The following is an excerpt from a conversation I had with SBC tech support earlier this evening:
Me: I'm having a problem connecting to the internet and i wanted to see if you had had any reports of issues in my area.
SBC: yes sir, let me check that for you.
Me: It's ma'am.
SBC: Alright sir, I'm sorry about that.
Me: it's ma'm.
SBC: yes, yes, I meant ma'am. Well, I'm not seeing any problems as reported in your area, can you tell me what your modem looks like? Are all the lights on?
Me: No, the 'internet' light isn't on. It hasn't been on for the past half an hour, that's why I'm calling you.
SBC: Ah, the internet light isn't on. Well, that means that you're not getting any internet. When the internet light is off, you won't get internet.
Me: *temporarily silenced by the stupidity of the tech support chick* Umm......
SBC: In order for the internet to get to your computer, the internet light on your modem must be on.
Me: Hello? Is this tech support? I think I might have been diverted to the wrong department.
SBC: Yes, this is tech support.
Me: No offense, but I called you, you tech support people, because I had tried everything I knew to do at home to fix this problem. I called you because you're supposed to be more knowledgeable than I. So far, you're not telling me anything I didn't already know. In fact, I'd have got more help from my child. Are you reading from the manual?
SBC: No, I'm not reading from the manual.
Me: You're reading from something. A cheat sheet, a list, something. You're not giving me any technical support, that's for sure. Are you guys hiring? Can I get a job there? Because I, apparently, know more about this than you.
SBC: We're getting to the issue, the issue is that your internet light isn't on, therefore you will not get nternet to your computer.
Me: *temporarily stunned, again* Ahh.....yes, I know that. I told YOU that. I'm aware of WHAT the problem is, but what I don't know is how to fix it. That's why I called you. You are supposed to know how to help me fix this problem.
SBC: Well, the problem is the internet light on...
Me: *interrupting her* You know what, I'm just going to fix this myself. You've been no help at all. You have yourself a wonderful eveing....or day, or whatever time it is in India.
SBC: Well, I can help you sort out your problem if we can just get that internet light back on on your modem.....
Me: Good bye! *and I hang up*.
I think that if my life ever comes apart at the seams, if I ever find myself in dire need of a job.....that I will either give myself a stage name of Busty Rhymes and go make money taking my clothes off for strangers, or I will move to India and get a job with SBC technical support. I'm qualified to do either...I've got a set of DD's and I know what each of the little lights on the front of my DSL modem means.
'Technical Support' used to mean something. Apparently one needs neither technical knowledge OR customer support skills to work for SBC.