>>>If you think that US travellers arrriving in Canada during the summer
with
skis and winter clothing is hilarious, I just had an incident with the nurse
who took my temperature at a doctor's clinic last week.
I simply asked the nurse if they ever used Celsius thermometers if a patient
requested it. To my surprise she did not even know what Celsius is and she
is an RN. I was going to explain to her that its 'another' scale where
water boils at 100 and freezes at 0 but I simply
decided to drop it and not waste any further precious time.
Just can't believe it. How much more inward looking can some people be????
>>>
A LOT, see the joke below!
I know it's off-topic, but it relates to the same attitude of "it's too much
of a bother to put the effort into learning something new", that causes
trouble with SI conversion.
My response to the person's skills at international travel might be similar
to the Help Desk's response to the person's skills at computers. <g>
Nat
<<
This is a true story from the WordPerfect Helpline which was transcribed
from a recording monitoring the customer care department. Needless to say,
the Help Desk employee was fired; however, he is currently suing the
WordPerfect organization for "Termination without Cause". This guy should
have been promoted, not fired.
Actual dialogue of a former WordPerfect Customer Support employee (now I
know why they record these conversations):
"Ridge Hall computer assistance; 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 your cursor around 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 it."
"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 failure."
"A power.... A power failure? 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."
>>
