Minor things that bother you

[JayhawkCO]

Calling a business or government agency, going through the interactive voice response and entering your account number, birthdate, shoe size, etc., listening to a mechanical voice repeat everything back and asking you to press "1" to confirm -- and then when you finally get to talk with a human, the first thing he/she asks for is all the information you already entered.

Or a job application where you first upload your resume, then they ask you questions on items already included in the resume.

Are there job applications that don't do that?

Yeah, I've had a few that you just have to confirm that their .pdf reader got the info right.

[ZLoth]

Bad managers. Especially ones who turned your job from something you loved into something you loathed, destroying all hopes for career progression, destroying all confidence, all accomplishments thrown away, and causing stress-related health issues among the team all within one years time.

[vdeane]

NYITS:

Me: "I have a problem with my Internet connection."

ITS: "Opened a ticket.  Will send out first tier responder."

Time passes.  First responder finally shows up and says, "I have confirmed you have a problem.  Needs second tier response."

More time passes.  First responder comes with second tier person.  "Yes, you have a problem.  Needs third tier response."

Time passes.  Get an e-mail from ITS: "Close ticket?"  Me:  No.

Time passes.  Finally, third tier response, a contractor, shows up.  "Fixes" the problem.

3 to 6 months pass.  Internet problem returns.

This reminded me - I think I figured out how to make the WebEx popup go away.  It turns out it's trying to log into regular WebEx and not the new government accounts.  There's a down arrow on the screen to switch; after switching and logging it, it's then possible to bring up the settings and uncheck (again) the box option to have it auto-start.  Why that setting wasn't preserved in the migration is beyond me.

[SSOWorld]

The Gen Z use of the verb "to ship" bugs me, to tell the truth.

OK Zoomer.

When the made-up word "tryna" is used instead of the correct "trying to."

RIP the English Language!

Excuse me, sir. Seeing as how the V.P. is such a V.I.P., shouldn't we keep the P.C. on the Q.T.? 'Cause if it leaks to the V.C. he could end up M.I.A., and then we'd all be put on K.P.

[mgk920]

I don't understand why everyone is "gifting" things to people. Can we not just give something anymore?

That form of the word makes sense to me.  I'm pretty sure it's been around for centuries, but mainly in formal usage.  To gift is to give as a gift.  If you give someone a thing, it might be because you owe it to them, or because you don't want it anymore, or because you broke it and they want to try to fix it.  There may or may not be generosity involved.  You might just be clearing out some space by getting rid of stuff.  If you gift a thing, it means to give as a gift, which is an act of generosity, giving without thinking of yourself first.  They're two different words.

There was a Calvin and Hobbs strip from the late 1980s where Calvin was complaining about all of the words that have been 'verbed' in American English in recent years.

Mike

[mgk920]

Heh.  TikTok's censors are leading to overcensorship everywhere.

This fits in here as a minor thing that bothers me. If you're not on TikTok, you don't need to say someone "unalived themselves" or whatever. This feels more disrespectful than saying that person committed suicide, actually.

It is an overzealous YT moderation issue.  There are way too many things that you either can't say out loud or have to grossly misspell on that platform.  BTW, the usual term for that there is 'self delete'.

< sigh >

Mike

[CtrlAltDel]

Earlier this summer there was some fraudulent activity with the debit card for an organization that I am the treasurer for. So, I reported it and filed a police report and all that, and got a new card. Then, last night there was more fraudulent activity with the new card at the same place as before.

Sounds like an inside job.

I hope not. The only one with access to the card, or even the card number, is me.

Well, it looks like the culprit has been found. 

I'm afraid a jury will agree.

But seriously, this is annoying, and I can't just lock the card since that feature is not available with the organization's account. Maybe I should get rid of the card all together, but it does come in handy every now and again.

It has now happened again. Three fraudulent charges to the same place in one year.

[Scott5114]

Bad managers. Especially ones who turned your job from something you loved into something you loathed, destroying all hopes for career progression, destroying all confidence, all accomplishments thrown away, and causing stress-related health issues among the team all within one years time.

I'd say that's a major thing that bothers you.

My wife, meanwhile, has good managers for the first time in her life. It has been an adjustment not having to constantly check her back for stab wounds.

[Rothman]

NYITS:

Me: "I have a problem with my Internet connection."

ITS: "Opened a ticket.  Will send out first tier responder."

Time passes.  First responder finally shows up and says, "I have confirmed you have a problem.  Needs second tier response."

More time passes.  First responder comes with second tier person.  "Yes, you have a problem.  Needs third tier response."

