Misunderstandings by lay people. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Circlotron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2019, 06:17:47 am
content: Often people that are otherwise intelligent, but unfamiliar with technical stuff make funny observations. To start the ball rolling, some time ago a friend was working at his bench and he asked his missus to pass a screwdriver. She replied "which one, the plus one or the minus one?"

author: onesixright
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2019, 06:21:52 am
content: Yep. LOL. There is the famous story about the person calling support: ‘he couldn’t find the ‘any key’ on his keyboard (80’s DOS).Sent from my X using Tapatalk

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 13, 2019, 06:28:36 am
content: Quote from: Circlotron on August 13, 2019, 06:17:47 amI like it ... and I would have to pay that one.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2019, 06:52:53 am
content: Considering how badly people tend to communicate I feel plus and minus screwdrivers are a very good description.

author: daqq
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2019, 07:23:30 am
content: The biggest misunderstanding comes from what we actually do.I design specialized electronics, code for FPGAs and also do the occasional firmware when I have to.To my family I am the IT guy that 'fiddles about with computer stuff' and whenever there's a printer broken, a keyboard in need of fixing or a network issue I get called. My favorite conversation is :"David, I had some absolutely critical stuff on my disk, now my computer won't start! Can you help?""Well, I can try, but do you have a backup anywhere? You know, like I told you to have the last time a similar event happened?""Weeeeelll... no, but you fixed it so nicely."

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2019, 07:26:17 am
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on August 13, 2019, 06:52:53 amI forsee frustration and stripping resulting from confusing phillips and posidrive...also can't forget square, triangle, star, "many-sided", three fins, meat fork, exc...and "there's no hole!""that's a bolt..."

author: golden_labels
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2019, 07:39:32 am
content: CirclotronIt is easy to forget, that what you consider to be “the basic things” is in fact specialistic knowledge. People are not expected to know that.There is no reason to ridicule that. Notice that out of ∞ things to know, they proved to not know one. You do not know ∞-1.

author: dnwheeler
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2019, 08:47:46 pm
content: I remember one Christmas my dad requested Channellock pliers (meaning the tongue & groove adjustable pliers) and my Mom, not knowing any better, bought him Channellock brand long nose pliers. He was disappointed at the time, but those long nose pliers became the most used tool in the house!

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2019, 11:12:32 pm
content: Similar to the people that ask for a skill saw without realizing skill makes circular saws, jigsaws, reciprocating saws, etc,

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2019, 07:05:53 am
content: Quote from: eugenenine on August 13, 2019, 11:12:32 pmWikipedia has the details. ""Skil saw" has become a generic trademark for conventional hand-held circular saws."

author: spudboy488
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2019, 11:20:09 am
content: When people find out I'm an electrical engineer, they ask if I can fix their TV/computer/etc.

author: TERRA Operative
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2019, 11:51:01 am
content: Quote from: Circlotron on August 13, 2019, 06:17:47 amFunnily enough, this is what they are actually called in Japan, 'plus driver' and 'minus driver'.Quote from: Cyberdragon on August 13, 2019, 07:26:17 amPhilips, Pozidrive and JIS.Be careful of the last one when rebuilding old Japanese motorbike carburettors!

author: StillTrying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2019, 01:07:32 pm
content: I've known someone to complain that their sat nav is too slow these days because there's now just too many people logging on to the satellites.I tried to explain that the sat signals are always everywhere just like the sun, and that when someone decides to sunbathe the sun doesn't become a little dimmer for you.Someone being very careful not to adjust to brightness or volume on their TV because they're recording something on another channel and didn't want to ruin the recording.I tried to explain that the VCR has nothing at all to do with the TV or its brightness and volume and the TV could be switched off without effecting the recording.Or.... If you're doing any electrical work in a kitchen, keep hold of one of the taps with your other hand so that you're "well earthed."I told them toneverdo or touch anything electrical.

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2019, 12:17:09 pm
content: The interchanging of the words electrical and electronic

author: Ice-Tea
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2019, 12:29:34 pm
content: "I see you're an electronics engineer. I have this awesome C++ job for you!"- every headhunter ever

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2019, 05:58:06 pm
content: headhunters are worse than the general population"I see you used Solaris 2.6, we have a windows 10 helpdesk job available"

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2019, 06:44:15 pm
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on August 14, 2019, 07:05:53 amLikewise with WD-40. A whole raft of products that will mess things up nicely if you use the wrong one!

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2019, 06:57:01 pm
content: Quote from: TERRA Operative on August 14, 2019, 11:51:01 amPhillips, Phillips II, Pozidriv (not drive), Supadriv, Pozisquare, Frearson, JIS.. bloody minefield.

author: dnwheeler
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2019, 07:34:49 pm
content: Me: I'm a software engineer.Them: So, you're in IT?Me: Argh!

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2019, 07:52:40 pm
content: Quote from: dnwheeler on August 15, 2019, 07:34:49 pmAn engineer: Argh!

author: jmelson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2019, 07:53:03 pm
content: Quote from: Cyberdragon on August 13, 2019, 07:26:17 amOh, but there's also ISO, military cross recess, Japanese cross recess, Quadrex and a couple other VERY similar schemes that may have died out.Jon

author: Sal Ammoniac
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2019, 08:01:00 pm
content: Stories from Tech Support departments are often hilarious. Here's one of my favorites:Tech Support: Hi, how can I help you?Woman: My PC is dead! It won't turn on!Tech Support: Sorry to hear that. Is the power switch in the "on" position?Woman: Let me check... Yes it is.Tech Support: Is the PC plugged in?Woman: Of course it is! Do you think I'm stupid or something!Tech Support: No ma'am. Just covering all the bases....... Fifteen more minutes of troubleshooting, without success, go by......Tech Support: I know you said you're sure, but can you check if the power cord is plugged in for me?Woman: Well, okay......... A few more minutes go by......Tech Support: Hello? Are you still there? Did you check the connection to the wall outlet?Woman: Sorry, I needed to find a flashlight (torch for you Brits and Aussies)Tech Support: Ah, it's dark under your desk?Woman: Yes, we've had a power failure in the building and my whole floor is dark.Tech Support:

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2019, 08:53:17 pm
content: I always saw this one as an urban legend, until my dad told me they were called by a secretary that wasn't able to insert the floppy disk on the drive: "it doesn't fit!", said her.When they went to her desk, she was trying to put the entire box of 10 floppies on the drive...After that, I believed in everything.I also still remember the installation part of the "Word for dummies" book. It explained how to start the install and, at a certain point, the computer would prompt the user to insert disk 2 into the drive. The remark was: "but don't forget to remove disk 1 from the drive before inserting disk 2!"These were the days of 5-1/4disks, where one could fit two (or more, depending on the drive) disks on the slot.

author: nali
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2019, 08:53:49 pm
content: Quote from: Sal Ammoniac on August 15, 2019, 08:01:00 pmThat's a slightly streamlined version of an old one, this is how I remember it:http://www.generationterrorists.com/quotes/misc/wordperfect_helpline.html

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2019, 08:55:58 pm
content: That's how I remember as well.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2019, 09:22:59 pm
content: Unfortunately that version is fake. In the real one she actually had to explain what happened.