The All Consuming Sports Fan
January 4, 2013
The Ultimate Snow Cave (Silverton Style)
January 18, 2013
In two weeks I will have achieved my goal of posting something to the blog every Friday for an entire year. After that who knows what happens? Whether its an excerpt from a short story, or an essay of one sort or another, something has gone on the blog every Friday for a year. Today my record almost fell by the wayside as I was preparing to go cross-country skate-skiing when I realized I hadn’t posted anything to the blog yet.
Anyway, this essay relates to my never-ending efforts at working with computers and advanced technology. Almost all my writing output is off the computer keyboard. Hence the inspiration for this essay.
Word Count: 988
Deriving Happiness
From Your Rage
Most people wouldn’t disagree with me when I say its human nature to like freely complaining about stuff. Although when you think about it, that doesn’t really change the situation one-way or the other, whether you decide to bitch and moan, or not. Regardless, it somehow helps to ease the pain if you’re allowed to freely rant. Plus in certain predicaments it’s also a lot of fun while you’re doing it. You derive this perverse, sadistic-like enjoyment while groaning about all manner of things, don’t you?
My latest nonsensical rage concerns inputting information on a computer and extracting it. A big part of my manager job for a hotel here in the quiet little town of Silverton involves taking reservations from future patrons of our establishment. Inputting this information on the computer then follows that. Ultimately I’ve attempted to do some analytics for the data I’ve just inputted into the system.
In theory this all sounds pretty basic, right? Actually not really. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m using modern technology, which some of my friends and certain members of my family consider to be a small step above various forms of voodoo magic. Quite possibly the fact that some of the analytics requires me to extract information through a number of different steps. Whatever the case, getting that information you need isn’t always as easy as it sounds.
A lot of times you’re expected to just know what windows to open on the companies website, and that’s whether or not you’ve ever had any sort of dealings with their system. The classic example for me is logging onto the homepage for a company that books reservations at our hotel. The resulting headache it creates makes the Spanish Inquisition look like a funfest gone berserk.
First you’re asked to formally log in with your password. Easy enough if you’ve planned ahead and written down the signature in a safe undisclosed location. Now what happens if the write-in symbol you input has been changed without your knowing about it? Don’t act skeptical or laugh. This sort of thing has taken place and I’m a first hand witness to the phenomenon. Fortunately in this particular conundrum I was able to establish contact with my mythical CIA handler. Soon discovering where I’d hidden the secret password and right after that, finding myself inputting the correct insignia into the system-no problem.
Then the boss asked if I could print out a report for the entire month detailing all the bookings we had at the hotel. Since I hadn’t done this before it forced me to do all sorts of trial-and-error punching on the computer. Basically clicking any and all windows my trusty little mouse switch could access.
After doing this for about an hour I then decided to pick up the telephone and call the companies 1-800 number to get some technical support. This would definitely solve the problem at a much faster rate and therefore be a better utilization of my time. Some psychologist hit the nail squarely on the head when they said most males are violently opposed to asking for directions unless absolutely necessary.
The tech support guy was very helpful and soon I was opening all sorts of windows to access information. Looking like I actually knew what I was doing too while I sat there. I then gave instructions for the computer to print out the monthly stay report and congratulated myself on reaching the summit for another of life’s emotional mountains. Then the paper jammed in the printer and I spent another half hour fixing that.
Unfortunately I’ve had to petition for unemployment this winter. Not proud of having to do it, but didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. Going through the application process is another classic example of computer usage resulting in my blood pressure being raised five or ten notches.
Computer aggravation is the result of a glitch in the system, and I had almost nothing to do with too. It still lead to all sorts of new and interesting annoyances. Right after I’d filled out the form, then submitted it through the proper department of employment channels I was forced to wait. In this case a few days transpired before logging back on to find out what my status was. Expecting to discover that all was well and the application being processed with little to no problems, what should be awaiting me but this:
The requested HTTP444 URL/Online Unemployment application/Login/aspx Version information MicroSoft. Net. framework version 4.89650021. asp.net model #4.987472 has experienced a server error with the online application. The resource you are looking for (or its dependencies) could have been removed, deleted; its name changed, and is temporarily unavailable. Please review the following URL request #4.89650021 for spelling correctness. Then re-input the information and a correct version will be processed. We apologize for this inconvenience. Valuable resources are being reallocated at this time to fix the problem.
Needless to say, I didn’t have to rely on any online dependencies to ensure sufficient rage on my part at that particular moment. Actually spend the next three hours trying to figure out how an URL/Online Unemployment application/ Login/aspx version information MicroSoft.net.framework version 4.89650021 works (still trying to decipher its actual meaning too). Then I ended up filling out the application once again. Resubmitted it, and finally crossed my fingers in the hopes that everything might work out.
So what’s the big thing I’ve learned from this experience? Basically that no matter how complex and undecipherable the system may seem nowadays, it’s probably more comfortable to work with than the way it was in the past. Besides, it’s theoretically much easier and therefore more satisfying to complain about computer technology. There isn’t an entity talking back at you so you’re able to bitch and moan at it to your hearts content.
