Ever notice how support folks swear like sailors?

[gunf1ghter]

I have been in support for a few years... I have worked as front line tech support, and now, as engineering support for big systems. The one thing in common with all these jobs is how much everyone swears, I've never heard so many expletives in my life!

Common activities....

talking to customer and occasionally put them on mute and say "fvck you"

being really nice to idiot customer while they ask you to troubleshoot their network or PC problems and at the same time emphatically flipping off the telephone with your middle finger.

any other interesting ones?

 

[bobtist]

I've noticed how sailors swear like tech support folks.

 

[kranky]

My experience is just the opposite. Our support people rarely curse. Maybe it's more of a company culture thing?

 

[crab]

LOL I went on a field trip to a flooring plant called Mannington Mills and I got to listen in on support calls...With the way some people completely freak out, Sometimes the tech support has good reason for flipping off the caller.

 

[vi edit]

Having done tech support for several years, I can say that I have never used a word that you can't say on prime time television. Now the night operators that I was providing support too....that's a different story

 

[Zapster]

Our IS people swear up a storm!

 

[warcleric]

Yes we cuss constantly, it is because of the pressure we are put under. I love that commercial about the board room meeting where they are asking for "impossible tasks for the IT department".

 

[gunf1ghter]

I'm surprised Winndog hasn't shown up, he did tech support at one point didn't he?

 

[Viper GTS]

Warcleric pretty much has the right idea. It's about stress. The mute button is a wonderful stress reliever. Just be careful you actually are on mute before you start with the profanity.



Viper GTS

 

[Dameon]

I can tell ya our crew curses like no tomorrow.

My personal notorious quote after hitting mute: "Sounds like your system goes down more often than a high school cheerleader"

 

[The Dancing Peacock]

I never swore at the customer, but the hold button was definitely my friend to help me release frustration with some of the morons that I talked to. Made 1 cry, and then a year and a half later she got so pissed off at me that she was swearing up and down, hung up the phone and hasn't called back in 2 years. Each time I talked to her, I didn't raise my voice, or say anything unordinarily rude or unpleasant. I might have been curt, or short.:Q Did have someone threaten to come to our office and bash our fcking heads in with a baseball bat. All I said was hello, can I have your username.



late.


TDP

 

[RoninBlackSoul]

HEY! I'm insulted.... :|

I'm a sailor and don't swear that much..

 

[gunf1ghter]

 

[trmiv]

That's a bunch of bull@$*&!! I'm in tech support and we don't f@#$ing swear that damn much. Talk about stupid sh!t!!

 

[thebestMAX]

What? Me curse?

 

[RoninBlackSoul]

Though I curse a lot more back before I joined...

 

[MrCraphead]

wow, now I know what to expect when I call in for tech support.....assuming I need it.

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

Fvckin' A right!

 

[gunf1ghter]

Well, in all fairness, I support multi-million dollar communcations networks that tie into ATM and PSTN network interfaces.

The people I am supporting are actually supposed to have a clue of what they are doing and should know better, so I usually feel justified in calling them an idiot.

Noone should expect your typical brainless end user to be capable of doing more than turning on the power button to their PC.

 

[GT1999]

The rare times that I DO get a call like this, where I feel I'm about to have a complete stress attack I will put the customer on hold, get some water, and then pick it up a minute or so later. I've been in support for almost 2 years and I think I'm going to die 10 years earlier just because of it.

Note: YOU make your own stress. Try to control it..

 

[gunf1ghter]

Did you ever see that twilight zone (the new color series they did back in the 80's or early 90's) episode where people where labeled "Obnox"?

Basically if you were exposed to an Obnox (someone who is unbelievably obnoxious and drives everyone else insane) than you would get a monetary compensation for the stress it caused.

This guy needs money to get an operation done for his dad so he continually exposes himself to these people that are Obnox's.... by the end of the show he is stark raving mad.

 

[Delusion2001]

haha. i'll be extra dumb now hwne i call tech support