It isn't Rocket Science People!

I know it isn't Saturday, but I had some down time at work so I decided to make my first actual post, names have been changed where applicable, but the story is real and actually happened to me during my stint at one of the call centers I have worked at.

Ok, computers have been around a while, in fact pretty much our entire society revolves around them, pick up a class list at any of your local community college and I almost guarantee you will find at least 5 or 6 class listings for basic computer classes and there are scores of people who could show you how to use the basics of a computer.

So could someone please tell me how a good portion of the population still doesn't know how to operate their computer? I know what you might be thinking, you might be thinking I am talking about elderly people or the older generations that didn't grow up with them or get a chance to own one until recently when they finally had to get one or use one for some reason or another.

But no, I am talking about people who you would think would know something about computers, or at least have some common sense when it comes to certain things, like, I don't know, that electricity is required to power a computer and to get online?

I have heard of it happening before, stupid customers who overlook obvious stuff like that, but I actually got that exact customer not more than a month ago. They called in to find out why they couldn't get online, I ran him, (call him George from here) through all the normal troubleshooting which the first one was asking what lights he was getting on the modem, this is almost verbatim of the conversation I had with George.

Me: "Ok, first could you check what lights you are getting on your modem?"
George: "I am not getting any of them at all."
Me: ".....Alright, could you check the power cord, make sure it is plugged into the modem and into the power outlet for me."
George: "Yeah it's plugged in and everything is fine."
Me: "Well it might be that the lights are burned out on the modem, could you please turn on your computer and we will check to see if the computers getting anything from the modem."
George: "I can't turn the computer on."
Me: "Ok, unfortunately sir I can't troubleshoot this any further unless you are able to use the computer, how come your not able to turn it on?"
George: "The power has been out for the past hour."

It's at this point I almost hung up, but I ended up spending the next couple minutes explaining why I wouldn't be able to help him, then I got off the call and went to a liquid lunch at the bar near my work. Sometimes this job makes me question and fear for our planet.