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When You Ask Stupid Questions I am Tempted to Do This

27 July 2011 By Alan Straton

In a geek tech environment the geek at the end of the phone is often asked some pretty pointless questions. Some local geeks have started a web site, Geek Talk, highlighting some funny conversations that have taken place between tech support and clients.

Below are a couple of examples of conversations from Geek Talk:

We have created the ‘Hammer Award’ (as in ‘dumb as a sack of hammers’) to honor those members of the public that come up with the dumbest questions.

Category: IUBWIDU (I use big words I don’t understand)

WINNER::

[Client Name removed] Ok. With DNS do I pay for an email and website registration separately ?

[Tech] I’m sorry – what now?

Domain does not resolve after a redirect has been added. In order to rectify the situation, it is sometimes needed to clear the cache on the client’s browser, as well as clear the DNS resolver cache.

Herewith the conversation:

[Tech] Which version of Windows are you running?

[Client] Windows XP

[Tech] Ok – please click on START, then RUN

[Client] Hang on – this computer just shut down.

[Tech] It did WHAT?

[Client] It shut down….?

[Tech] Did you click on Start?

[Client] Yes – I pressed the start button on the front of the computer box, then it went and shut down. Was it meant to do that?

[Tech] … Yes, but no…

{At this point Tech puts client on mute and tries to get his laughter under control}

Client: “Hi – all my emails are stuck in my outbox…”

Tech: “Have you tried shaking the laptop?”

Client: “I can’t – it’s a desktop computer.”

Tech: “Ah – that changes everything then. Please go to Tools -> Account Settings, …….”

Visit Geek Talk for more howlers.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.
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Filed Under: Wild Wild Web Tagged With: geek, support, talk

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