This is a true story from the WordPerfect helpline. 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 WordPerfect customer employee:
Ridge Hall computer assistant; may
I help you?
"Yes, well, I am having a trouble with WrodPerfect."
What sort of trouble?"
"Well, I was just typing along, and all
of the sudden the words went away."
Went away?
"They
disappeared"
Hmmm. So what does your screen look like now?
"Nothing."
Nothing?
"It's blank; it won't except
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
except 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 to 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, ok, 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 am afraid it is
"Well, alright then, I suppose.
What do I tell them?
