IMHO, It's a wonderful effort. The whole idea behind this effort is that Internet access should be treated as a public resource. And apparently Philadelphia isn't alone... plans like these are being researched in other locations as well.
"I'm John Kerry, and I'm reporting for dinner" John Kerry, August 11, 2004
"I served with John Kerry, and he did not report for dinner" Swift Boat Actor, August 11, 2004
Re:Today only, free access courtesy of Slashdot
on
Orwellian Tech Support
·
· Score: 5, Funny
I personally enjoyed the description of different tech support workers:
A punter is someone who gets rid of problems by giving them to someone else. Punters tell customers that their problem is not really with their computer, but with their software, their printer, their phone lines, solar flares, whatever they can make sound believable. Then a punter will look at the piece of paper hanging above their phone and read you those four magic words. We don't support that. If you want your problem fixed, a punter will tell you, you'll have to call someone else.
Karen is part of a growing group called givers. Like punters, they don't really solve any problems, but instead of just asking you to call someone else, givers want you to have a parting gift. They'll listen to your problem and then randomly choose a piece of hardware to send you. Of course it won't solve anything, but givers have discovered that people usually calm down and start agreeing as soon as they think you're sending them something to fix the problem. And by the time they get the new part and discover it has no effect, they'll call back and someone else will have to figure out how to deal with them. Givers are really just punters with style, and they find their tactic very satisfying. Karen and her ilk get to spend all day playing Santa.
Ted is someone I don't speak to. Ted is a formatter. Ted, and those like him, have only one solution to their customers' problems. Erase everything on the computer's hard drive and start over from scratch. While this can be effective for solving all sorts of software troubles, it's like amputating someone's leg to fix an ingrown toenail. The solution is usually worse than the problem. Most times Ted doesn't actually follow through with his plan. The entire strategy is just a bluff. Most people will balk at the proposition of losing everything and decide they can live with whatever problem they've called to complain about. At the very least they'll decide to hang up, back up their data, and call back -- at which point they'll become someone else's problem.
This could be a fun quiz addition for e-mode.com: Which Tech Support Staffer Are You?
Yes, but job searching services like Monster.com are not meant to take the place of networking... Jobs filled by refferal are often times not even released/listed.
After taking another look at the keyboard, I have to point out the obvious design flaw... No QWERTY. This is the standard we are all use to -- how can a keyboard be successful without it.
In this same vein... How to conduct meaningful web searches period. People often waste too much time trying to track down useful/pertinent information on the web.
The telemarket droids are hanging on to their jobs and not seen the writing on the wall for the same reason that a large part of us slashdotters are hanging on to our tech-related jobs despite knowing that our jobs will most likely be outsourced in the future
...then later, then. Seriously, it should have been tackled long ago. What I'd like the government to do is say "OK, we'll compensate for those being laid off, but the list is staying." THEN we'll see the true side of the telemarketters.
FYI - if you work in email spam, better start looking for a job now while you have a chance...
The real question is... why haven't these people been looking for jobs already. The writing has been on the wall for quite some time now -- Why are people so reluctant to see it?
I will be boycotting the RIAA from now on as well, but I would hate to never listen to music again. Ditto this. I can not recommend any Indie sites... but buying CDs used is an excellent option.
How can one really absorb what is being discussed in the lecture? You are busy trying to dictate every word the prof sais, or being sidetracked by other students blogs/IM's -- Not exactly the best way to learn.
Find a dollar theater or drive-in in your area - they are generally a good way to catch films months after the initial theater release. I am sure Reloaded will still be showing somewhere come October.... Currently it is showing at the IMAX.
This was exactly my take on the whole BE phenomenon. I have in fact already used the "it was Battlefield Earth bad" example a number of times. It is very effective at getting my point across.
