Experiences with non-techies

[Kawaii Besu]

Was looking at motherboard reviews, and saw this mothaVista's review...

[airpline1]

When I'm helping a friend over a call and he can't navigate through Windows 7....

[Mooshi]

Was looking at motherboard reviews, and saw this mothaVista's review...

 

 

You'd have to force me against my will to use that heap of bad known as Vista again.

[holytoledo]

But guys, it had widgets!

[Guest]

But guys, it had widgets!

so did windows 7.

[Analog]

I have a recent story as well. 

I have a friend how thinks that he is very tech-savvy but he really isn't, therefore, everytime he asks me for help and then he says that he only wanted to double check what he knows. The other week he messages me on Skype and says:

 

 - Bro, I am really stressed, some people told me that I have to clean my computer regularly, because otherwise it will run hot and die. So pls help me reinstall Windows 8!

 

When I heard that I nearly flipped out. How can reinstalling Windows clean your computer I said, and he was like:

 

 - But, I have been cleaning my computer like that for 3 years now!

 

OMG. He actually thinks that reinstalling Windows keeps your computer parts clean... 

[Tawkin]

Back in the early 90's, the IT-company i worked for had a customer who had just tossed all their old DOS based PC's to replace them with brand new OS/2 based dittos.
 

In this company the bookkeeping was done by an elderly lady who at that time probably was in her mid-sixties. She'd been with the company since the sixties and had only reluctantly accepted the introduction of computers into her area of expertise when they came along. This she made sure to tell everybody about, repeatedly, who cared to listen (or like me, the external consultant) was forced to do so.  

 

Now gone was the old DOS boot menu where she had learned to press 1 and ENTER to start up the management system. Instead she had a mouse, an arrow-cursor on the screen and an icon that needed double clicking. This was the first time she had ever seen a computer mouse so i tried to ease her into the experience very very gently:

 

- "Mrs. Larsen" i said, "Do you see how moving the mouse around on its pad makes the little arrow move on the screen accordingly?" I asked her.

 

She tried out the mouse, moved it from one side to the other, and gave me one of those looks elderly people in particular are able to give, that just says "you should be ashamed of yourself for wasting my time so excessively with your juvenile shenanigans".

 

- "Yes" was the one word that left her lips.

 

- "Now move it to the corner of the screen, where you see that little blue icon and once there click the left button on the mouse, twice".

 

She looked at me.

She looked at the mouse.

She looked at the monitor and then back on the mouse.

 

Then she grabbed the mouse firmly, lifted it up, away from the pad, all the way to the corner of the monitor, right in front of that blue icon, and double clicked like a champion.

 

I had no words. None.

 

At this point, her boss, the owner of the company, who'd been observing from the door to his office, went into hysterical cramps of laughter. I have never since had a harder time trying to keep my poker face around a customer.

[Jambls]

Back in the early 90's, the IT-company i worked for had a customer who had just tossed all their old DOS based PC's to replace them with brand new OS/2 based dittos.

 

In this company the bookkeeping was done by an elderly lady who at that time probably was in her mid-sixties. She'd been with the company since the sixties and had only reluctantly accepted the introduction of computers into her area of expertise when they came along. This she made sure to tell everybody about, repeatedly, who cared to listen (or like me, the external consultant) was forced to do so.  

 

Now gone was the old DOS boot menu where she had learned to press 1 and ENTER to start up the management system. Instead she had a mouse, an arrow-cursor on the screen and an icon that needed double clicking. This was the first time she had ever seen a computer mouse so i tried to ease her into the experience very very gently:

 

- "Mrs. Larsen" i said, "Do you see how moving the mouse around on its pad makes the little arrow move on the screen accordingly?" I asked her.

 

She tried out the mouse, moved it from one side to the other, and gave me one of those looks elderly people in particular are able to give, that just says "you should be ashamed of yourself for wasting my time so excessively with your juvenile shenanigans".

 

- "Yes" was the one word that left her lips.

 

- "Now move it to the corner of the screen, where you see that little blue icon and once there click the left button on the mouse, twice".

 

She looked at me.

She looked at the mouse.

She looked at the monitor and then back on the mouse.

 

Then she grabbed the mouse firmly, lifted it up, away from the pad, all the way to the corner of the monitor, right in front of that blue icon, and double clicked like a champion.

 

I had no words. None.

 

At this point, her boss, the owner of the company, who'd been observing from the door to his office, went into hysterical cramps of laughter. I have never since had a harder time trying to keep my poker face around a customer.

