Okay, so a student calls up for technical support.

“I can’t log in. When I log in, it says I’m not enrolled in any classes.”
ME: “So, you can log in, but it says you are not enrolled?”
“No, I can’t log in.”

What?!?

Much later…
ME: “Can I get your nine-digit student ID number so I can find you in the system?”
“Uh, yeah…” and gives me a five digit number.
ME: “That’s only five digits. Your student ID is nine digits long.”
“Uh…” and gives me three more digits.
ME: “That’s eight. Your student ID is nine digits. Are you sure you know your student ID number?” (This is important, as the username for the system IS that nine-digit number!)
“Yeah. That’s it…” and gives me a different eight digit number.
ME: “Again, that’s still eight digits.”
“No, that’s my number…” and gives me yet another eight digit number. “So, can you find my name in the system?”
ME: “…no.”
“Oh, I don’t have my number here, let me call you back.”
ME: “Okay, that sounds like a good idea. Do you have our direct phone number, or were you transferred here from somewhere else?”
“No, I have to go find my number. I’ll call you back.”
Click.

Ugh.

Later, the phone rings. Guess who?
ME: “Okay, so what is your nine-digit student ID number?”
“Like I told you before…” and gives me a nine-digit number, which bears no resemblence to the previous sequence of numbers.
ME: “Okay, here you are in the system. When you log in, just use your nine-digit student ID number, and the same password you used when you enrolled in classes using our enrollment system.”
“I don’t have an account for the enrollment system.”
ME: “Yes, you do. I can talk you through the process of setting your password there, okay?”
“Okay.”
ME: “First, start a web browser.”
“…”
ME: “Are you at a computer right now?”
“No.”
ME: “Fine. I’ll just give you some instructions to try later, shall I?”

Now, I ask you, when you have a problem, do you try to make it impossible for someone to help you? If your car engine is making a funny noise do you park it in your driveway, walk to the bus station, and take the bus to your mechanic, then ask him for help?

I guess I just assume too much…

Sheesh.