CPU Help-Desk – Hamp's Corner of America

Frequently, older folks begin tripping at any suggestion by a youngster that they are losing some skill or another. Think of memory of family contact or events, even occurrences with those critical to our memory. We may not be as quick in mind or physically as in the past. Now, we seem so much slower in our response to their request.

Physically, we may use a cane or walker to get around. There is nothing like watching the impatience of someone waiting on someone requiring those tools to walk. Oh, they are fine initially, but their patience wears out as time goes on. You can almost see the willingness to assist in the beginning turn to annoyance after dealing with the older person after a while. It’s that they are on the move, and anything that slows them down affects their required life cycle speed, if you get my drift.

Don’t get me wrong. Most are glad to assist an older individual for a few minutes. Anything longer than that depends upon your relationship. It helps if it’s your grandson or other close relative.

As old timers, we can recall we were just like them. We always had something to do, somewhere to go, late for a meeting, or, heavens forbid, a date with the opposite sex. Like today’s youngsters, we were always in a hurry to be somewhere. Even if that somewhere was to hang out on the corner with our friends.

Customer service or general consideration of another person’s space in our orbit seems lost. Even if you have no handicaps, shopping in stores, eating in restaurants, or even going through the fast-food drive-through can be an experience. People seem not to have a minute to waste when getting your food. You better get in the habit of checking your bag to see if they completed your order. Nothing grinds your nerves as to get home to find something missing or not, as you requested at the outset.

Some folks pushing grocery store shopping carts are oblivious to their whereabouts. They are blocking your advancement. Or they think they are racing at the Indianapolis 500 speedway. That is evident when you head for the checkout line. They act like they don’t see you heading in the same direction. A picture worth a thousand-dollar price is the one that has their kid in the seat of the cart. The child is either laughing at the sudden burst of speed or turning quiet, hoping their parent will not have a wreck rushing to the checkout cash register.

How about dealing with a telephone customer service representative? If you have computer issues, you better be prepared to listen to the rep reading from a script of possible customer errors. This is almost always followed by insisting you unplug this and hook up that before they request access to your computer. They will practically ignore your answers to their questions until they finish reading the script.

And finally, those who rang your doorbell. It makes no difference if you have a “No Soliciting Sign on your house. I have one, but they act as though they didn’t see it when you ask about it. They are just in the neighborhood, they begin. How much do you pay for your monthly electric bill? They continue by expressing how much they will save you on that bill; sign up with us. Your charge is on your monthly energy bill.

They get offended if you are adamant about keeping your current setup and fees. “You mean you don’t want to save money.” You practically must insist they leave. You may have to slam the door on their faces to get them to move along.

The bottom line is this. Baby Boomers went through their twenties and thirties when society changed to a more liberal attitude period. We all wanted the best for people we had not met. It was an overall ‘wish you well,’ man. We inherited our parents’ work ethic. Becoming employed, we took on the responsibility of job performance as a leading criterion for promotions or other career advancements. Overall, we treated others like we wanted to be treated whenever we encountered them.

Then, Ronald Reagan became president. He addressed those “I got mine, and I don’t care about you” attitudes. Since then, Conservatism has moved closer to first place in exchange for more liberal thoughts toward our neighbors or friends.

The entertainment world reflected the free-spirited Baby Boomers era. Despite the hatred, this is still harbored by certain groups of folks. The great majority didn’t mind lending a hand to see our fellow humans lift themselves and earn their piece of the American Pie.

Ever since Reagan became president, we’ve gone in the opposite direction. Reagan’s administration instituted and changed more liberal laws. That practice continued with each Republican administration. Today, we have evolved into a ‘get out of my face before I hurt you’ type of people. In other words, ‘who let the dogs out’…Donald Trump. We don’t seem to have any patience with anybody, no matter their handicap. It’s all about I got mine. And I’ll take yours too if you are not careful.

Add that to the Wild West syndrome of backup before I shoot because I don’t like your kind. Or some other folks, taking the law into their own hands after drinking the right-wing rhetoric water of lying. Kids are shooting each other at our children’s parties or schools. What the…? The NRA doesn’t care; let anybody have as many weapons as they want, military-style or whatever. Surprise, surprise, all creeds and colors are in play.

For those of us who have seen a different America, it is sad to see the attitude change. We wonder how far our society is going to drift in this direction. When will we change course, if ever again?

