimsy disk portion out the square protective cover through the hole in the center and tried to insert into a disk drive. That one cracks me up.

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bobbles

ahahah, thats the funniest thing ive heard all day

Mephisto2

Obediah expresses what I was trying to say much more lucidly and succinctly.

If you think "ignorant computer experts" are annoying (and I'm still not sure the guy proported to be an expert), then you should agree that what is MORE annoying is a techy who thinks he/she knows everything.

How many of you are expert hardware technicians and expert C++ programmers, Java programmers, Visual Basic, SAP, PeopleSoft and Oracle programmers, network engineers and Unix gurus all at once?

GASP!!

You mean there are things you don't know!!????!!

Grow up people...

Mr Mephisto

Pragma

I agree with Mr Mephisto on this one - the guy was probably trying to be friendly, but didn't know enough about computers to know where to begin.

I've got more than my fair share of funny stories about computer users that I've had to help, and most of them are the ones that make you go "Jeez, how do these people ever manage to even turn on a computer in the first place!", but on the other hand, I'm completely helpless when (for example) it comes to carpentry or electrical wiring.

I do my best to learn a fair amount about everything, so I'm not completely ignorant, but not everyone has the time, energy, or desire to learn about computers, and would rather take it to a "professional" to get it fixed, much like most people, instead of changing their own oil, rotating their own tires, or fixing whatever other issue they have with their car, take it to a mechanic.

Why? Because the mechanic knows how to do it better, probably won't screw it up, and it saves you time.

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