This has been making the rounds on the internet for years. I have seen this attibuted to a support technician from almost every major software vendor or ISP, so I have my doubts that this is a true story. The only element of truth in this is that at one time or another, all support technicians may think this about a new or inexperienced user.
TOO DUMB TO OWN A PC
And you thought that you had troubles…This is a true story from the
WordPerfect help line. Needless to say the help desk employee was fired;
however, he/she is currently suing the WordPerfect organization for
“Termination without Cause”.
Actual dialog of a former Word Perfect Customer Support employee:
“Ridge Hall computer assistant; may I help you?”
“Yes, well, I’m having trouble with WordPerfect.”
“What sort of trouble?”
“Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away.”
“Went away?”
“They disappeared.”
“Hmm. So what does your screen look like now?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“It’s blank; it won’t accept anything when I type.”
“Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out?”>
“How do I tell?”
“Can you see the C: prompt on the screen?”
“What’s a sea-prompt?”
“Never mind. Can you move the cursor around on the screen?”
“There isn’t any cursor: I told you, it won’t accept anything I type.”
“Does your monitor have a power indicator?”
“What’s a monitor?”
“It’s the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV. Does it have
a little light that tells you when it’s on?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power
cord goes into it. Can you see that?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it’s plugged into
the wall.”
“…….Yes, it is.”
“When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two
cables plugged into the back of it, not just one?”
“No.”
“Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other
cable.”
“…….Okay, here it is.”
“Follow it for me, and tell me if it’s plugged securely into the back of
your computer.”
“I can’t reach.”
“Uh huh. Well, can you see if it is?”
“No.”
“Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over?”
“Oh, it’s not because I don’t have the right angle, it’s because it’s dark.”
“Dark?”
“Yes – the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in
from the window.”
“Well, turn on the office light then.”
“I can’t.”
“No? Why not?”
“Because there’s a power outage.”
“A power… A power outage? Aha, Okay, we’ve got it licked now.
Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff your computer
came in?”
“Well, yes, I keep them in the closet.”
“Good. Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it
was when you got it. Then take it back to the store you bought it from.”
“Really? Is it that bad?”
“Yes, I’m afraid it is.”
“Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them?”
“Tell them you’re too stupid to own a computer.”
