Sysadmin summoned to explain italics – to a user with at least two degrees
What an idiot
In this installment of On Call, we feature the tale of a reader, whom we'll refer to as "Darwin," a former sysadmin at a prestigious Wall Street law firm. Darwin was in the midst of updating a PC when a secretary of a lawyer called him. The lawyer urgently needed assistance with Outlook, claiming an issue with italics in their emails. Darwin, thinking the problem could wait, promised to visit the lawyer in ten minutes.
Upon arrival, the lawyer insisted Darwin come immediately. After a brief discussion about the issue, Darwin explained that the slanted letters were called italics. The lawyer, visibly upset, demanded to know how italics were created. This reaction puzzled Darwin, given the lawyer's impressive credentials - a degree from an Ivy League university, along with both law and business degrees.
Upon leaving the lawyer's office, Darwin saw the lawyer's secretary giggling, hiding her laughter over the lawyer's reaction. Darwin's experience highlights the unexpected challenges of tech support, even in the most seemingly intelligent minds. If you have a story of your own, share it with The Register's On Call column for a chance to be featured.
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