Time passes.  Get an e-mail from ITS: "Close ticket?"  Me:  No.

Time passes.  Finally, third tier response, a contractor, shows up.  "Fixes" the problem.

3 to 6 months pass.  Internet problem returns.

This reminded me - I think I figured out how to make the WebEx popup go away.  It turns out it's trying to log into regular WebEx and not the new government accounts.  There's a down arrow on the screen to switch; after switching and logging it, it's then possible to bring up the settings and uncheck (again) the box option to have it auto-start.  Why that setting wasn't preserved in the migration is beyond me.

I wonder if something got updated.  WebEx said that the org has blocked people from "signing in" on government accounts, but the switch to stop it from starting up was enabled today for me to switch it off anyway.

[vdeane]

Heh.  TikTok's censors are leading to overcensorship everywhere.

This fits in here as a minor thing that bothers me. If you're not on TikTok, you don't need to say someone "unalived themselves" or whatever. This feels more disrespectful than saying that person committed suicide, actually.

It is an overzealous YT moderation issue.  There are way too many things that you either can't say out loud or have to grossly misspell on that platform.  BTW, the usual term for that there is 'self delete'.

< sigh >

Mike

Delete?  Are we cybermen now?

[Max Rockatansky]

Heh.  TikTok's censors are leading to overcensorship everywhere.

This fits in here as a minor thing that bothers me. If you're not on TikTok, you don't need to say someone "unalived themselves" or whatever. This feels more disrespectful than saying that person committed suicide, actually.

It is an overzealous YT moderation issue.  There are way too many things that you either can't say out loud or have to grossly misspell on that platform.  BTW, the usual term for that there is 'self delete'.

< sigh >

Mike

Delete?  Are we cybermen now?

You would make a good Dalek.

[Rothman]

Heh.  TikTok's censors are leading to overcensorship everywhere.

This fits in here as a minor thing that bothers me. If you're not on TikTok, you don't need to say someone "unalived themselves" or whatever. This feels more disrespectful than saying that person committed suicide, actually.

It is an overzealous YT moderation issue.  There are way too many things that you either can't say out loud or have to grossly misspell on that platform.  BTW, the usual term for that there is 'self delete'.

< sigh >

Mike

Delete?  Are we cybermen now?

I prefer "You will be like us" from the classic series.

[dlsterner]

Heh.  TikTok's censors are leading to overcensorship everywhere.

This fits in here as a minor thing that bothers me. If you're not on TikTok, you don't need to say someone "unalived themselves" or whatever. This feels more disrespectful than saying that person committed suicide, actually.

It is an overzealous YT moderation issue.  There are way too many things that you either can't say out loud or have to grossly misspell on that platform.  BTW, the usual term for that there is 'self delete'.

< sigh >

Mike

Delete?  Are we cybermen now?

No. We are Devo.  D. E. V. O.

[Big John]

Heh.  TikTok's censors are leading to overcensorship everywhere.

This fits in here as a minor thing that bothers me. If you're not on TikTok, you don't need to say someone "unalived themselves" or whatever. This feels more disrespectful than saying that person committed suicide, actually.

It is an overzealous YT moderation issue.  There are way too many things that you either can't say out loud or have to grossly misspell on that platform.  BTW, the usual term for that there is 'self delete'.

< sigh >

Mike

Delete?  Are we cybermen now?

No. We are Devo.  D. E. V. O.

Whip it. Whip it good.

[kkt]

The Gen Z use of the verb "to ship" bugs me, to tell the truth.

OK Zoomer.

When the made-up word "tryna" is used instead of the correct "trying to."

RIP the English Language!

Excuse me, sir. Seeing as how the V.P. is such a V.I.P., shouldn't we keep the P.C. on the Q.T.? 'Cause if it leaks to the V.C. he could end up M.I.A., and then we'd all be put on K.P.

You've been listening to the "G.I. Jive"?

[hbelkins]

When people go on Twitter/X and complain about Elon Musk; that he's a Russian asset, he's ruined the platform, he needs to have his citizenship revoked and be deported, etc. -- and they have blue verification checkmarks by their names, meaning that they pay Musk for the privilege of being on Twitter/X.

The hypocrisy is rancid.

[Max Rockatansky]

I hardly ever heard anything about Elon Musk or Twitter before I joined this forum.  I never understood the appeal or interest behind either of them.

I know a couple of you tried to explain Twitter to me.  There wasn't much I saw to dissuade the perception I already had that it has always been a den of misery. 

