Interesting Dell article 1075

Let me deconstruct that statement:

"Script monkies..." Grrrr. Nothing could be more useless! But...how many people understand enough about computers and software to really know what they're talking about? And how many people have the ability to explain things clearly? And of those few, how many are willing to work for the slave wages companies pay? The result is script monkies. And there is an enormous demand for these script monkies, since so many people call technical support. (Ergo, unacceptable hold times.) Which places pressure on the companies to hire more of them and put them to work as quickly as possible. I can't believe you're not aware of this, Ben.

"...speaking any dialect of any language..." Add "fluent in standard American English" to the list of qualifications above. There just ain't enough of them. That's one of the reasons I prefer so-called live chat over phone support. At least in a live chat you don't have to deal with hard to fathom accents. And that goes both ways, my friend. Half the time I don't know what someone from Alabama is trying to say to me. And did you know that in Texas "I'll tell you what." is a complete sentence? Beats the heck out of me.

"...are an outrage." Better get used to it. The world is getting smaller every day, or haven't you noticed? Your choices are to learn to deal with other dialects and cultures or to stick your head in the sand and deal only with 'your kind'. Forget about tech support. Try going to your local BBQ joint - what could be more American? - and ordering a meal from someone who barely understands a word you're saying.

Ted Zieglar