](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpmLrz_lSuE
In 2004, I bought a new, high-end, name-brand desktop computer from the manufacturer. Within six months, I started hearing noises from the exhaust fan for the case. It sounded like a bearing broke and was grinding around as the fan spun.
I called the manufacturer's tech support line, explained the problem in detail, and asked them to ship out a new fan, since the machine was still under warranty. The tech to whom I had been connected informed me that the fan was probably fine, and that some software program was at fault, so I'd better completely wipe my main hard drive. I think my jaw actually hit the floor. No amount of reasoning would sway her; she insisted I wipe my drive and refused to discuss the issue any further.
It got worse. Her supervisor said the same thing, and her supervisor did too. Over the next two and a half years, I called a total of 38 times trying to get the fan replaced. (In the meantime, I ran the machine with the case open to let the heat out, which worked okay.) Every tech I got told me the same thing as the first: gotta wipe the hard drive!
But I had the last laugh. On the 39th call, three days before my warranty ran out, somehow I reached someone who actually knew something. After hearing my story, he not only sent me a new exhaust fan but also a new motherboard, processor, heat sink fan, sound card, and a RAM upgrade. In addition, he had a local tech install everything for me. For future reference, he gave me his personal phone number and email address for me to use instead of the company's number.
<Th3No0b> Im going to be the next hitler
<Th3No0b> Im going to kill all the jews and 1 clown
<RageAgainsttheAmish> why the clown
<Th3No0b> See? no one cares about the jews
<RageAgainsttheAmish> lmao
It was 1995. I was a freshman in college. I'd just gone to the computer labs for the first time to get signed up for an account on the campus network. The tech support guy I talked to wanted the specs on my machine, so I told him. At the time, I had a 28.8 modem. He told me I must be mistaken.
* Me: "Why?"
* Tech Support: "They don't make 28.8 modems. The phone lines can't support them."
* Me: "Uhhh. I ran a BBS for four years back home and helped over 200 people get their modems set up. I know what I'm doing with modems, and I promise you I have a 28.8."
* Tech Support: "Nope. You must be mistaken. 2400 is the fastest modem available today."
* Me: "No, that was six years ago. The modems are faster now."
* Tech Support: "Why would they make modems faster? It's not like the phone lines can support anything faster than 2400 in the first place."
At this point, I just gave up and walked out. I went back to my dorm, grabbed the modem's box, which I had used to transport some electronic gadgets, and brought it back to the tech guy. I brought my friend along because I figured he'd be entertained by all this.
* Me: "Hi, it's me again. I just thought I'd show you this box, which clearly states that it's a 28.8 modem."
* Tech Support: "Oh, that's a ZOOM modem. Well, ZOOM is widely known in the industry for lying about the capabilities of their modems. It's a 2400, but they say it's a 28.8 so people will buy it instead of a Hayes, which is the only good modem out there."
At this point, several people, including my friend, were laughing at this moron.
* Me: (to others in the room) "Say, what's the fastest speed of modem out there?"
* Everyone: "28.8!"
The tech support guy got mad and suggested that we all enroll in the "Introduction to Computers" seminar they were offering.