As I have recommended before Tales from tech support would greatly appreciate this story.

I will be watching.

[xnoobftw]

People with 16gbs of ram and intel HD graphics with an i5 CPU in a laptop and thinking their computer is better than mine (rig in sig)

[Fgtfv567]

When I'm helping a friend over a call and he can't navigate through Windows 7....

remote desktop?

[Darkman]

remote desktop?

^ This. TeamViewer is quite helpful.

[Fgtfv567]

^ This. TeamViewer is quite helpful.

I use chrome remote desktop personally between my gaming PC and my S5

[airpline1]

remote desktop?

 Yes, but do you really think they know how to download it if they can't navigate through Windows? And their spelling also is shit. Personally, I use Chrome Remote Desktop, so I would see a close program for them to download

[FluffiestPond]

Every Apple customer ever?

[DigitalHermit]

Every Apple customer ever?

 

Not really no... I've got a few friends who only got an apple because of work (app dev't)... They have their gaming rigs, but they use their macs for non-intensive computing...

[FluffiestPond]

Not really no... I've got a few friends who only got an apple because of work (app dev't)... They have their gaming rigs, but they use their macs for non-intensive computing...

Yeah I was joking but sure, take it seriously... 

[ibbadib]

Ladies and gentlemen I had the craziest non techie experience today!

 

I always take the train and bus home from school. I listen to music on my headphones during the trip.

 

After the train ride I switch to a bus, but it was a little late today, so there was a little waiting on the station.

And I was standing next to a small pillar which holds a part of a shade that extends from a building on the station. And remember there is about 100 people on a small contry side station, so fairly crowded.

 

Anyway, the bus arrived and we all got on. There was plenty of space so I sat at a two person seat alone, still listening to music.

Then after a while, I feel someone is staring at me like this: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Cat_with_staring_eyes.jpg

So I look to the right and this fairly old man (ca 65 y/o) is talking to me. So of course I remove my headphones and say hello.

 

He then asks: "What are you doing?".

I a little confused answered: "Listening to music?"

"No you were not, you are sitting with some sort of recording apparatus, and working together with that other guy!" he said.

I even more confused answered: "No I am just sitting here listening to music. You can try if you want".

The man then said "No you're not. You're working with the other guy by the pillar".

I had level over 9000 confuse, but I still answered him: "I don't know what you are talking about, I am just sitting here listening to music on my headphones."

He then sat back down on his seat two rows back. But he was still determined to explain what I was doing...

"You are recording something" he said again.

"No I am not" I answered.

 

Then som younger guy interfered and asked what the problem was.

"I am just sitting here listening to music on my phone?" I answered and looked at him like this: http://blog.brokerfish.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/confusedq-e.jpg

And he looked back like this: http://www.iwatchstuff.com/2011/08/19/will-smith-is-confused.jpg

 

I then stood up, as I had to get of at the next stop.

I told the man I now packed my headphones down, as I was doing it. I then named everything in my pack, laptop, books everything, and I told him what I used it all for (school).

"You were working with someone!" he said again, now more calmed but still a tone of anger in his voice.

"I have some coleauges I work well with. And some classmates I like working with. But That's about it." I said.

He now said his ultimate derp: "You don't have to confess here in front of me!".

"ookkaaay? Good day sir" I said and got of the bus.

 

 

I now have a question for you guys: Was he insane or just a non techie?:-)

[Ruostunut kokis]

 

Ladies and gentlemen I had the craziest non techie experience today!

 

I always take the train and bus home from school. I listen to music on my headphones during the trip.

 

After the train ride I switch to a bus, but it was a little late today, so there was a little waiting on the station.

And I was standing next to a small pillar which holds a part of a shade that extends from a building on the station. And remember there is about 100 people on a small contry side station, so fairly crowded.

 

Anyway, the bus arrived and we all got on. There was plenty of space so I sat at a two person seat alone, still listening to music.

Then after a while, I feel someone is staring at me like this: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Cat_with_staring_eyes.jpg

So I look to the right and this fairly old man (ca 65 y/o) is talking to me. So of course I remove my headphones and say hello.

 

He then asks: "What are you doing?".

I a little confused answered: "Listening to music?"

"No you were not, you are sitting with some sort of recording apparatus, and working together with that other guy!" he said.

I even more confused answered: "No I am just sitting here listening to music. You can try if you want".

The man then said "No you're not. You're working with the other guy by the pillar".

I had level over 9000 confuse, but I still answered him: "I don't know what you are talking about, I am just sitting here listening to music on my headphones."

