Wednesday, October 05, 2005

The Wireless Network is Down.

Let me repeat, the wireless network is down.

Student: Hi, I can't get onto the wireless network.

I point to the sign on the desk.

Me: The wireless network is down.

Student: No, I can't get onto the network at all.

I point at the sign again.

Me: No one can.

Student: No, I mean I've never gotten onto the network.

Me: You're trying to set up your wireless network account?

Student: Yes!

I stare at him a moment, hoping the situation will sink in, and he'll realize that he's being a little bit foolish. He just blinks at me.

Me: Well, the network's down right now, but you can't set up a wireless account through the wireless network. You have to use a network cable to do it.

Student looks slightly confused but nods his head anyway.

Student: Okay, can I get a network cable?

Me: No, they're all checked out.

Student: All of them?

Me: Yes, they're very popular tonight because the wireless network is down.

Student: Can you tell me when one will be back?

Me: No. They check out for 24hrs.

Student: Oh. Can I get a laptop?

Me: Yes.

Student: They're set up for wireless, right?

Me: Yes, but the wireless network is down.

Student: So I can't get on the internet on one of those?

Me: No.

Student: Oh, well...How am I supposed to get onto the internet?

Me: Well, there are a bunch of PC's right behind you...

Student turns and seems to see the twenty empty PC's behind him for the first time.

Student: Oh, right.

And he wanders away...

I've had this conversation about ten times in varying degrees tonight.

You know they say young people are very tech savvy, but this is a load of crock. They just accept that things work and don't ask why and then become very befuddled when stuff no longer works. They're the Harry Potter generation. Everything's magic!

7 Comments:

Blogger Spike said...

You poor thing. If I see a headline like 'Librarian Staple-guns Students To Notice' I'll know who was asks once too often :)

5:57 PM, October 05, 2005  
Blogger loofrin said...

Is that what I have to look forward to? *twirls his finger* Yay, can't wait...

10:24 PM, October 05, 2005  
Blogger Vampire Librarian said...

Well, I try to keep an even keel. It's just very frustrating when any major part of the 'tech' system breaks during my shift because there is no one to fix it, and the students look at me slackjawed waiting for me to do something.

We've begun to suspect that the debit card system which is used to print, buy sodas, make copies, etc. shuts down for an hour every night, and no one has bothered to tell us.

12:57 AM, October 06, 2005  
Blogger kyknoord said...

It always amazes me that people who seem to be utterly incapable of reading or understanding signs still manage to get into institutions of higher learning.

5:41 AM, October 06, 2005  
Blogger Spike said...

What Kyknoord said.

6:01 PM, October 06, 2005  
Blogger listie said...

I'm still trying to get over the fact that your library is open all night; I thought midnight was bad enough.

8:35 PM, October 09, 2005  
Blogger Skye said...

Good to know I'm not alone between midnight and eight a.m. My shift is actually 2a.m. to whenever my boss feels like he can stop holding my hand...

7:18 PM, October 10, 2005  

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