Well hello there! No I’m not (yet) dead, just blundering my way through summer. One thing I never thought I’d experience, was enraging tech support. I am not a “stupid user” after all… or so I thought. Of course, I blame it all on a sun stroke.

The gist of it all, was the Internet not working. I didn’t even want to go online, but there was this nagging feeling that kept winding me up. It had to be fixed.

I call tech support, only to spend about 20 minutes getting into Network Neighborhood. The phone cord couldn’t physically reach the computer, so that was one rather strained conversation we had.¹. Apparently everything was in perfect working order. Well… aside the fact that I couldn’t actually log on to the Internet.

The highlight of it all came, when I was asked to remove the Ethernet cable from the router and plug it directly into the computer. I spent a good 5 minutes staring blankly at the two wardrobes I’d have had to shift for said action. Then I remembered that dad had a laptop… … where Firefox kept freezing. On the bright side, the tech support seemed to be an Internet Explorer fan. WAIT: did I actually say bright side?!

Ironically enough, the guy ended up cutting the phone line² at the end. Hm… that might have been intentional, for all I know…

Lesson learned: there’s a reason why getting a human assisted tech support takes around a minute. You’re supposed to keep refreshing your browser till the problem magically solves itself.

Note: This post has been spawned thanks to Jade’s demand of me starting to earn my place in her Opera Speed Dial page. Don’t you DARE remove me!!!!!

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¹ The phone cord was not long enough, and carrying a desktop computer to the phone was really not worth the effort.
² The phone is linked to the modem, so if you reset the latter… *makes cut throat move*

Personally I have an insanely low tolerance to physical pain. Therefore, I generally do anything I can to avoid it¹. As luck would have it, these past weeks have not exactly been conductive to my peace of mind.

First I get some serious cramps from my period. Dry-heaving can be so much fun at work… Next, I (once again) forget that my arm is much too sensitive to stand any type of draught, so my right arm starts hurting like hell. But then I suddenly decide that I’m going to evolve and jump headfirst into… things. Either that, or my arm pain made me delirious.

Me: It hurts, therefore I demand sympathy.
Dad: It’s your own fault, really. I told you to take care.
Me: I still demand sympathy.
Dad: Fine… I know it hurts a lot.
Me:… and you know the best part? I’m having a tooth extraction tomorrow.
Dad: You can always call the doctor and tell her you can’t make it.
Me: But the bad tooth is on the other side.
Dad: I see. This is like the part where the doctor tells you to eat on the other side. So you cross the street and eat there.
Me: EXACTLY!

How do you react to pain?
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¹ … such as grabbing onto the door, when I’m being forcefully dragged to the dentist.

… then sarcasm low, kthnxbai.

Despite having a very good memory, I hate to remember things. It’s such a stress: I sometimes fantasize about forgetting my work computer’s password, needing to go at the sys-admin and ask for it to be reset. Oh the humiliation!

This is why I hate signing up for anything. Needless to say: I often end up signing up for stuff anyway. Such as to an online IT shop, to order a birthday present for a work colleague.

Imagine my pleasant surprise, when right below the large red “Buy now” button, there are two phone numbers I could order from. So I call, and even though it was past 8pm someone does pick up and doesn’t tell me they’re closed for the day. I’m starting to have faith again… or am I too hasty?

Vera: Hi! Is this onlineshop?
Sales guy: Yes, good evening. How may I help you?
Vera: I’d like to buy product xyz please. Could you also tell me if it’s possible to get it by Friday? I live in city name.
Sales guy: Oh yes, we should get it by Friday, don’t worry. Have you placed an order online yet?
Vera: Um no… but I thought I could do it by phone too. I don’t much like to sign up for anything.
Sales guy: yeah… I’ll never understand why people want to order stuff online. Maybe when we’ll be a more civilized country things’ll change.
Vera:
Sales guy: well bye, we’ll be expecting your online order.

*CLICK*

I could only stare at the phone. Was I actually mocked because I followed the instructions on their site?! I so wish I had had the courage to smugly point out that I develop sites like the one he so smugly uses, on a daily basis

And the best part: I receive a text message the next day (after placing the order online), that the product was out of stock so my order was canceled. Such professionalism, I think I might just faint from the ecstasy of it all.

Do pseudo tech guys act all high and mighty elsewhere too?