People who interrupt.
So you've been asked a question, and instead of politely listening to the entire answer, the client immediately interrupts and re-asks the same question.
Look, seriously, if this describes you, stop it. You're a moron who makes my life harder. Shut up, listen, and pay attention.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
The pain caused by stupid people
I was told in school, "There is no such thing as a stupid question."
I can safely say that anyone who says this, and means it, has never worked in service or in a call center.
On a daily basis, I have this feeling that breathing, for some people, constitutes 90% of their brain power. I marvel at these people, wondering how in the world they determined how to use the phone to call me in the first place. I would have figured that if someone cannot follow simple instructions like "push X button" or "open the door" would have severe difficulties manipulating a keypad. Perhaps when they tell me they have been calling all day for support, it's because they are just randomly slapping their hand on their phone, then yelling at the person they get on the other end of the line.
I worked for Dell Computers. A computer company, offering technical support for computers. When you were on hold in our department, every few minutes, a recording provides you troubleshooting steps for resolving technical issues with your computer. It would talk about rebooting your computer, blue screen errors, application errors, and warranty information. It would then thank you for choosing Dell and to continue holding.
Yet, someone held for 35 minutes looking to pay their Bell phone bill.
Apparently, this person was either deaf, and didn't here the multiple repetitions of Dell Computers in the opening menus, didn't listen that they had selected an option for a technical support issue rather than a billing one, then waited for 35 minutes, listening to how to reboot his computer... All to then reach me, and be told he waited for nothing.
And what does he ask me?
"Well, do you have their number?"
So, do you still believe there are no stupid questions?
I can safely say that anyone who says this, and means it, has never worked in service or in a call center.
On a daily basis, I have this feeling that breathing, for some people, constitutes 90% of their brain power. I marvel at these people, wondering how in the world they determined how to use the phone to call me in the first place. I would have figured that if someone cannot follow simple instructions like "push X button" or "open the door" would have severe difficulties manipulating a keypad. Perhaps when they tell me they have been calling all day for support, it's because they are just randomly slapping their hand on their phone, then yelling at the person they get on the other end of the line.
I worked for Dell Computers. A computer company, offering technical support for computers. When you were on hold in our department, every few minutes, a recording provides you troubleshooting steps for resolving technical issues with your computer. It would talk about rebooting your computer, blue screen errors, application errors, and warranty information. It would then thank you for choosing Dell and to continue holding.
Yet, someone held for 35 minutes looking to pay their Bell phone bill.
Apparently, this person was either deaf, and didn't here the multiple repetitions of Dell Computers in the opening menus, didn't listen that they had selected an option for a technical support issue rather than a billing one, then waited for 35 minutes, listening to how to reboot his computer... All to then reach me, and be told he waited for nothing.
And what does he ask me?
"Well, do you have their number?"
So, do you still believe there are no stupid questions?
Friday, June 5, 2009
The New Era of Gaming
The face of the average gamer is changing.
No longer is it the exclusive domain of the young, the college frat boys, or the stereotypical basement dweller.
Today, a gamer can be your next-door neighbor, your teacher, even your parents. And we have one major influence to thank: The Nintendo Wii.
'Just the Wii,' you may say, incredulously, 'What about World of Warcraft?'
Now, I will not deny the influence of the world's most popular MMO, but the game is still limited to those that are willing to learn to use a computer, as well as try to grasp the concepts of raiding, DKPs, and use voice chats.
The Wii, and to a lesser degree, titles like Rock Band and the Nintendo DS have brought gaming to the masses. The Wii is the primary mover and shaker in this, because of the fact that the controls only require that you, well, move and shake. While we all look ridiculous playing these games (which is, in fact, some of the appeal), it removes one big turn off of standard gaming: The controller.
Most people who are non-gamers will pick up the most elegantly designed controller (in my opinion, the PSX Dual Shock controller line), and study it as if it were some artifact of an alien civilization, and pressing the wrong button could destroy the earth. Throw at them the standard multi-button controls of any modern game, and now the poor sod feels lost in what to do.
The Wiimote, by contrast, is simple in design, and a clone of a familiar device every family member uses: A remote. Point and click was never more literal. Once it's set up, you can literally just use intuitive movements to guide you through most games. Yes, there are some games that will cause you to be frustrated due to the chaotic movements needed to complete some tasks. But by and large, this is not the case.
Pile onto these facts that most games are a series of minigames meant for a short attention span. No sitting for hours grinding honor, experience points, or exploring every corner of the map for secrets. No having to learn some arcane series of button presses to master the game. Most boil down to flailing at the right moment, or basic hand-eye co-ordination. In essence, the gaming experience has been distilled to it's most base elements, then repeated endlessly through different characters and locations.