Peace, blessings, stay healthy, and vigilant for our American rights. Make it a day in which Jesus Christ would be proud of you,

Codis Hampton II Author & Commentator

“The Episodic Thoughts of Hamp, Vol II” has been published. Check out my Authors webpage URL https://outskirtspress.com/HampsEpisodicThoughtsVol2

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Think about it. You call up tech support or an on-line major retail store. The person on the other end of the phone line is quick. They almost solve your problem before you describe it. They give you a meticulous to do list that supposedly will make all your problems go away. You thank the nice person, hang up the phone and take care of another one of your many duties. You are not worried because you wrote down all their instructions. Often asking them to repeat a step to ensure you have correctly interpreted their instructions.

Now it’s late in the evening or early in the morning hours. You have time to correct the error in which you received the instructions. You get past step one but cannot get past step two. You read the instructions again, in fact, several times to ensure you have it right and still no progress. Sadly you realize the nice person did not know what they were talking about and wasted your time. Now you have to call the company back but can’t do that until they are on duty. So you sat there exasperated over wasted time and effort.

How many times have you run into some situation that required correcting and found the person that provided the fix-it-all gave you the wrong information? You know how it goes, as you finally call the company back and get another customer rep. You repeat the instructions provided and the first thing they say is “Who told you that?” The one question you don’t want to hear in your lifetime.

This entire ordeal has put you into confusion mode. Its like the twilight zone of customer service. You begin to wonder if this new rep knows is familiar with the subject. Why didn’t the previous company representative just hang up when they realize they can’t help you with the problem? The solution was obviously not on their script to which the company directed them to use when helping a customer. You have had that happen to you too. Sometimes they just don’t want to be bothered with you, so they hang up. Or, heaven forbid, you get a hater on the other end that recognizes you are not one of them and disconnect you. That’s another scenario that gets on your nerve. You take those personally because there is something about their voice or attitude with you that lets you know it’s personal with them.

Or, please God, nooooooo! You never get to talk to the company rep as the website throws you onto a community page. It’s where the company figures if you read someone else problem it may be similar to yours. Then hopefully you can solve the issue on your own. Each time you try and contact a live person, the website refers you back to the community forum. Is it just me, or is this the norm, especially for some software company’s these days?

I got so frustrated with one worldwide software company the other day; I just canceled the order. Do you know it took that action actually to get a response from them? Not a voice mind you. They had the nerve to send me an email asking why I was dissatisfied with their product.

At one point last year, I thought customer service was on the rebound. I am no longer sure as small, especially software and portals located in Silicon Valley; companies cut ties with a large number of help-desk workers. Those individuals who would answer a phone and try to help you solve a problem have almost become extinct. For others, you are bound to run into the “Who told you that?” question.

Before I left the rat race and at a time when computers were being introduced to office workforce across this country. I remember one a lady calling me to her desk. She wanted help because she could not get her mouse to work. She was rubbing the mouse across her monitor screen expecting? It was all I could do to hold back the laughter at that time because she was a friend, smart and a very nice lady. She just had no clue about computers.

Then there is the old standard question of ‘My computer won’t work.’ The first troubleshooting answer is to make sure the unit is plugged up. Or ‘Where is my Internet?’ A question asked as they are trying to purchase an item on Amazon.com. They are always surprised when told they are on the internet. Normally their first response, “Is that it? I thought it would be larger. So that’s the World Wide Internet?”

We all have read the stories from “help desk workers” at software or hardware companies. People using the flopping disk drive tray as a coffee cup holder. Lately, they are fielding questions like, “How do I remove a sesame seed from my keyboard, Can I turn on the coffee pot with my computer, or one of my favorites, How do I pirate software?”

Through it all, I still think the worst is to hearing the question “Who told you that?” Since we probably didn’t write the persons name down, we can’t really answer the questions. In addition, most will not give you their complete name because of company policy. If you have a name, your answer may be something like Mary or Mike. You can almost hear the company rep laughing at your futility. Their response may be, “Well, I don’t know who that is but here is the right way to solve your issue.” As if you have a choice. You are now to believe they know what they are talking about…because?

Peace, make it a day in which Jesus Christ would be proud of you,

Codis Hampton II

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Category: CPU Help-Desk

Patience, Customer Service, or wishing humanity the best is a lost Art.

Who Told You That?