This has to be up there on the IT dumbest end user list

[Red Squirrel]

I work at help desk, and it's actually very scary how people can be THAT dumb. "I'm not computer literate" is not an excuse anymore, I hate when people say that. It's 2009, learn the basics of electronic equipment such as a PC or GTFO.

 

[frostedflakes]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
I don't understand how people can be so stupid. I know how dumb people can be from my years working as a cashier in ShopRite, I just don't understand why....

because they're not being paid to worry about the computer or the printer..those things are merely appliances, tools to assist the professional in doing the company's work.

Fair enough, but there are examples, such as OP's, where the lack of common sense is just astounding.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Originally posted by: frostedflakes

Originally posted by: Geekbabe

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
I don't understand how people can be so stupid. I know how dumb people can be from my years working as a cashier in ShopRite, I just don't understand why....

because they're not being paid to worry about the computer or the printer..those things are merely appliances, tools to assist the professional in doing the company's work.

Fair enough, but there are examples, such as OP's, where the lack of common sense is just astounding.

Yep exactly. It's like calling the garage because your car wont start and they come to check it and it has no gas. It's weird how when it comes to computers, people lose all common sense and become total idiots that could not power on a functional computer even if their life depended on it.

 

[CrazyLazy]

You guys should like those kind of people. That's why helpdesk exists and you have a job.

 

[mxyzptlk]

Originally posted by: CrazyLazy
You guys should like those kind of people. That's why helpdesk exists and you have a job.

++

job security is nice. I like when people call about stupid shit that I can "fix" just by correcting whatever user error they've made. Having to actually fix something is far less fun.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Would you rather have that or some serious problem that you actually have to figure out? I'd take the obvious, mindless problem myself.

 

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: obscenethistle
I called helpdesk because when I turned on the PC, I got a few beeping sounds and a blank screen. RAM issue, as I had this happen to me on a home PC.

Do I fall under the dumb end user list because I pretended that I did not know how to fix it?

Not even anywhere near the same ballpark as looping a power strip. :roll: Obviously you are not expected to borrow your co-worker's PC, fire up Newegg, and place an order for replacement RAM in the event the RAM in your work PC takes a dump. The perpetual energy power strip issue is basic common sense. It would be like complaining to a pencil manufacturer because you can't get the pink end to write on the paper.

Some people are just too stupid to live.

 

[Inferno0032]

Appropriate?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMriTkE3igY

 

[Paratus]

At work we've got a 'successory' type pic that shows a spiderman type super hero who says "My common sense is tingling"

Underneath it says; "Common Sense: So uncommon it should be a God Damn super power"

 

[Spineshank]

Originally posted by: jtvang125
Well I just got a helpdesk call that her computer just turned off and won't turn back on. So I go up and surely enough it was off and wouldn't turn on when I tried the power button. I peaked underneath the desk and could see that she's been messing with the power strip. I was barely able to hold myself when I noticed she unplugged the power strip from the wall outlet and plugged it into itself.

Have seen that before. Also had my aunt say her router wasnt working..she had it plugged into itself.

 

[slayer202]

Originally posted by: frostedflakes

Originally posted by: Geekbabe

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
I don't understand how people can be so stupid. I know how dumb people can be from my years working as a cashier in ShopRite, I just don't understand why....

because they're not being paid to worry about the computer or the printer..those things are merely appliances, tools to assist the professional in doing the company's work.

Fair enough, but there are examples, such as OP's, where the lack of common sense is just astounding.

no, not fair enough. people whose job requires them to use a computer should at least be half competent using the damn thing.

 

[Red Squirrel]

As much as it's job security, these things waste our time.

Helpdesk is for when a system goes down, or when something technical goes wrong, as well as password resets, etc. The worse is people who screw up their computer so badly they cause some of the most bizare problems. Now the power one is easy, but I've seen some really messed up software issues take a while to fix because of the user totally screwing around.

Then you always get the people that call like twice a day to change their password because they keep forgetting it, yet they blame us "why does this keep happening?" Sometimes I'm bold and I just say it "because you forgot your password".