The cherry on top of Nintendo's dominance is the integration of multi-purpose applications of their gaming equipment. No longer is it just about shooting aliens, saving the world, or exploring dungeons. Now, there is a fitness craze spawned by this console.
The Nintendop DS also has a cooking assistant which recites recipies as you cook them. The gaming console is leaving it's place hidden among the dusty, stuffy bedrooms and basements of the stereotypical gamer, and entering the living room of the household.
While that started with the PS2's DVD player capacity (which has been followed up by the Blu-Ray player capability of the PS3), it is the Wii that acheived the impossible: To become a part of the household in the same way a toaster oven or a stereo is. It's another part of your lifestyle. It's a member of the electronics assembled for when company comes by, for when kids have their friends over, and when you want to sneak in a quick workout to burn off a few pounds. It offers retro thrills to the gaming geek in all adults of the 80's, and it's console Grandma can get into with her knitting circle for a bit of cheeky fun.
With new "games" like EA Active, a genuine exercise video turned interactive, the future is bright for Nintendo, and the other two of the new "Big 3" better sit up and take notice. Nintendo isn't winning the war by making their machine high-tech, and dazzling its owners with sharp, high end graphics. It's boiled down the essence of why we play games: Because they are fun, a break from the dreary drudgery that is our day-to-day life, and sometimes they can even teach us a thing or two along the way.
Yes, We Would Like to Play...
No longer is it the exclusive domain of the young, the college frat boys, or the stereotypical basement dweller.
Today, a gamer can be your next-door neighbor, your teacher, even your parents. And we have one major influence to thank: The Nintendo Wii.
'Just the Wii,' you may say, incredulously, 'What about World of Warcraft?'
Now, I will not deny the influence of the world's most popular MMO, but the game is still limited to those that are willing to learn to use a computer, as well as try to grasp the concepts of raiding, DKPs, and use voice chats.
The Wii, and to a lesser degree, titles like Rock Band and the Nintendo DS have brought gaming to the masses. The Wii is the primary mover and shaker in this, because of the fact that the controls only require that you, well, move and shake. While we all look ridiculous playing these games (which is, in fact, some of the appeal), it removes one big turn off of standard gaming: The controller.
Most people who are non-gamers will pick up the most elegantly designed controller (in my opinion, the PSX Dual Shock controller line), and study it as if it were some artifact of an alien civilization, and pressing the wrong button could destroy the earth. Throw at them the standard multi-button controls of any modern game, and now the poor sod feels lost in what to do.
The Wiimote, by contrast, is simple in design, and a clone of a familiar device every family member uses: A remote. Point and click was never more literal. Once it's set up, you can literally just use intuitive movements to guide you through most games. Yes, there are some games that will cause you to be frustrated due to the chaotic movements needed to complete some tasks. But by and large, this is not the case.
Pile onto these facts that most games are a series of minigames meant for a short attention span. No sitting for hours grinding honor, experience points, or exploring every corner of the map for secrets. No having to learn some arcane series of button presses to master the game. Most boil down to flailing at the right moment, or basic hand-eye co-ordination. In essence, the gaming experience has been distilled to it's most base elements, then repeated endlessly through different characters and locations.
The cherry on top of Nintendo's dominance is the integration of multi-purpose applications of their gaming equipment. No longer is it just about shooting aliens, saving the world, or exploring dungeons. Now, there is a fitness craze spawned by this console.
The Nintendop DS also has a cooking assistant which recites recipies as you cook them. The gaming console is leaving it's place hidden among the dusty, stuffy bedrooms and basements of the stereotypical gamer, and entering the living room of the household.
While that started with the PS2's DVD player capacity (which has been followed up by the Blu-Ray player capability of the PS3), it is the Wii that acheived the impossible: To become a part of the household in the same way a toaster oven or a stereo is. It's another part of your lifestyle. It's a member of the electronics assembled for when company comes by, for when kids have their friends over, and when you want to sneak in a quick workout to burn off a few pounds. It offers retro thrills to the gaming geek in all adults of the 80's, and it's console Grandma can get into with her knitting circle for a bit of cheeky fun.
With new "games" like EA Active, a genuine exercise video turned interactive, the future is bright for Nintendo, and the other two of the new "Big 3" better sit up and take notice. Nintendo isn't winning the war by making their machine high-tech, and dazzling its owners with sharp, high end graphics. It's boiled down the essence of why we play games: Because they are fun, a break from the dreary drudgery that is our day-to-day life, and sometimes they can even teach us a thing or two along the way.
Yes, We Would Like to Play...
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