February 2004

I had to call for some computer support the other day, and I wasn’t very happy with the way I was talked to on the phone.  First, this guy tried all this techno-babble like, “did you discombobulate the terminal modulator to the whos-it?”  Wha??  Uh, yeah, I did that.  Then, when it became apparent that we weren’t brain-melding he dumbed it way down.  (Why do people talk slower when they do that?)  “Click on the icon on your screen that has the little envelope, like a mailing envelope.”  Got it.  I was feeling a bit indignant and it was really hard to be nice.  Next time I’m in that situation maybe I’ll just play a little mind game of my own.  “No, but can you calculate the measurement of the side triangles for an on-point quilt?....I didn’t think so.”  At the auto-repair shop – “I’m sorry, I can’t tell you the last time my tires were rotated but I do know how to speed piece a couple dozen Ohio Star blocks in an afternoon.”  So there.  And how about at the local home improvement store, “Ma’am, what side of the whatchamathingie is the dweebolator leaking from?”  “Why, I’m not sure, but I can tell you this much, my presser foot is calibrated to produce a precise ¼” seam allowance.  And don’t call me ma’am.”  (or I’ll have to sic my feed dogs on you)  So, next time you’re feeling a bit patronized use some of that quilting jargon to put ‘em in their place. Face it, ladies, we can’t all know everything about everything, but we do know quite a lot about some things.  ;0)