[ExI] vampires

BillK pharos at gmail.com
Fri Jan 22 22:36:23 UTC 2010


On 1/22/10, spike wrote:
>
<snip>
>  So your job: come up with experiments that have a natural basis but are
>  psi-like.
>
>

Me, me, me......

At one time, in a previous existence, I was the whiz-kid network
manager responsible for around 150 networked pcs. The users were many
and varied, with many different levels of pc skills. The skilled users
got themselves into really serious problems that required a good bit
of work to extricate them from.

My reputation as a tech god was not built by them, though.
It was the less skilled user calls that made me famous.

The call usually went along the lines of:
'X happens when I do Y and I can't get out of it.
I've tried everything. I can't get my work done - you've got to fix it'.

So I wander round to the pc smothered in furry animals and post-it
notes with passwords written on them.
First the soothing words, 'Don't panic, Bill's here - everything is
going to be all right'.  (The professional bedside manner is essential
for installing confidence. The placebo effect is a real miracle).

Then I stand behind them as they sit at their pc.
(The laying-on of hands is optional, depending on how attractive they were).
'Now, calm down. Switch your pc off. Now switch it on and show me what you did'.

Pause, while the pc whirred and clacked into life.
Then --
'OHH! It's not doing it now! It's working again!
You're wonderful, Bill!  I want to have your baby!'

:)

BillK



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