"you shouldn't have left it then"

[Librarian]

This story reminded me of something that happened maybe a year ago.

<background>
Our library has it's own computers (desktops) and offers free wifi for those that bring their own laptops/smartphones...

We had one customer come in during the summertime - and all our computers were booked full for the morning. We tell him this and ask if he wants a reservation for the evening or the next day, customer gets irritated but makes the reservation

5 minutes later...
</background>

I hear some shouting coming from our lounge area (comfy seats, usually most taken by people reading paper or playing on laptop with some tables nearby) so i go up and see what's the fuss. SC = from earlier - tourist: doesn't speak the same language but tries to make himself understood

SC: i was working on this! get away from me!
tourist: but this is *my* laptop
SC: no it's not! It's on this table and was unattended so it's fro the library and i made a reservation!
tourist: *takes away his laptop and holds it*
SC: *notices me coming over*
me: Sir, please leave this gentleman alone, this IS his laptop, you've got the reservation for this evening on the computer over there *point*
SC: But i was just going to use it for 5 minutes! It was right here on this table, so that means i could!
tourist: "but it's my laptop!"
- i get the SC gone from the lounge and he goes to browse the cd's but his stance is very aggressive, like he's about to hit something - and was during the last part of the exchange.

I stay in the lounge for one more minute and talk to the tourist in his language - he's quite upset by this and i tell him to call us if anything's amiss. The tourist puts the laptop back down and calms.
Just as i was leaving i see the SC stomping back and getting in tourist's face:
SC: "you *** *** why won't you let me use your *** laptop for 5 minutes"

Tried to intervene, but the SC wouldn't calm down, i was genuinely afraid he'd hit either the tourist or me within the minute. Luckily one of my other coworkers had seen the entire thing as well, and he came to talk to the SC. I don't know what he said, but he got him to another part of the library and talked for about 15 minutes and had him calmly walking out the door afterwards.

Turns out, CW knows the SC and his history of drug-abuse and knows how to talk to him to calm him down.
SC still had the reservation for that night, but the head-librarian had been told of what had happened and was there to deny him use of our computers and get a ban from the library for a month. Just to be sure - a friendly cop was lurking around in the building after we've told him what had happened that morning just in case SC wouldn't take the news he was banned very well...
But, he left without a problem and a year later, he still hasn't showed up again! *phew*

[depechemodefan]

Glad the guy got banned, even for a month. What a douche.

We have things happen like that. A patron is using a library computer and goes to print/goes to a librarian and then someone just comes in and sits at their computer. ONe time I thought the original patron's time ran out and it was the other person's time. Nope, idiot just saw the "available" computer and sat down. Another time a woman came up to ask a question. A guy sits at her computer. I thought he was with her but she left and I realize the guy just sat at the computer, thinking it was available. Like the screen showing the original users email account or google search means that no one is using it

[XCashier]

Every library computer I've ever seen has been a standard tower model, never a laptop (too easy for someone to walk off with). How did this SC possibly think this was a library computer?

(glances up at header) Oh, right. He didn't care whose computer it was, he damned well was going to use it. What an asshole, glad he got banned.

[Sapphire Silk]

Whenever I take my laptop to the library I do two things:

1) cable lock it to the furniture in such a way it can't be taken unless you break the furniture/cut the cable.

2) the screensaver is password protected; this turns on if I close the lid or am not using it for more than a minute, and the password is not something guessable like my DOB, SSN, password, or 1234. If I leave it unattended, the lid is closed so the password has to be put back in when reopened.

NOBODY uses my baby without my permission.

[taxguykarl]

Every library computer I've ever seen has been a standard tower model, never a laptop (too easy for someone to walk off with). How did this SC possibly think this was a library computer?

Think?! SC??!! Have you checked what board you're viewing? Seriously, it's a good thing (for butthead's sake, that is) that tourist didn't press theft charges with a cop conveniently there....I would have considered it.

[Simbacat]

If someone attempted to use my laptop without my permission I would break all their fingers one by one.

[MystyGlyttyr]

I had a guy who was trying to peek over my shoulder constantly while I was on my laptop at the library. I don't know why exactly.

So the next time he was behind me, I opened up my folder of Avengers porn, and suddenly there's all these horrible sounds and "oh my God" and "sick bitch" and stuff like that. (Personally, I consider it borderline unpatriotic not to appreciate the sight of Captain America boinking Iron Man. )

Sorry, dude, my lappy's got a glare screen. You have to be making a concentrated effort to see what's on it, bro...

[Librarian]

Seriously, it's a good thing (for butthead's sake, that is) that tourist didn't press theft charges with a cop conveniently there....I would have considered it.

Note: the incident happened in the morning. The cop was there in the evening, just in case the head-librarian would need backup if the SC would turn hostile while refusing entry/giving the banhammer. The tourist wasn't there to see the SC get banned, but we did tell him about it a few days later when we saw him again. He was more shook up with the hostility and the aggressiveness of the SC than the "stealing" part.

[Cat Herder]

the password is not something guessable like my DOB, SSN, password, or 1234.

What's wrong with 1234? I've got the same combination on my luggage!

[Sonoma]

All Hail President Skroob!

[Sandman]

Reminds me of the time I was at a little coffee shop with some of my friends on a Friday night. My friend was using his laptop to do some music mixing and had to get up and use the restroom. No sooner than he was up for a couple minutes this teenie bopper walked over and started using HIS laptop. I had to remind TB that it was someone's laptop. She had this "oh! I didn't know" expression and walked away. I then suggested to my friend that he put on a password on his laptop and lock it every time he walks away.

[XCashier]

No sooner than he was up for a couple minutes this teenie bopper walked over and started using HIS laptop. I had to remind TB that it was someone's laptop. She had this "oh! I didn't know" expression and walked away.

Bullshit she didn't know! Does she think laptops spring up out of nowhere? What a dumbass.

[TheSHAD0W]

It'd be nice if computers were ubiquitous. Unfortunately, they cost money. You don't just find them, and you also don't pester someone because it's "your turn". Go get your own.

[dalesys]

Does she think laptops spring up out of nowhere?

Mine thinks it's a cat.


Hide in plain site, leave byte marks on my hands, mouse entrails on my pillow...

[telecom_goddess]

Mine thinks it's a cat.


Hide in plain site, leave byte marks on my hands, mouse entrails on my pillow...

You my dear friend need to be punished for this

And personally I would never leave my laptop unattended in the first place. If I didn't have it in my hands a trusted friend would be watching it closely.