Word-for-word. I never mind doing free tech support for family, but I refuse to answer the same question a 3rd time. I stopped masking my frustrated anger, too, since that is the only way some people will pay attention. You have to hurt their feelings for them to understand that you AREN'T joking...
I made my father get a pencil, tap it on the phone so I knew he had it, write my instructions down and READ THEM BACK to me when I was done dictating. This was the only way I could be sure he was going to listen to me after I told him the SAME THING 3 times. I snapped on the 4th...
Oh, the sheer joy of unplugging that 300 baud and screwing in that brand-new Hayes 1200 with the pretty red lights on the front. . . I can still hear the ear-piercing screech muffled by whatever was on-hand to keep from waking up my parents...
On the bright side, we don't have to beg for "Adult" and "Pirate" access anymore. The days of the tyranical Sysop are DONE!!!
Re:stupidity propagates stupidity
on
KISS
·
· Score: 2, Funny
You forgot "CPU"
When my Dad's PC crapped out (he gets my old systems), my step-mom went on a drunken rampage and screamed about how "they should call Dell" because "she just wants a computer that works." She went on to explain that "the screen works fine. The printer is OK. Nothing wrong with the mouse and the keyboard, so we can just get a new box-thing."
I happily encouraged them to go with Dell since that meant I would be parolled from my unending troubleshooting hell. Little did I know it only meant I would get to troubleshoot WITH Dell now.
Are you suggesting that people might need to be responsible for their own hardware and what it spits out??? That's not going to be very popular... NOT AT ALL...
I've found that the images lock up after I spend days DLing. This happens with DVD-RW and using a virtual drive, so it must be the image itself. Last 3 were bad, haven't tried since...
Yes! I moved my wife's PC (athlon tbird 1200) into my basement/den and we noticed the difference in these last few days of COLD weather... (Charlotte, NC)
My dogs now hang out under my desk and bathe in the warmth of my axp 2400+
Most people will understand if you put it in terms they can comprehend. For example, when my cast-off parts aren't satisfying a friend who is using it and they demand to know why it is slow, I explain that I just dropped $130 for a new HD, $110 for a new CPU/fan, $70 on more RAM, etc etc etc. They usually understand
"$$$ = FAST ; you $$$"
I can't even get those discount software packages to run on my Windows box. He has a better chance of running them on a Mac.
Has anyone ever bought a $5 or %10 box of software at the mall and had it work right??? Maybe it's due to the fact that the software is usually designed for the LAST generation of PC (or the one before mine, anyway)
You realize, of course, that there are people in business who spend hours and hours game-planning for just this type of exposure??? Count your blessings or start referring them to a businessman you trust (possibly for a kickback?)
This is the best method. Most direct family gets free tech support on their "OG" status. Everyone else gets the "I'll see what I can do, but these things are strange sometimes." If it's not worth my time/effort, I'll refer them to their retailer. It's usually so old that they don't remember where they got it, so I go with "you'll have to replace it, call a professional."
The key is personal choices. I have a right to want to be called "Big Poppa Smurf", but I probably shouldn't be too upset if the rest of the community laughs at me...
My step-dad always got the newest/hottest (CD, dolby pro-logic, laserdisk, dvd, etc) and I recall buying "Kiss: Lick It Up" as my first CD. There were about 2 aisles at the record (and it was still a RECORD) store for CDs. That had to be in 83? 84???
My wife can re-write history faster than my HD. I've learned to use pneumonic devices to remember details that I believe will become key. Also tend to stash written evidence to prove myself correct at times.
What sucks is being right means nothing... They have the pu$$y and there's not a damn thing we can do about it except "Nuthin" and "Love It" (props to the Nature Boy! Whooooooooooooooooo!!!!)
I hope you never eat at a restaurant that uses Windows, or shop at a store that licenses from MS, or travel through the air (airports use computers, too).
I imagine they will squeeze this poor family and juice all the bad publicity out of it (as long as they spell your name right, eh???).
