Why are there so many jerks in the computer industry?

[Jeff7181]

I'm often accused of being like that by friends and family... and it's mostly because I get irritated at people who don't use common sense and after 10 years of the same basic Windows interface, still don't know how to copy and paste or change their screen saver. They're the same people who can't grasp the difference between e-mail and instant messages... and use the terms "e-mail address" and "website" interchageably. The same people who close IE when I tell them to click "the back button." The same people who push a CD or DVD down onto the tray as if they're trying to get it to stick. The same people who try to pull paper out of a printer before it's done printing... as if it's having trouble pushing it out, and if they pull it, it'll finish faster.

*EDIT* Another example... a friend of the family somehow figured out how to set the double click speed and set it so fast that she could barely click fast enough for it to register as a double click. To do it... she'd click 10 or 12 times, moving her whole hand, until she finally clicked twice fast enough for it to see it as a double click... the first time I saw her do that I literally got scared cause I thought she was having some kind of seizure.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: gururu

Originally posted by: PingSpike
And the move thing...this happened to me yesterday.
I'm microwaving my lunch.
Her: "Oh, good looks like you've got 2 minutes left so can you help me with something"
Me: "Well, its actually 30 seconds but yeah"
Her: "I got this email and I can't go to the website"
*I look at email, its some stupid valentines web card from her husband and for whatever reason the hyperlink isn't setup properly*
Me: "Ok, you need to copy the URL into a browser window."
Her: "Do what?"
Me: "Highlight that link text, then right click and go to copy"
*highlights half of it, then left clicks on it again, deselecting it...she looks at me confused*
me: "You don't have it all selected, thats probably not gonna work."
Her: "Oh, ok."
*reselects, missing part of the http:// this time...whatever*
Me: "Now go to Edit and then copy."
Me: "No, its under edit....its the second from the left....No, the top left. Ok."
Me: "Now open a web browser"
Her: "What?"
Me: "Internet Explorer"
Her: "Where is that?"
Me: "Minimize the window, its on your desktop...you just closed it...well that should be fine."
Me: "Double click that blue E"
Me: "Ok, now you need to paste to the address bar"
Her: "Where's the address bar."
Me: "Right there"
*points at the words 'address bar' next to the box populated with the current website*
Her: "Ok"
*starts clicking on the word address?*
Me: "No, the text next to it....yeah...well, ok thats good."
Me: "Now go to edit..."
*paste is grayed out...WTF...did I not notice her forgetting to click on copy or something?*
Me: "Oh crap, this looks like one of those ones that doesn't work with our email system."
Her: "Really?"
Me: "Yeah"
*Goes and eats cold food*

Me: Goes to her computer, highlights address text and pastes in IE addressbar. Tells her to click return.
Her: Thank you.

You: *Gets called 10 minutes later to do it for her next email.*

With this particular user, it was easier to yell move however.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: gururu

Originally posted by: PingSpike
And the move thing...this happened to me yesterday.
I'm microwaving my lunch.
Her: "Oh, good looks like you've got 2 minutes left so can you help me with something"
Me: "Well, its actually 30 seconds but yeah"
Her: "I got this email and I can't go to the website"
*I look at email, its some stupid valentines web card from her husband and for whatever reason the hyperlink isn't setup properly*
Me: "Ok, you need to copy the URL into a browser window."
Her: "Do what?"
Me: "Highlight that link text, then right click and go to copy"
*highlights half of it, then left clicks on it again, deselecting it...she looks at me confused*
me: "You don't have it all selected, thats probably not gonna work."
Her: "Oh, ok."
*reselects, missing part of the http:// this time...whatever*
Me: "Now go to Edit and then copy."
Me: "No, its under edit....its the second from the left....No, the top left. Ok."
Me: "Now open a web browser"
Her: "What?"
Me: "Internet Explorer"
Her: "Where is that?"
Me: "Minimize the window, its on your desktop...you just closed it...well that should be fine."
Me: "Double click that blue E"
Me: "Ok, now you need to paste to the address bar"
Her: "Where's the address bar."
Me: "Right there"
*points at the words 'address bar' next to the box populated with the current website*
Her: "Ok"
*starts clicking on the word address?*
Me: "No, the text next to it....yeah...well, ok thats good."
Me: "Now go to edit..."
*paste is grayed out...WTF...did I not notice her forgetting to click on copy or something?*
Me: "Oh crap, this looks like one of those ones that doesn't work with our email system."
Her: "Really?"
Me: "Yeah"
*Goes and eats cold food*

Me: Goes to her computer, highlights address text and pastes in IE addressbar. Tells her to click return.
Her: Thank you.