[SEWIGuy]

When people go on Twitter/X and complain about Elon Musk; that he's a Russian asset, he's ruined the platform, he needs to have his citizenship revoked and be deported, etc. -- and they have blue verification checkmarks by their names, meaning that they pay Musk for the privilege of being on Twitter/X.

The hypocrisy is rancid.

Nope. X gives out blue check marks for free to people who have a certain number of followers. Without their consent by the way.

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1773147956041978257

[1995hoo]

I hardly ever heard anything about Elon Musk or Twitter before I joined this forum.  I never understood the appeal or interest behind either of them.

I know a couple of you tried to explain Twitter to me.  There wasn't much I saw to dissuade the perception I already had that it has always been a den of misery. 

I would say Twitter is as useful, or as useless, as you make it. I find it quite useful as a source for things like Amtrak Northeast Corridor service alerts, traffic alerts, and sports information. Back when I commuted to DC on the Metrorail I used it for service alerts there as well. I don't follow political accounts and I don't engage in the constant "you're scum because you didn't vote for the same candidate I did" type of sniping. (That sort of stuff always makes me think of the lyrics to "Satisfaction": "He can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke/The same cigarettes as me.")

[vdeane]

I do have to wonder why people have stuck around with it for so long, however.  The exodus to Bluesky is recent, and yet Elon's been in control of X for a while now and people were saying it would go exactly as it did even before he took over.  People absolutely had the opportunity to vote with their feet but didn't.

[SEWIGuy]

I do have to wonder why people have stuck around with it for so long, however.  The exodus to Bluesky is recent, and yet Elon's been in control of X for a while now and people were saying it would go exactly as it did even before he took over.  People absolutely had the opportunity to vote with their feet but didn't.

You had to have an invite to use Bluesky, but you go where the content goes. And until the people I follow went over there, I didn't have much reason. Even now I follow both.

[Scott5114]

People absolutely had the opportunity to vote with their feet but didn't.

I did; I deleted three accounts from there the day that he closed on it.

[ZLoth]

I have no interest in joining yet another social network. As it is, my Twitter feed is mainly for weather information.

[Max Rockatansky]

I hardly ever heard anything about Elon Musk or Twitter before I joined this forum.  I never understood the appeal or interest behind either of them.

I know a couple of you tried to explain Twitter to me.  There wasn't much I saw to dissuade the perception I already had that it has always been a den of misery. 

I would say Twitter is as useful, or as useless, as you make it. I find it quite useful as a source for things like Amtrak Northeast Corridor service alerts, traffic alerts, and sports information. Back when I commuted to DC on the Metrorail I used it for service alerts there as well. I don't follow political accounts and I don't engage in the constant "you're scum because you didn't vote for the same candidate I did" type of sniping. (That sort of stuff always makes me think of the lyrics to "Satisfaction": "He can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke/The same cigarettes as me.")

I can see the value in that given the context you are using it.  Locally I've noticed some Caltrans districts have become adept at using Facebook for alerts.  The Quickmap still is the best way to go given how much detail that provides. 

To my knowledge Twitter is the only social media platform Gribblenation tried where we couldn't get traction.  I know Adam and Doug tried to grow it for a bit but it just never took.  I just don't think there is much demand on the platform for our style of page.

[SEWIGuy]

I hardly ever heard anything about Elon Musk or Twitter before I joined this forum.  I never understood the appeal or interest behind either of them.

I know a couple of you tried to explain Twitter to me.  There wasn't much I saw to dissuade the perception I already had that it has always been a den of misery. 

I would say Twitter is as useful, or as useless, as you make it. I find it quite useful as a source for things like Amtrak Northeast Corridor service alerts, traffic alerts, and sports information. Back when I commuted to DC on the Metrorail I used it for service alerts there as well. I don't follow political accounts and I don't engage in the constant "you're scum because you didn't vote for the same candidate I did" type of sniping. (That sort of stuff always makes me think of the lyrics to "Satisfaction": "He can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke/The same cigarettes as me.")

I can see the value in that given the context you are using it.  Locally I've noticed some Caltrans districts have become adept at using Facebook for alerts.  The Quickmap still is the best way to go given how much detail that provides. 

To my knowledge Twitter is the only social media platform Gribblenation tried where we couldn't get traction.  I know Adam and Doug tried to grow it for a bit but it just never took.  I just don't think there is much demand on the platform for our style of page.

That makes sense. Twitter is better for breaking news or sports highlights with it usually being in time sequential order. Facebook is better for pictures and content that isn't immediate.