I got it, Trudy, but I can't see where the link leads since the school where I'm online blocks Facebook.
Now you can luxuriate in a nice jail cell, but if your hand touches metal, I swear by my pretty flowered bonnet, I will end you.
Mal ,'Our Mrs. Reynolds'
Natter 63: Life after PuppyCam
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
Theodosia - Jun 15, 2009 2:03:09 pm PDT #24434 of 30000
'we all walk this earth feeling we are frauds. The trick is to be grateful and hope the caper doesn't end any time soon"
Trudy Booth - Jun 15, 2009 2:07:57 pm PDT #24435 of 30000
Greece's financial crisis threatens to take down all of Western civilization - a civilization they themselves founded. A rather tragic irony - which is something they also invented. - Jon Stewart
I didn't get anything (yet) Trudes, so it may not have hit your whole list.
That is a comfort. Thank you.
Connie Neil - Jun 15, 2009 2:51:54 pm PDT #24436 of 30000
brillig
Why do people come into technical support, tell me their problem, then ask "Can you help?" Am I supposed to say, "No, I can't help, contact someone else, my job is not to fix your system despite what they pay me for"?
beth b - Jun 15, 2009 2:58:55 pm PDT #24437 of 30000
oh joy! Oh Rapture ! I have a brain!
Same reason people ask if I can help them at the library.
javachik - Jun 15, 2009 2:59:11 pm PDT #24438 of 30000
Our wings are not tired.
Why do people come into technical support, tell me their problem, then ask "Can you help?"
Because they truly want to know if you can help them? I'm sure not everything people have trouble with falls under your area of expertise?
Connie Neil - Jun 15, 2009 3:15:35 pm PDT #24439 of 30000
brillig
Because they truly want to know if you can help them?
Well, it's not like they're asking me how to cook a turkey. They're asking how to install the update to the program whose technical support line they just logged into. It just strikes me as obsequious and "Please abuse me, I'm probably not worthy of asking for help," which does not trigger my empathy when the backlog for support is making management bring in lunch so we can stay at our desks and eat between talking to people. It ties into "You've known for three months that you needed this upgrade! And they've given you an extension! Why did you wait till the last minute!"
But then, I had my digital conversion box for my TV for over a year now.
Kat - Jun 15, 2009 3:25:55 pm PDT #24440 of 30000
"I keep to a strict diet of ill-advised enthusiasm and heartfelt regret." Leigh Bardugo
Because they truly want to know if you can help them?
Or because they previously have dealt with enough rude people who say they can't or won't help even though it is their job.
Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. My final grades were due today. My estimated final grades were due for seniors on Friday June 5. I have at least one girl who will not graduate because she hasn't passed any single mester of my class.
Sigh. It makes me sad.
What made me ill today, was the dad of a senior who wanted to pick up the class ring and the grad gown for his daughter who is there working in the main office and who is 7+ months pregnant. Dad was talking about how proud he was that she was graduating and how proud he was to become a grandfather.
Sigh. She is at most 18, but more likely 17. Made me throw up a little in my mouth.
Zenkitty - Jun 15, 2009 3:27:35 pm PDT #24441 of 30000
Every now and then, I think I might actually be a little odd.
Perhaps those delicate souls feel that bluntly saying "I need some help" is too demanding, and so phrase their need as a question in order to empower you with the implied option to say no.
I get annoyed with authors who call up and ask diffidently if I will please help with something. "Can you please help me to correct these minor errors in my paper?" I'm not helping you. That would imply that you are doing it and I am assisting. Just tell me what you want.
sarameg - Jun 15, 2009 3:28:31 pm PDT #24442 of 30000
It's also a form of politeness/social lube, especially when the person feels sheepish or is just really confused. I very often preface inquiries for help with "I'm hoping you can help me" or "I was wondering if you could help." It's partly about acknowledging that I may be an imposition. Also, in my experience on both ends of the line, sometimes the answer is "No, I cannot help with this" and it's easiest to get that out of the way early, especially in phone tree hell.
I mean, I'm spending half my life at Home Despot, and every time I can't find something in that maze, I creep up to an orange shirt and go "I was wondering if you could help me find the X?" Sometimes they can, sometimes not their department.
javachik - Jun 15, 2009 3:30:03 pm PDT #24443 of 30000
Our wings are not tired.
Well, it's not like they're asking me how to cook a turkey. They're asking how to install the update to the program whose technical support line they just logged into. It just strikes me as obsequious and "Please abuse me, I'm probably not worthy of asking for help," which does not trigger my empathy when the backlog for support is making management bring in lunch so we can stay at our desks and eat between talking to people. It ties into "You've known for three months that you needed this upgrade! And they've given you an extension! Why did you wait till the last minute!"
This doesn't really make sense to me. These things seem unrelated to me. But, whatever, I guess you're just venting. I always nicely explain the problem I'm having (or the upgrade I want, etc) and then ask if the CS person can help me. I don't think I'm going to change that practice.