Same job 3 times!

As mentioned before, not just the end users are idiots. Sadly those of us in the industry can be led by idiots.
My boss a few months ago had a few pc's deployed. No big deal right? Sadly no, because he decided it was a good idea to do the same job 3 times.
First deploy said pc's with out hard drives. Why would you do that you ask? To have a presence at the location was the answer.
Second go back to the pc's and install the hard drives, but not to configure them. Huh? Just to show we were doing something. Huh again?
Third, go back a third time, finish configuring and train the end users. Job finally finished.
So a job that should have been done once, took weeks and 3 trips. Brilliant! So instead of looking like a competent and well skilled crew, we instead looked like the keystone cops!

Not just the users are idiots!

Hey, let's give some of our users the Admin password! Seriously this is the greatest idea I've ever heard. My boss is a genius. Now, my job will be so much easier.

Wooo-friggin-hooo!

(sorry to say, this actually happened)

Communication

     Sometimes it's not the fact that the user is an idiot, but they have a problem communicating. My latest favorite is a user i like to call whisper. She whispers when she calls. I can barely hear her. If you want my help or the help of anyone over the phone, you need to speak loud and clear, not whisper. 

Why didn't I think of that?

Recently, myself and two colleges were arriving at work when we were greeted by our secretary.  She said that the assistant to the (very important person) wanted someone up there right away because her PC was dead.  One of the guys decided to take the bullet so he dropped his things and went up.   When he got there she said "See? There's nothing on my screen!" He looked at the PC, realized that it was off, hit the power button and, like magic the PC came right up.  You know, I think I'm going to have to side with the user on this one.  Those power buttons are waaaaaaay too complex.

Server? Who needs that?!

Ok, this one's a double. Just before the holidays we 2 calls from remote offices.
#1
User: Hey, I'm  having a problem printing.
Me: OK, is it just you or is it everyone?
User: Well, I dont know if it's related or not but... Do you know that black computer with the tape drive in it?
Me: Do you mean the server?
User: Uh, yeah that one.
Me: Yes....
User: Well, the lights on the front were blinking...
Me: That's normal.
User: Oh, well I thought it was a problem so I shut it off.
Me: You shut off the server?
User: Yeah. What should I do?
Me: Gee, I don't know... turn it back on.
..a few minutes later...
User: Hey I can print now!

#2 about an hour later, different office
User: We're having problems printing.
Tech: OK, is it just you or is it everyone?
User: Everyone.
Tech: OK well it looks like your server might be down. Can you go look at it for me?
User: Oh, is that the black box thingy that was in the back of the office?
Tech: Yes it-  wait... why did you say "was"?
User: We are decorating for our Christmas party and we thought it was ugly.
Tech: So what did you do?
User: I shut it off and put it in the closet for a while.
Tech: You're joking right?
User: No, but is that why we can't print?
Tech: Yes, now would you please plug the server back in right now. If it's ugly, put some garland around it or something, just don't do that again.
User: (sounding annoyed) ugh...if we have to.....