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There is no Try only do or don't do (or is there a try? Perhaps, with this long title I will finally be able to pass Alex for the longest title here on Virily. So far he has the all time longest title. I would like to take the title belt from Alex.)

My first computer was a TRS-80. It couldn’t do much. My first gaming system was a Pong. Also, I couldn’t do much. It was when I got my second computer that things changed for, the Apple IIc. Smaller than the Apple IIe and less expandable. It was the origin of Steve Jobs vision of a locked down the computer system. I loved my Apple IIc. I moved to Macs, then PC’s over the next few years. The computer was a tool I frequently used in my classroom. When I moved from Indiana to Ohio with my wife, I left teaching to become a computer trainer and later helpdesk professional. I cannot tell you how many calls I’ve been on with someone desperate to solve a problem.

Some of the folks I talked to are still people I talk to now. The reality of those phone conversations is that back then, that was a lifeline. You may not be able to help, but at the very least you cared enough to try!  When it comes to helping people, I think Yoda is wrong. Yoda’s quote from the Star Wars movies is “there is no try only do or don’t do.” I think when it comes to helping people there is a try. If someone tries to help you, give them credit.  Not all problems can be easily solved. I got back to those days on the helpdesk. People got mad at you all the time. They yelled, they complained, but in the end, they were struggling with an issue, and as the helpdesk person it’s your job to help them.

Own the problem, when someone says they are struggling and you are willing to try, let them know. The reality of problems is that they are like cockroaches. Left in the dark they multiply and become worse. I remember once, talking to a person with a serious printer problem. The printer was making a horrible noise (she help the phone up to the printer). Finally, I had her unplug the printer and let it cool. She then opened the printer (it was in a U-Haul shop in Georgia) and inside the printer (laser) next to the toner cartridge was a now dead mouse.  The printer often overheated and they had removed the side cooling vent so that more air would get in. So apparently mice could. You never know what the problem is, but helpdesk are all about listening!

  • Question of

    Could I have made the title longer?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Do you believe there is a try when helping people?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Have you ever felt bad because you couldn’t help someone?

    • Yes
    • No

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What do you think?

12 Points

Written by DocAndersen

One fan, One team and a long time dream Go Cubs!!!!!!!!!!!!!

28 Comments

  1. Sure looks like it could be the longest title but I will tell you about long titles after starting to read it ai sort of lost track like being lost in a forest. Let’s keep those titles simple and short.

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    • what is hilarious is that I have a page full of comments on this post, and it filled two pages of notifications because of the title length.

      Normally I keep titles short, this was poking fun at Alex and his dream of the longest title!

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  2. That title may have beat Alex. Pretty long. I do try to help others every chance I get. I feel that is why I am still here actually. Sometimes it works other times not but I do what I can.

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  3. I think you’ve won the length of the title. ? I know that you really want to help. I very much like to help if it is in my power. It’s already a great help if you just listen to somebody.

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    • There are times when the helpdesk person in me can’t help but try. Thanks for the kind words! I like the “just listen to somebody, that is something I can do better!

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      • Thank you very much for your kind comment. I thought everyone was doing my best, but I made a mistake. It’s still hard to believe that there are such people. My friend always tells me to do something for myself and not just for others

  4. Very wise words from both you and Pamela! I think that intentions are very important, but in some cases help needs to be asked for first.

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  5. Yes, I can relate to what you are saying. I have done home care.
    I told someone I am sorry about your disability, but I am not God and I am not a Doctor. I can only do little things.
    She smiled and said “Its the little things that count!”
    Sometimes I have felt a lot of guilt that I can not heal these people.

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