He then sat back down on his seat two rows back. But he was still determined to explain what I was doing...

"You are recording something" he said again.

"No I am not" I answered.

 

Then som younger guy interfered and asked what the problem was.

"I am just sitting here listening to music on my phone?" I answered and looked at him like this: http://blog.brokerfish.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/confusedq-e.jpg

And he looked back like this: http://www.iwatchstuff.com/2011/08/19/will-smith-is-confused.jpg

 

I then stood up, as I had to get of at the next stop.

I told the man I now packed my headphones down, as I was doing it. I then named everything in my pack, laptop, books everything, and I told him what I used it all for (school).

"You were working with someone!" he said again, now more calmed but still a tone of anger in his voice.

"I have some coleauges I work well with. And some classmates I like working with. But That's about it." I said.

He now said his ultimate derp: "You don't have to confess here in front of me!".

"ookkaaay? Good day sir" I said and got of the bus.

 

 

I now have a question for you guys: Was he insane or just a non techie?:-)

 

My reaction probably would've been the same: just wat.

[DigitalHermit]

-snip-

 

Not too sure... a part of each?

[ibbadib]

Not too sure... a part of each?

Problaby... It was very weird either way.

[PotatOS - Andrew]

 

Ladies and gentlemen I had the craziest non techie experience today!

 

I always take the train and bus home from school. I listen to music on my headphones during the trip.

 

After the train ride I switch to a bus, but it was a little late today, so there was a little waiting on the station.

And I was standing next to a small pillar which holds a part of a shade that extends from a building on the station. And remember there is about 100 people on a small contry side station, so fairly crowded.

 

Anyway, the bus arrived and we all got on. There was plenty of space so I sat at a two person seat alone, still listening to music.

Then after a while, I feel someone is staring at me like this: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Cat_with_staring_eyes.jpg

So I look to the right and this fairly old man (ca 65 y/o) is talking to me. So of course I remove my headphones and say hello.

 

He then asks: "What are you doing?".

I a little confused answered: "Listening to music?"

"No you were not, you are sitting with some sort of recording apparatus, and working together with that other guy!" he said.

I even more confused answered: "No I am just sitting here listening to music. You can try if you want".

The man then said "No you're not. You're working with the other guy by the pillar".

I had level over 9000 confuse, but I still answered him: "I don't know what you are talking about, I am just sitting here listening to music on my headphones."

He then sat back down on his seat two rows back. But he was still determined to explain what I was doing...

"You are recording something" he said again.

"No I am not" I answered.

 

Then som younger guy interfered and asked what the problem was.

"I am just sitting here listening to music on my phone?" I answered and looked at him like this: http://blog.brokerfish.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/confusedq-e.jpg

And he looked back like this: http://www.iwatchstuff.com/2011/08/19/will-smith-is-confused.jpg

 

I then stood up, as I had to get of at the next stop.

I told the man I now packed my headphones down, as I was doing it. I then named everything in my pack, laptop, books everything, and I told him what I used it all for (school).

"You were working with someone!" he said again, now more calmed but still a tone of anger in his voice.

"I have some coleauges I work well with. And some classmates I like working with. But That's about it." I said.

He now said his ultimate derp: "You don't have to confess here in front of me!".

"ookkaaay? Good day sir" I said and got of the bus.

 

 

I now have a question for you guys: Was he insane or just a non techie?:-)

 

 

I remember reading a story like this on /r/talesfromtechsupport.  He might be showing early signs of dementia, unfortunately.  (paranoia, faulty reasoning, etc.)

[Yummy_Rifle_107]

Finally i've got a story to tell you guys.

At work we moved our office, same building, our boss wanted us to clean our previos desks.

A friend of mine then grabs a bottle of some cleaner and sprays it all over the place, and with all i mean she sprayed it on the monitors, keyboard, mouse and desktop, that day i died a little

Don't know if it still works though...

[WinNut]

 

-snip-

 

I've been on the bus before with a crazy guy who thought a stuffed fish was a machine gun and was shooting up everybody aboard said bus.

[ibbadib]

I remember reading a story like this on /r/talesfromtechsupport.  He might be showing early signs of dementia, unfortunately.  (paranoia, faulty reasoning, etc.)

Yeah. I spoke with my dad about it. Might be something like that. Unfortunately.

[Fgtfv567]

 Yes, but do you really think they know how to download it if they can't navigate through Windows? And their spelling also is shit. Personally, I use Chrome Remote Desktop, so I would see a close program for them to download

The next time you go to his/her house you could get it set up then