The Vent and Rant Thread

[cromag]

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

^Nope got me stumped. My first home machine was a Commodore Vic-20. Then I moved to the mighty 128. Then I went into the evil PC clone path.

I had a VIC-20, then a 64, then the luggable Commodore SX-64, then on to an Amiga 2000 and an Amiga 3000. I didn't succumb to Microsoft until 2003. (But I still run Linux on the side!)

[PeterT]

I had an Osbourne and remember the fun of using Turbo Pascal on it. Those were the days.

Later I had an Eagle Portable.

[cromag]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I hate phone sellers or should I say scammers.
First off, it was obvious you used a computer dialer since it took you 5 seconds to pick up your receiver. Second there is no Windows Service Center.
Third, when I say I don't own a computer. Hang up. Do not repeat yourself.

Rant over.

We've got Nomorobo, so not many of these get through. But, I did get one a couple of weeks ago. The caller had a strong Asian-Indian accent and claimed to be an engineer with Windows Systems. I told him, "No, you are a liar and a thief, and you bring shame upon your family." (I've been told that my response was culturally insensitive, but I think it was warranted.)

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by cromag

We've got Nomorobo, so not many of these get through. But, I did get one a couple of weeks ago. The caller had a strong Asian-Indian accent and claimed to be an engineer with Windows Systems. I told him, "No, you are a liar and a thief, and you bring shame upon your family." (I've been told that my response was culturally insensitive, but I think it was warranted.)

Same guy.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I hate phone sellers or should I say scammers.
First off, it was obvious you used a computer dialer since it took you 5 seconds to pick up your receiver. Second there is no Windows Service Center.
Third, when I say I don't own a computer. Hang up. Do not repeat yourself.

Rant over.

One of the most amusing stories regarding this scam that I have seen: http://allanmcrae.com/2012/03/windows-service-center/

Spoiler:

That blog belongs to one of the lead developers for Arch Linux, one of the most technically-biased Linux distros.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

One of the most amusing stories regarding this scam that I have seen: http://allanmcrae.com/2012/03/windows-service-center/

Spoiler:

That blog belongs to one of the lead developers for Arch Linux, one of the most technically-biased Linux distros.

That was amusing.

[eschwartz]

Greatest response ever: "My windows are quite clean from all the rain we had lately and they are showing no leaks."

[Cinisajoy]

Small rant about adult children.
Yes son. I know a bit about relationships. I do not need to be told a movie plot. Just because I haven't dated since the 20th century doesn't mean I know nothing. I could write a better movie.
Note said child is 31 and has never had a steady girlfriend.

[badgoodDeb]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Small rant about adult children.
Yes son. I know a bit about relationships. I do not need to be told a movie plot. Just because I haven't dated since the 20th century doesn't mean I know nothing. I could write a better movie.
Note said child is 31 and has never had a steady girlfriend.

My dad used to say if I couldn't describe a movie's plot in 3 sentences, he didn't wanna hear it.

But that's not quite what you are ranting about, sorry.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

My dad used to say if I couldn't describe a movie's plot in 3 sentences, he didn't wanna hear it.

But that's not quite what you are ranting about, sorry.

Your father is a wise man.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

My dad used to say if I couldn't describe a movie's plot in 3 sentences, he didn't wanna hear it.

But that's not quite what you are ranting about, sorry.

Isn't that the ubiquitous "High Concept?"

Dreadfully misnamed, if ever something was misnamed. For "low concept" means (oh, the horror) things like subtle themes, deep character development, etc. I mean..huhn? Makes no sense to me.

Hitch

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Isn't that the ubiquitous "High Concept?"

Dreadfully misnamed, if ever something was misnamed. For "low concept" means (oh, the horror) things like subtle themes, deep character development, etc. I mean..huhn? Makes no sense to me.

Hitch

It's like tea. Low tea is the late afternoon meal of dainties, watercress sandwiches, tiny cakes and so forth. High tea is a working class meal, essentially supper, with lots of stodge.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by issybird

It's like tea. Low tea is the late afternoon meal of dainties, watercress sandwiches, tiny cakes and so forth. High tea is a working class meal, essentially supper, with lots of stodge.

True, dat. I'd not considered that parallel.

Daft, all.

So...I had to fire a client today. The 6th in Booknook.biz history. But...I just couldn't see this working out. S/he just emailed us to DEATH. I mean...you guys have heard me bitch about this, and you KNOW that I have, or pretend to have, a high tolerance for this. But s/he would NOT READ the frakking instructions. Not even the short ones. S/he emailed us in a swivet, saying s/he couldn't figure out how to pay us.

Trust me-if I've done ONE THING simply, it's the payment portal. Nearly 3K other clients have gone through, and paid w/o issue. You click on the invoice, on a big green button, saying "PAY ONLINE," and then you choose: Paypal, credit card through Paypal, credit card (through Swipe, but the client doesn't see that bit).

11 emails. AFTER I bloody well sent him/her a screenshot, mind you, SHOWING him/her where the button is. With constant "how do I phone you," entreaties, which slays me (the number? Right on the damn contact page on the website. Yup, practically Top Secret.)

THEN, s/he emailed frantically, FOUR TIMES, demanding to know if we'd received payment, would we send a receipt, would we start the job right away..whilst, boys and girls, right on the covering email to the invoice, said covering email only TWO paragraphs, it says:

We are automatically notified of payment, so you do not need to email us and tell us that you've paid, once you've completed the transaction--one less thing for you to do! ;-)

FOUR emails, all in minutes. Didn't even wait the whole minute it takes our system to send out the receipt, the acknowledgement, all that.

But still...I soldiered on. Then I said, well, perhaps you'd like to engage our consulting time, which you can use for yadda. I said, if you don't want to deal with many of the publisher's chores...and I got THIS back:

...Once again, it seems like a lot of info to take in! We should be given that info anyway as I've no idea about Kindle or very little...

"Given." Given MY time. Apparently, in addition to making the eBooks, for relative pennies (this is an under $200 book, gross...), we're supposed to provide all the info s/he could EVER need. On demand. That did it.

(The irony is, by god, we DO provide a lot of that info. Unfortunately, it requires that you READ what we give you, and READ the damn FAQ on the website!)

I lost it, and said "sorry. This isn't gonna work." I said it at far, far greater length, but I said, being the publisher isn't MY JOB. It's not my job to tell you how to be a publisher. MY job is to make the damn books, period. Being the publisher is YOUR JOB.

This isn't an insecure, elderly client. I can kinda get that. This is a young person. An ADULT.

WHY is it like this??? WHY?

/rant. Sorry, done now.

Hitch

[wodin]

Those who believe the old saw "The customer is always right." have never been the merchant.

[Freeshadow]

^That