Bored at Work

[Thorin]

Yeah, I dunno what they actually discussed.  My guess is that the people running the workshop don't actually understand the meaning of "phishing".  The worst part, in my mind, is that we're not in an industry where you get lots of people to buy little programs for a couple bucks each - we're selling software and hardware that costs thousands to tens of thousands of dollars at a time, and we're selling it to very non-technical customers.

Funniest tech support story so far:
We sell ruggedized touchscreen workstations that are typically installed in cattle barns.  These are normally internet-connected.  We were trying to get data from one, but when trying to run software remotely it kept registering a contact on one part of the screen.  We called up the ranch and asked them to go check the workstation.  Turns out a cat died on top of the workstation and its head was on that part of the screen!

Dumbest tech support story so far:
We support COBOL-based auction market software.  A customer called up complaining that they couldn't record a particular auction item.  The tech asked the customer to check the network connection by looking at the back of the machine to see if the network cable was unplugged.  The machine was sitting on a desk, so he knew it should be easy to see.  The customer replied that they had to get a flashlight first.  The tech, somewhat surprised that a flashlight would be needed to see the back of a machine sitting on a desk in a brightly lit room, waited for the customer to get the flashlight.  The customer eventually came back to the phone with a flashlight in hand and asked what color the network cable would be.  The tech said the color, then asked why a flashlight was needed.  The customer explained that the auction market's power had gone out because of a car that ran into the power pole outside.  The tech calmly explained that computers need electricity, so until the power was restored the customer would not be able to record anything.

I can't see either of these customers keeping up with our new Facebook page to see what our latest software does.

[Lazybones]

Isn't it frightening that the longer we are in IT the more work seems like a Dilbert cartoon?

[Thorin]

Yes, very frightening.  Mostly because Scott Adams has already cornered the market on funny IT cartoons so I can't make any money there so I have to stay in IT.

[Tom]

I dunno, I think http://notinventedhe.re/ can be funny.

[Darren Dirt]

Isn't it frightening that the longer we are in IT the more work seems like a Dilbert cartoon?

especially this...

asked why a flashlight was needed.  The customer explained that the auction market's power had gone out because of a car that ran into the power pole outside.

[Thorin]

"Why won't this monitor turn on, dammit!  The power's out, and I need it's light to see what I'm doing!"

[Darren Dirt]

I dunno, I think http://notinventedhe.re/ can be funny.

Funnycuzitstrue: http://notinventedhe.re/on/2010-4-20
(also from that, found a handful of gaming/coding related web comics, here: http://www.crispygamer.com/comics/ )

PS: anyone played the ST MMO? is this basically accurate?

[Thorin]

Thanks for that link, Tom.

[Tom]

Thanks for that link, Tom.

My pleasure. Its a pretty new commic. Found it via PvP iirc.

[Darren Dirt]

in response to the thread title, ain't a pity that at your job you can't just keeping going "back to the well"?

[Tom]

in response to the thread title, ain't a pity that at your job you can't just keeping going "back to the well"?

I hate you. I hate you a lot.

Btw, found this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPzxHWre4M8 through that link (sorta, been a couple hours since I clicked that first link).

[Mr. Analog]

in response to the thread title, ain't a pity that at your job you can't just keeping going "back to the well"?

I hate you. I hate you a lot.

Btw, found this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPzxHWre4M8 through that link (sorta, been a couple hours since I clicked that first link).

See if all of Naruto was like that I'd watch it more! hahaha

[Tom]

in response to the thread title, ain't a pity that at your job you can't just keeping going "back to the well"?

I hate you. I hate you a lot.

Btw, found this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPzxHWre4M8 through that link (sorta, been a couple hours since I clicked that first link).

See if all of Naruto was like that I'd watch it more! hahaha

Yeah, I found the whole series of parodies hilarious.

* Tom is still stuck in TvTropes

[Mr. Analog]

in response to the thread title, ain't a pity that at your job you can't just keeping going "back to the well"?

I hate you. I hate you a lot.

Btw, found this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPzxHWre4M8 through that link (sorta, been a couple hours since I clicked that first link).

See if all of Naruto was like that I'd watch it more! hahaha

Yeah, I found the whole series of parodies hilarious.

* Tom is still stuck in TvTropes

TVTropes is like that

[Tom]

in response to the thread title, ain't a pity that at your job you can't just keeping going "back to the well"?

I hate you. I hate you a lot.

Btw, found this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPzxHWre4M8 through that link (sorta, been a couple hours since I clicked that first link).

See if all of Naruto was like that I'd watch it more! hahaha

Yeah, I found the whole series of parodies hilarious.

* Tom is still stuck in TvTropes

TVTropes is like that

Yeah, well at least its giving me something to do. Been looking at it since like 3 am.