 

[akshatp]

I work in a NOC, but we are close to the W@H support desk... You should hear some of the crap they get...

W@H Tech: Power off and power on your PC and let me know when its back at the logon prompt
User (like only 5 seconds later): Okay done.
W@H Tech: You powered off/on your PC that fast? Are you sure you turned it off and on?
User: Yes, it went black when it was off and came back to the logon screen when I turned it on
W@H Tech: Are you sure you powered off the COMPUTER and not just the MONITOR/SCREEN?
User: Oh i thought the screen WAS the computer. Are you talking about the IBM box?
W@H Tech: <shoots self>

DOHHHH!!!

Another time, a user was trying to click a button with the mouse by ACTUALLY touching the mouse to the screen apparently. Although I heard this third party so I dont know if it actually happened.

 

[Spineshank]

Originally posted by: RedSquirrel
As much as it's job security, these things waste our time.

Helpdesk is for when a system goes down, or when something technical goes wrong, as well as password resets, etc. The worse is people who screw up their computer so badly they cause some of the most bizare problems. Now the power one is easy, but I've seen some really messed up software issues take a while to fix because of the user totally screwing around.

Then you always get the people that call like twice a day to change their password because they keep forgetting it, yet they blame us "why does this keep happening?" Sometimes I'm bold and I just say it "because you forgot your password".

Where i work we have users calling us for help on how to do their job. This usually only happens around holidays when a good portion of the office is out.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
I don't understand how people can be so stupid. I know how dumb people can be from my years working as a cashier in ShopRite, I just don't understand why....

because they're not being paid to worry about the computer or the printer..those things are merely appliances, tools to assist the professional in doing the company's work.

The example he gave is not a specialized skill that an end user shouldn't be expected to have. It is basic common sense.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Riverhound777
"I don't get it, its plugged in, what difference does it make which holes?"

total invitation to sexual harassment right there

 

[Adul]

Originally posted by: jtvang125
Well I just got a helpdesk call that her computer just turned off and won't turn back on. So I go up and surely enough it was off and wouldn't turn on when I tried the power button. I peaked underneath the desk and could see that she's been messing with the power strip. I was barely able to hold myself when I noticed she unplugged the power strip from the wall outlet and plugged it into itself.

she was hoping to invent perpetual power.

 

[BW86]

Yeah - I've gotten a call like this before.

 

[rh71]

"well is it plugged in?" is an actual problem I've seen... unbelievable.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Originally posted by: slayer202
no, not fair enough. people whose job requires them to use a computer should at least be half competent using the damn thing.

I'll take that a step further: People whose job requires electricity should know how to plug something in. If you don't understand that outlets don't spontaneously generate power just by virtue of being the right shape for a plug, you may be too stupid to work.

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy

Originally posted by: slayer202
no, not fair enough. people whose job requires them to use a computer should at least be half competent using the damn thing.

I'll take that a step further: People whose job requires electricity should know how to plug something in. If you don't understand that outlets don't spontaneously generate power just by virtue of being the right shape for a plug, you may be too stupid to work.

Living in today's society pretty much requires electricity unless you're an off the grid hippy or something. So, to live, you should know.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Originally posted by: akshatp

Another time, a user was trying to click a button with the mouse by ACTUALLY touching the mouse to the screen apparently. Although I heard this third party so I dont know if it actually happened.

I've seen this before. Woman was trying to use the mouse like a TV remote. Picking it up and pointing it at the screen and clicking.

 

[I Saw OJ]

All these stories it sounds like a bunch of cavemen in an office trying to use computers.

 

[Joemonkey]

i still think my father in law thinks a "double click" means push both mouse buttons at once

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Adul

Originally posted by: jtvang125
Well I just got a helpdesk call that her computer just turned off and won't turn back on. So I go up and surely enough it was off and wouldn't turn on when I tried the power button. I peaked underneath the desk and could see that she's been messing with the power strip. I was barely able to hold myself when I noticed she unplugged the power strip from the wall outlet and plugged it into itself.

she was hoping to invent perpetual power.

lol exactly one day after my "perpetual machine" reply, to the minute!