My client likes me because I know pretty much everything there is to know about the furniture system they use. She'll ask for the thing that goes on that thing, usually making a funny shape with her hands. I can narrow that down to one or two things and take care of it. Sucky system, but it works so if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Of course sometimes she'll be very specific, as in this case. She asks me to bring her a "new orange Noma extension cord", which is exactly what I brought her, but it's not what she wants. Now if she can just admit her error, I merrily go on my way and don't have anything to post about, but she's got to argue how she's right.
SC: That's not what I want.
Me: You asked for the orange extension cords didn't you?
SC: (tone so condescending you could cut it with a knife) Yes, but we use the power bars with the long cords as extension cords. So I call those power bars extension cords.
Me: Okay, so you want those new black ones then.
SC: No, I want those new orange Noma ones that you moved from the storage room.
I stubbornly and stupidly fight this point because I want to make sure to get it right this time (and because I'm stubborn and stupid).
Me: All of those new ones were black, made by Woods.
SC: NO, they are the orange ones. We had boxes of them. Go downstairs and you'll see.
continue for a couple more volleys before I finally wise up
So I go and get one of the Black Woods power bars, hand it to her and ask if it's what she wanted. "Yes, thank you" was all I got, no apology, no admission of error, so I begin to walk away, until I'm called back. Oh joy, am I about to get my apology, is she going to admit she was wrong, nope, I'm told about the other mistake I made. So in summary, here's how to translate idiot:
Idiot: a new orange Noma extension cord
English: THREE new black Woods power bars
Of course sometimes she'll be very specific, as in this case. She asks me to bring her a "new orange Noma extension cord", which is exactly what I brought her, but it's not what she wants. Now if she can just admit her error, I merrily go on my way and don't have anything to post about, but she's got to argue how she's right.
SC: That's not what I want.
Me: You asked for the orange extension cords didn't you?
SC: (tone so condescending you could cut it with a knife) Yes, but we use the power bars with the long cords as extension cords. So I call those power bars extension cords.
Me: Okay, so you want those new black ones then.
SC: No, I want those new orange Noma ones that you moved from the storage room.
I stubbornly and stupidly fight this point because I want to make sure to get it right this time (and because I'm stubborn and stupid).
Me: All of those new ones were black, made by Woods.
SC: NO, they are the orange ones. We had boxes of them. Go downstairs and you'll see.
continue for a couple more volleys before I finally wise up
So I go and get one of the Black Woods power bars, hand it to her and ask if it's what she wanted. "Yes, thank you" was all I got, no apology, no admission of error, so I begin to walk away, until I'm called back. Oh joy, am I about to get my apology, is she going to admit she was wrong, nope, I'm told about the other mistake I made. So in summary, here's how to translate idiot:
Idiot: a new orange Noma extension cord
English: THREE new black Woods power bars

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