At the end, I foresee this low-income-single-parent family will be offered the following deal:
We'll drop the suit against you if you make a series of commercials telling parents that you got sued for $500,000,000,000 because your child Downloaded music.
It's not like they care about their image at this point... I'd think it would be a pretty effective move (and very little cost, other than air-time)
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Sure, the PC is moody and illogical, not you... right honey? Quit your still-standing and get to work. This dick won't suck itself...
I made my father get a pencil, tap it on the phone so I knew he had it, write my instructions down and READ THEM BACK to me when I was done dictating. This was the only way I could be sure he was going to listen to me after I told him the SAME THING 3 times. I snapped on the 4th...
On the bright side, we don't have to beg for "Adult" and "Pirate" access anymore. The days of the tyranical Sysop are DONE!!!
When my Dad's PC crapped out (he gets my old systems), my step-mom went on a drunken rampage and screamed about how "they should call Dell" because "she just wants a computer that works." She went on to explain that "the screen works fine. The printer is OK. Nothing wrong with the mouse and the keyboard, so we can just get a new box-thing."
I happily encouraged them to go with Dell since that meant I would be parolled from my unending troubleshooting hell. Little did I know it only meant I would get to troubleshoot WITH Dell now.
Long-story-short: I moved out of state.
Are you suggesting that people might need to be responsible for their own hardware and what it spits out??? That's not going to be very popular... NOT AT ALL...
Mass emails and resetting home pages is funny stuff... for abuot 10 mins.
I've found that the images lock up after I spend days DLing. This happens with DVD-RW and using a virtual drive, so it must be the image itself. Last 3 were bad, haven't tried since...
The Big Three killed my baby...
My dogs now hang out under my desk and bathe in the warmth of my axp 2400+
Most people will understand if you put it in terms they can comprehend. For example, when my cast-off parts aren't satisfying a friend who is using it and they demand to know why it is slow, I explain that I just dropped $130 for a new HD, $110 for a new CPU/fan, $70 on more RAM, etc etc etc. They usually understand "$$$ = FAST ; you $$$"
I can't even get those discount software packages to run on my Windows box. He has a better chance of running them on a Mac. Has anyone ever bought a $5 or %10 box of software at the mall and had it work right??? Maybe it's due to the fact that the software is usually designed for the LAST generation of PC (or the one before mine, anyway)
You realize, of course, that there are people in business who spend hours and hours game-planning for just this type of exposure??? Count your blessings or start referring them to a businessman you trust (possibly for a kickback?)
This is the best method. Most direct family gets free tech support on their "OG" status. Everyone else gets the "I'll see what I can do, but these things are strange sometimes." If it's not worth my time/effort, I'll refer them to their retailer. It's usually so old that they don't remember where they got it, so I go with "you'll have to replace it, call a professional."
I'm betting it was a middle-aged or old (rich) white woman. Any takers???
I'd be much happier if...
I have a right to consider...
The key is personal choices. I have a right to want to be called "Big Poppa Smurf", but I probably shouldn't be too upset if the rest of the community laughs at me...
My step-dad always got the newest/hottest (CD, dolby pro-logic, laserdisk, dvd, etc) and I recall buying "Kiss: Lick It Up" as my first CD. There were about 2 aisles at the record (and it was still a RECORD) store for CDs. That had to be in 83? 84???
What sucks is being right means nothing... They have the pu$$y and there's not a damn thing we can do about it except "Nuthin" and "Love It" (props to the Nature Boy! Whooooooooooooooooo!!!!)
ARRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrggghhhh. . .
Dropped the same flashlight into a running computer twice in one night. Still runs great (may have broken the flashlight)
Leech indeed...
Kinda like a vegetarian who wears leather...
If someone uses my SS# and info with their address, perhaps those creditors will bother them for a change...
At the end, I foresee this low-income-single-parent family will be offered the following deal:
It's not like they care about their image at this point... I'd think it would be a pretty effective move (and very little cost, other than air-time)Don't they always target younger consumers with disposable incomes??? Why change horses in mid-stream?
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