How To Prevent Stupid Questions
August 8 2008
by Justin Wright
Tags: Make Money
It’s Friday and I am sick of getting asked ridiculous questions at work. So I created this sign that I really really want to hang up at my desk:
What Do You Think?
I think it would really make people go what?!? It would definitely help weed out some of the stupid questions I get asked on a day to day basis. However, it probably wouldn’t go over to well with management…
Anyone else know the feeling?
Like It? Subscribe to Life of Justin!
Related Posts:
That’s funny. My husband started out in Technical Support years ago, for an ISP in an area that hardly knew anything about computers, much less how to get online without using AOL. Oh, he’d come home so mad and frustrated. The biggest problem he always had: “Sir, is your computer turned on?”
lalas latest blog post..Tevor’s Blue Toucan Restaurant
You have to reboot 3 times before approaching tech support! If you youtube the video “the website is down” you’ll understand.
Keropi Darks latest blog post..Little Flower
@ Keropi
Hahaha, I went to and watched that video. Very funny, I think I am going to make a policy, where if you didn’t reboot 3 times, I can’t even hear what your saying. lol
I need to print this out and put it up by my desk!
LMAO…I used to work technical support, and HATED it! By far the worst job I ever had in my 47 years here on Earth. Working at McDonalds in my teen years was a far better job. Who wants to be the guy that takes all the heat from everyone about every little technical problem? I sure didn’t.
Great post! My wife is the geek of her area at her work and I bought her “No, I will not fix your computer” stickers. She’s their “Nick Burns”.
Justins latest blog post..Top 5 Reasons Why a Blog Fails
Please, please make a detailed post about the day your boss finds this blog.
I really like the new layout, I liked the bigger banner of the previous version, but this is really nice looking overall. What’s it called?
Great sign, too bad it still won’t be effective. Having worked amongst the non-tech masses, I can tell you that for many their first troubleshooting course of action is to dial the tech line. No way they can be bothered to read a sign!
Now, if you made that sign into a message before reaching the actual tech help line you might reduce the amount of stupid questions…
Oh, and wicked nice new design.
Adam Pieniazeks latest blog post..Friday Video: A Bicycle Commute in Photos
Unfortunately, the people of whom you would wish to read such a sign would probably be too ignorant or stupid to actually make use of it and if they’re too lazy to actually walk over to your desk and they decide to make a phone call instead…. Well, I applaud you for helping them.
Felix Noirs latest blog post..Chapter 22 (Samson’s Perspective_
nice way, thanks for sharing.
pareshs latest blog post..Soniya got Bronze Medal in World school chess competition.
I used to ask them nicely if they wouldn’t mind rebooting and then call me back if that didn’t work. The reboot fixed the problem about 60% of the time.
you would think after hearing “have you rebooted?” a million times they would do that before calling me to tell me they lost all their documents and the public drive is gone. then they tell me they haven’t rebooted in a week or so……….. {{{SCREAM}}} if only i could send that sign out in an email
TripTheLadys latest blog post..What a way to kick off Shark Week on Discovery Channel – Ryan Seacrest bitten by a shark!
If your job doesn’t require you to remain chained to your desk/support phone line, here’s a tip that will help…at least a little. Record a voice mail greeting that explains to the caller that you’re currently on your phone with another caller or away from your desk & ask the caller to leave a brief message & that you’ll call them back as soon as possible. When the phone rings, if you don’t want to talk to the caller, send the call directly to your voicemail. You can call the user back in 30-45 minutes to ask how you can assist them. Usually, they’ve figured out the problem on their own by that time…or if they got really impatient, they’ve already called some other schmuck to come and fix their computer. If anyone ever complains that you’re never around to help, you can just blame it on not having enough tech support staff members to answer all the calls.
But…this problem I have with my computer at home? It’s really really really a priority! Rebooted? What’s that mean again? What?! How come you didn’t tell me that before!! (Can I call you at home?)
Amen dude. I hate stupid questions too. I’m pretty sure they are a form of torture invented by the Nazis. Or if you’re Christian, stupid questions are a form of Satanism and if you ask them, you’re going to hell.