I have decided. I've been mulling this over for a while and I thought I'd share my thoughts with you on this.

Many of you will know I work PC tech support. I spend my days fixing PC's, replacing printer cartridges, installing fresh software and the like. A large part of my job is trouble-shooting. And it is dealing with the type of idiot seen in the Computer Stupidities page that has brought me to this decision.

Which is: The customers (users) have had it their own way for far too long. Despite repeated attempts to educate them, train them or, hell, even just plain talking to them like children, they refuse to change their behaviour and STOP DOING THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S SCREWING UP YOUR PC.

Well, no more, I have decided.

One day, I would like to run an IT department, heading up a customer support team. I will hand pick the staff, who will be the most forthright people I can find. They will be people who will not only not be afraid to call a spade a spade, they will have no qualms about using the threat of violence with it to reinforce a point they're trying to make.

The users they support will attend a training day (NO exceptions; no training, no PC) at which they will be told:

a) What things they should avoid doing to prevent their PC crashing, hanging or otherwise generally screwing up.

b) Things that may happen to their PC, if they ignore point (a) and do something wrong.

c) What they can do to try and get themselves out of a hole once they've ignored point (a) and something from point (b) has occurred.

Only once they have exhausted all the options from point (c) shall they be permitted to call the helpdesk.

If they do call the helpdesk and have not done all the options from point (c) they should fully expect to receive an ear-bashing from the helpdesk consultant. Only then will appropriate help be given. IF they deserve it.

Bea"It's late and I'm tired, so sue me."sty