(no subject)

[tinyjo]

Yes. This.

Comments

[jackfirecat.livejournal.com]

in my defense, my first question was 'do you happen to know how to do x', rather than 'can you spend 30 minutes looking though menus which might lead us in the direction of finding out how to do x.'

But in retrospect, even if they had happened to know and could have answered me immediately, they, it becomes apparent, would still have had to fill in 15 minutes-worth of forms saying that I had asked that. and another minute saying that they had said 'you do y'.

[zengineer.livejournal.com]

This kind of thing really annoys me. If I ask tech support/computer literate friend "Do you know how to do this?" I am expecting the answer yes (and then tell me) or no. I do not want them to follow this algorithm - I can do this myself.

that's probably not what other people mean though

[jinty]

because a lot of other people can't or don't or won't follow that algorithm. I think it's understandable when help desk staff do this; computer-literate friends a little less so.

Re: that's probably not what other people mean though

[tinyjo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and some help desks will get cross with you if you put that into your case resolution fields :) Have to actually do the helping.

Re: that's probably not what other people mean though

[zengineer.livejournal.com]

One of the good things about working in a University Physics department is that they assume that will have followed this algorithm.

[jinty]

Strictly speaking I don't think they necessarily would have had to fill in all the forms just for advice; but ITSD is keen on stats and success stories so there is a certain encouragement to solve the problem and then fill in the stats tooty sweety.