M.A. Hochberg’s Technology for Teaching

Making technology easier for people

Why tech support people need a sense of humor or the attack of Murphy’s Law

  • The security keypad you are trying to use does NOT disarm the alarms.
  • The custodian finds you trying to break in and scolds you for opening the doors incorrectly.
  • The keypad you need to use is at the other end of building. You are not supposed to use the front door.
  • The COWs are a room off the computer lab but the calf is lost.
  • The custodian finds the calf in the paint closet.
  • The combination locks to the Cows have been changed recently and the custodian doesn’t have the new combo.
  • The phone call for help drops the call.
  • The first Ethernet cable doesn’t work.
  • The second Ethernet cable is too short.
  • The 4-plug power outlet under the table doesn’t work.
  • The 2-plug one does.
  • The first desktop computer doesn’t power on.
  • The computer next to it powers on but will not boot up.
  • The computers that are on a table, with keyboard, mouse, power cord and Ethernet cables ready to use, don’t work.
  • The computers that are on another table with no power cords, Ethernet cables, keyboard or mice do work.
  • The first mouse doesn’t work.
  • The second one does.
  • Things are now working—until the laptops run out of power. Stop and find two power cords, one for each type of laptop.
  • Time it took to actually do the work you came to do: 15 minutes.
  • Time it took to get in, set up, and clean up: 2 hours and 40 minutes.
  • Total time at the site: 2 hours 55 minutes

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