You: *Gets called 10 minutes later to do it for her next email.*

With this particular user, it was easier to yell move however.

Better answer:
Non-work related email isn't allowed.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I'm often accused of being like that by friends and family... and it's mostly because I get irritated at people who don't use common sense and after 10 years of the same basic Windows interface, still don't know how to copy and paste or change their screen saver. They're the same people who can't grasp the difference between e-mail and instant messages... and use the terms "e-mail address" and "website" interchageably. The same people who close IE when I tell them to click "the back button." The same people who push a CD or DVD down onto the tray as if they're trying to get it to stick. The same people who try to pull paper out of a printer before it's done printing... as if it's having trouble pushing it out, and if they pull it, it'll finish faster.

I had to laugh at that. I don't know if these people aren't trying or the part of their brain thats responsible for learning new things was killed off by some near drug overdose years ago.

 

[element]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
If various industries worked like the computer industry:
People would expect you to fix thier car while they stand over your shoulder... after they managed to hit an oncoming semi with it.
People would expect a baker to walk them through making a 7' tall wedding cake over the phone. For free.
People would attempt to cut thier hair with a hedge trimmer, and then go to a hair salon and tell them to put it back to the way it was.
People would infect themself with AIDS just to find out what it's like. And then expect there to be an over the counter cure.
People would have 400 tons of crap piled onto thier bicycle, and then complain about it being slow.

hehe so true

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I'm often accused of being like that by friends and family... and it's mostly because I get irritated at people who don't use common sense and after 10 years of the same basic Windows interface, still don't know how to copy and paste or change their screen saver. They're the same people who can't grasp the difference between e-mail and instant messages... and use the terms "e-mail address" and "website" interchageably. The same people who close IE when I tell them to click "the back button." The same people who push a CD or DVD down onto the tray as if they're trying to get it to stick. The same people who try to pull paper out of a printer before it's done printing... as if it's having trouble pushing it out, and if they pull it, it'll finish faster.

I had to laugh at that. I don't know if these people aren't trying or the part of their brain thats responsible for learning new things was killed off by some near drug overdose years ago.

Read my edit...

 

[Gurck]

All people are jerks. IT guys are likely to be less fashionable / good looking, thus get away with it less than others.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Gurck
All people are jerks. IT guys are likely to be less fashionable / good looking, thus get away with it less than others.

LOL... that's true...

Hey... here's a tip for you who work with morons on a daily basis... don't use deoderant... then they'll think twice about asking you to come over and lean over their shoulder and copy and paste a web address for them.

 

[erikistired]

insecurity from not knowing how to do your job.

some of us are jerks sometimes because we deal with stupidity all day long (well i did before i retired from the pc biz) so it wears on you, but these days from what i see it's mostly hacks who think they are computer gods but in reality can't format a boot disk and fake their way through every task. apparently the a'hole attitude makes them look authentic.

 

[SpanishFry]

I think I'm becoming more Burnsian

I do all of the desktop support/network admin for the office which is fine, but then I also have to do phone support which is ruthless. These people really don't have a clue.

 

[y2kc]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: Gurck
All people are jerks. IT guys are likely to be less fashionable / good looking, thus get away with it less than others.

LOL... that's true...

Hey... here's a tip for you who work with morons on a daily basis... don't use deoderant... then they'll think twice about asking you to come over and lean over their shoulder and copy and paste a web address for them.

not a good idea, my boss fired a guy for being "ripe" more often than not.

bottom line, despite being techs we are doing customer service work, like it or not. so really people either get to a level where you don't have to deal with the users directly or lose the tude.

besides, the combo of windows and less than brilliant users is what keeps food on the table. the dumber the better. got to justify my existence ,and i only do that by having the numbers on my side.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
If various industries worked like the computer industry:
People would expect you to fix thier car while they stand over your shoulder... after they managed to hit an oncoming semi with it.
People would expect a baker to walk them through making a 7' tall wedding cake over the phone. For free.
People would attempt to cut thier hair with a hedge trimmer, and then go to a hair salon and tell them to put it back to the way it was.
People would infect themself with AIDS just to find out what it's like. And then expect there to be an over the counter cure.
People would have 400 tons of crap piled onto thier bicycle, and then complain about it being slow.

That's great man.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: CVSiN


even the same questions AGAIN from the same person..

Desktop support/admin demands alot of patience becasue end users are fvcking morons in general...
10+ years showing the same user day after day how to map a drive or fix a printer turns us into nick burns ...

That is the one thing that really pisses me off. You go through the trouble to track me down, probably because you can't figure out how to log into AIM. Then you asked me a question I've already answered for you 5 times before. FVCKING WRITE IT DOWN. The second time doesn't really bother me...but after that I feel some monkey who is just doing the same work over and over again.

