• Semi-Hemi-Demigod
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    fedilink
    13411 months ago

    Never ask them if it’s plugged in. Ask them to unplug it and plug it back in. Make something up about contact patches on the cables getting corrosion. That way they can see that it’s not plugged in without feeling ashamed for not checking it.

    • @MetaCubed
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      6011 months ago

      If I’m ever doubtful that someone has unplugged something, I’ll ask them to describe something that may or may not be on the plug.

      • Color
      • metal type
      • “can you please read me the serial number stamped on the prongs of the power cable”
      • “what color is the plastic inside the plug” Etc.etc.

      Have not had it fail yet

      • @YoorWeb
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        2211 months ago

        what color is the plastic inside the plug

        That’s gold, I don’t think I could ask that without laughing.

      • @[email protected]
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        611 months ago

        You should reach out to power supply companies and ask them to put some bogus number on the plastic by the prongs so end users never think something is up when you do this trick

    • NerfHerder
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      3311 months ago

      I’ve used the, unplug it, touch the ends of the plug with your fingers to release the static on the line ans plug it back in line more times than I care to count.

      • @MetaCubed
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        11 months ago

        I have a deep fear that the power supply won’t have a discharge capacitor and they’ll get a shock from it. Completely irrational but its deep seated enough that couldn’t use this one

        Edit: discharge resistor*

      • @Deuces
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        211 months ago

        Ohh that’s good. I always use the “try another outlet”, but it backfires sometimes when they move the whole desk to another outlet

        • NerfHerder
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          111 months ago

          That is a good one too, I’ve had the same result using that one but also they will occasionally state that their different sockets from the same circuit.

    • @hdnsmbt
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      1111 months ago

      If you ask them to unplug it and plug it back in, they’ll lie and say they already did that, though.

      And if they were ashamed at all, they’d have remembered the last time the exact same thing happened.

      This sounds like I hate end users which I really don’t. Their expertise lies elsewhere and I respect that. Still, sometimes it makes for funny/exhausting situations.

    • @elbucho
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      611 months ago

      A buddy of mine used to like telling the users that sometimes fat electrons get stuck in the prongs, so you have to occasionally unplug it and shake it out.