From: "Four Cook" <4cooks@classic.msn.com>
Subject: RE: What's a monitor?
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 97 04:52:24 UT
http://eis.jpl.nasa.gov/~skientz/little_rock/ ---------- From: wecooks@ix.netcom.com Sent: Saturday, September 27, 1997 7:48 PM To: sperrys@ix.netcom.com; patrick_cecil@mentorg.com; mgobble@extensis.com; jwee@mail.arc.nasa.gov; jmcdonal@cclink.fhcrc.org; grace_kim@nhusd.k12.ca.us; 4cooks@msn.com Subject: Fwd: What's a monitor? Subject: What's a monitor? Customer Service > >> > >>Actual dialog of a former Wordperfect 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." Janet K. Cook Sinclair Middle School 300 W. Chenango, Englewood, CO 80110 (303)781-7817 (School) (303)806-1904 (Voice Mail) 4cooks@msn.com or wecooks@ix.netcom.com