I had to think long and hard about this one. But I think I have finally come up with an answer. Sure, Battlefield Earth sucks -- we have established this. But the sheer magnitude of its 'suck-factor' is what is truly worthy of praise. We should be commending this glorious piece of Hollywood trash that makes us appreciate every other film that has a shred of entertainment value. Strange things happen whenever the public get's too comfortable with decent films. They actually start to forget what a truly BAD film experience can be. Lately, every film that has been in the theatres is about the same quality, you can't help but to get bored with the mediocrity. Even if a film is 'not that great', it isn't really horrible either. The whole situation is depressing -- It takes away from the excitement of a really GOOD film experience. The one redeeming quality the Battlefield Earth has is that it makes us appreciate all the other films we would otherwise take for granted.
Slashdot Mirror
Okay, this is officially my favorite slashdot quote...
Just read this article yesterday:
Philadelphia to become 'Wi-fi for all' city.
IMHO, It's a wonderful effort. The whole idea behind this effort is that Internet access should be treated as a public resource. And apparently Philadelphia isn't alone... plans like these are being researched in other locations as well.
"I'm John Kerry, and I'm reporting for dinner" John Kerry, August 11, 2004
"I served with John Kerry, and he did not report for dinner" Swift Boat Actor, August 11, 2004
This could be a fun quiz addition for e-mode.com: Which Tech Support Staffer Are You?
I think I am a "Santa"
Yes, but job searching services like Monster.com are not meant to take the place of networking... Jobs filled by refferal are often times not even released/listed.
For a good read on this topic, check out: Disposable People
So we are using China's government model now...
Seriously, why is it that the government's solution is always to tax? Wasn't this country founded by people who were against that principle.
After taking another look at the keyboard, I have to point out the obvious design flaw... No QWERTY.
This is the standard we are all use to -- how can a keyboard be successful without it.
Found this posted on none other than: MTV.com...
Senator Inquiry to RIAA Tactics
In this same vein...
How to conduct meaningful web searches period.
People often waste too much time trying to track down useful/pertinent information on the web.
Blasphemous Swine! Shut your filthy hole.
And yet there are other people who do this everyday... why not target other people in Sales or Stockbrokers.
The real question is... why haven't these people been looking for jobs already. The writing has been on the wall for quite some time now -- Why are people so reluctant to see it?
Too Late
You are next -- the RIAA
I will be boycotting the RIAA from now on as well, but I would hate to never listen to music again.
Ditto this.
I can not recommend any Indie sites... but buying CDs used is an excellent option.
Will the RIAA start coming after parents... I know my teenage sister downloads music all day and night. Guess it's time to warn my mom.
How can one really absorb what is being discussed in the lecture? You are busy trying to dictate every word the prof sais, or being sidetracked by other students blogs/IM's -- Not exactly the best way to learn.
Find a dollar theater or drive-in in your area - they are generally a good way to catch films months after the initial theater release. I am sure Reloaded will still be showing somewhere come October.... Currently it is showing at the IMAX.
You say tomAEto, I say tomOHto... is there really any difference between a social problem and human nature?
I guess the real question is (at least for me)... Why two? What was the process before the patent office was put in place?
This was exactly my take on the whole BE phenomenon. I have in fact already used the "it was Battlefield Earth bad" example a number of times. It is very effective at getting my point across.
Now THAT is an original observation... LMAO
I had to think long and hard about this one. But I think I have finally come up with an answer. Sure, Battlefield Earth sucks -- we have established this. But the sheer magnitude of its 'suck-factor' is what is truly worthy of praise. We should be commending this glorious piece of Hollywood trash that makes us appreciate every other film that has a shred of entertainment value. Strange things happen whenever the public get's too comfortable with decent films. They actually start to forget what a truly BAD film experience can be. Lately, every film that has been in the theatres is about the same quality, you can't help but to get bored with the mediocrity. Even if a film is 'not that great', it isn't really horrible either. The whole situation is depressing -- It takes away from the excitement of a really GOOD film experience. The one redeeming quality the Battlefield Earth has is that it makes us appreciate all the other films we would otherwise take for granted.