I am lucky I was born with an immense amount of patience. It is tested every day.

And the move thing...this happened to me yesterday.
I'm microwaving my lunch.
Her: "Oh, good looks like you've got 2 minutes left so can you help me with something"
Me: "Well, its actually 30 seconds but yeah"
Her: "I got this email and I can't go to the website"
*I look at email, its some stupid valentines web card from her husband and for whatever reason the hyperlink isn't setup properly*
Me: "Ok, you need to copy the URL into a browser window."
Her: "Do what?"
Me: "Highlight that link text, then right click and go to copy"
*highlights half of it, then left clicks on it again, deselecting it...she looks at me confused*
me: "You don't have it all selected, thats probably not gonna work."
Her: "Oh, ok."
*reselects, missing part of the http:// this time...whatever*
Me: "Now go to Edit and then copy."
Me: "No, its under edit....its the second from the left....No, the top left. Ok."
Me: "Now open a web browser"
Her: "What?"
Me: "Internet Explorer"
Her: "Where is that?"
Me: "Minimize the window, its on your desktop...you just closed it...well that should be fine."
Me: "Double click that blue E"
Me: "Ok, now you need to paste to the address bar"
Her: "Where's the address bar."
Me: "Right there"
*points at the words 'address bar' next to the box populated with the current website*
Her: "Ok"
*starts clicking on the word address?*
Me: "No, the text next to it....yeah...well, ok thats good."
Me: "Now go to edit..."
*paste is grayed out...WTF...did I not notice her forgetting to click on copy or something?*
Me: "Oh crap, this looks like one of those ones that doesn't work with our email system."
Her: "Really?"
Me: "Yeah"
*Goes and eats cold food*

ROFL, that sounds so familiar it hurts!

Not really a Tech Support like story, but seems appropriate to the subject: Back in 1987 I was taking a a Computer Apps course(Lotus 1-2-3, WordPerfect, dBase 3+, and more) and I had this one guy sitting next to me. Whenever we were using WordPerfect, everyday for the extent of the course(5 months), multiple times a day, he would turn to me and and ask, "F7 to Exit, right?". "Yes!". Grrrr!

 

[shimsham]

Originally posted by: ThePresence
It's human beings in general, and you have jerks in every job.

and elitists that think its all so simple and those that arent well versed are idiots.

its more of a lack of social skills than anything else, IMO.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Originally posted by: Wadded Beef
You know who I'm talking about...condescending, full of themselves, and often sporting a combover, why are there so many computer guys that act like jerks? (not all of em, probably not even the majority but there are still a LOT). I'm in college and theres several "Nick Burns" kinda guys in my classes. I don't want to be around these kind of people, how can I stay faar away from the nick burns of the world without changing majors? btw this isn't a shot at anyone who's into computers, (cept the nick burns guys) I honestly am trying to find out if this is the right major for me.

You can't bro. Maybe after you graduate you could start your own company, but until then you will have to realise that geeks in the computer industry think they are hot sh1t. You can see that attitude all over these online forums & in the real world over & over so I'm sure you know what I am talking about.

 

[axelfox]

"Oh, its the email that's stupid and not you?"

 

[meltdown75]

omg, this thread is hilarious

a :beer: for all the pricky IT guys. ehhehe

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: axelfox
"Oh, its the email that's stupid and not you?"

LOL. I love that line.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Well ... some of us are just elitists who like to say RTFM.

 

[dev0lution]

You'll encounter the same in many coworkers you'll have over the years. Welcome to corporate america...enjoy your stay!!!

 

[her209]

I love the people who call you over because they didn't think of turning on the damn monitor.

 

[imported_Schmitty]

I must say, not all IT guys are jerks, i try not to be a jerk. most of the time, we try to be nice. Its just that wan people call with a question that should be answered by the client looking at the tower or the moniter then you kind of get upset. other then that its ok!!

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

There are so many because of the quanity of people that create those people.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
If various industries worked like the computer industry:
People would expect you to fix thier car while they stand over your shoulder... after they managed to hit an oncoming semi with it.
People would expect a baker to walk them through making a 7' tall wedding cake over the phone. For free.
People would attempt to cut thier hair with a hedge trimmer, and then go to a hair salon and tell them to put it back to the way it was.
People would infect themself with AIDS just to find out what it's like. And then expect there to be an over the counter cure.
People would have 400 tons of crap piled onto thier bicycle, and then complain about it being slow.

That's great man.

:beer:

 

[FoBoT]

nick isn't a jerk, he seems pretty good for an end (L)user support guy