Last Day

Today's my last day on the job.

I'm pretty happy about that.

iPad

It can be hard to explain to a customer that, yes... it matters that the thing they're calling "an iPad" is actually an off-brand e-reader.

The Breaks

Central command just sent a detailed spreadsheet telling all employees exactly when they're allowed to take breaks.

Disappointment

In order to help people remotely, I need to connect to a computer. Not a cellphone or an iPad but a laptop or a desktop computer.

Twice today I've had people transferred to me who weren't told this, and have only an iPad in the house.

One of them, upon finding out that I couldn't help her, calmly decided to call back later.

The other flew into a rage and demanded a refund and blamed the "incompetent Indian salesperson", and then demanded to be transferred to someone who could cancel her account with the ISP.

I guess people have different ways of dealing with disappointment.

Resignation

I emailed a resignation letter to my supervisor today.

But my supervisor didn't respond.

I asked around, and found out that my supervisor's on vacation.

I emailed my former supervisor, but she now works for a different department and isn't available.

A third supervisor said he'd take care of it.

But I can't help but think that this symbolizes something.

Sadistic Sabbath

A coworker just got scolded by his customer... for working on a Sunday.

Mutter Mutter

The glory of speakerphones is that they make all input the same volume.

This feature can have unexpected results.
For instance, a customer who mutters to herself constantly during a call sounds like this:
muttermuttermutterareyoulisteningtomemuttermutteri'msorryiguessi'mhavingtroublemuttermuttermutterwhatpartdidyouwantmetorepeatmuttermuttermuttermutternoididn'tsayanythingi'mjustmuttermuttermuttersorryitalktomyselfwhenmuttermuttermutterwhatmuttermuttermutterdoyouunderstandmuttermutterwhat?


It also means that the TV in the background will play infomercials about liposuction at exactly the same volume as the conversation you might be trying to have about computer issues. (And, TV shows about crime can be really disturbing... people screaming, gunshots, etc...)

And screeching babies are also a bit of a problem.

Teams

I've been shifted to a new team. I actually kept my same schedule, but now I work with a new supervisor and an entirely different group of peers. Everyone in the entire company is in the same situation.

After months of close (chat-room) interaction, suddenly I have no idea who anyone is. I'll never meet any of them in person, but it's still an odd feeling.

Advertising

A friend forwarded me an email advertising the tech support service I work for.


The tag line is "Turn UUGGGHHH into AAAAHHHHH."

That's All

Me: "Can you tell me anything more about that 'little thing' that you said you saw on the screen?"
Customer: "There's nothing to tell".

Malwhere?

It's fascinating how people get some junkware installed... an innocent little toolbar... some free games.

And then that stuff brings along its sleazy friends. Adware. Spyware.

The next thing you know, there's a Trojan on here.

Then worms. Then rootkits.

And then the computer's totally wrecked.

Passwords

Sometimes a long password can be a problem.

For instance, if you've reset your password several times without being able to log in, and so you finally change it to "whatastupidfriggingpainthisis"... but then consistently mistype it without the g, as "whatastupidfrigginpainthisis".

Facebook

First call of the day: a lady who can't log into facebook because she forgot her password. And is really angry at Comcast about that.

The Main Problem

The main problem with the ISP serving my customers (Comcast) is,

It absolutely does not care one bit about its customers.

It's a giant, giant company that doesn't need you.

So if you should happen to be one of those customers, and call because you have a problem, they don't care.

If you call because you want to cancel your account, they don't care.

In most markets they have the only fast internet around. What are you gonna do, take your business elsewhere?

Just pay up. They don't care.

Working From Home

I have started wearing pajamas lately instead of actually putting on clothes.

I'm afraid I'll lose all my social skills, and forget how to go outside and be around three-dimensional people soon.

I'm getting good at talking to people about their computers.
But, less good at every other kind of interpersonal interaction.

Identity Crisis

My coworkers say that I can't be a geek because I don't know what "Skyrim" is.

(I think it must be some sort of computer game.)

Once in junior high, in the mid-80s, I programmed a text-only adventure game based on Dante's Inferno.

So maybe I'm a combination geek/bookworm.

Deep Thought

You know how calling a big company for tech support is pretty much the worst thing that you can ever do?

Well, it's like that for the folks on the other end of the line too. Except we're doing that all day.

How It Feels Sometimes

About a month ago now, my supervisor had to leave our shared chat room for a couple hours, because one of the techs on my team called in saying he was going to commit suicide and she had to talk him down.

I don't know anything else about this episode, because it was never mentioned again.

Suggestion 2

If you want to troubleshoot your wireless network, it's a good idea to do so from home, not from your girlfriend's house.

Suggestion

If you're calling for tech support involving your computer, it's a good idea to have your computer turned on and available.