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 Word Perfect
organization for "Termination without Cause."
Actual
dialogue of a former WordPerfect Customer Support employee with a caller:
"Ridge
Hall computer assistant; 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 the cursor around on 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."
"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."
