Do you get frustrated with end users?

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Is it just me who gets through the day playing out scenarios of showdowns with end users in a boxing ring? Seriously I could scream when end users make ridiculous requests and when you tell them no they think its because you are an idiot and dont understand what they are asking for does not exist and even then they think you can write some form of code and develop what they need in 5 minutes because computers are magical and not man-made.

 

Fair enough but the thing I hate is when they call for help yet tell you you are wrong and they know how to fix it.. then why call in the first place? I find end-users in general to be rude 8/10 times. When I get a good user I often thank them for being a normal human.

 

I tend to not get bothered if someones being difficult, i try ignore it. it really works.
Saying that i have had moments where i want to pull my hair out.

My idea is, smile and nod where you can! It keeps me going sort of thing.

 

I think it varies greatly dependent on the industry your business is in.

e.g. i worked for a design consultancy on helpdesk who employed a ton of graduates. i fkin hated graduates, they walk in day one and ask for a laptop and a phone. No - you get a compaq pro 6300 with one monitor, get on with it.

Now i work for a financial company, i don't deal with users anymore, but they're 10x better from what i see on the odd ticket i pick up.

 

I think it varies greatly dependent on the industry your business is in.

e.g. i worked for a design consultancy on helpdesk who employed a ton of graduates. i fkin hated graduates, they walk in day one and ask for a laptop and a phone. No - you get a compaq pro 6300 with one monitor, get on with it.

Now i work for a financial company, i don't deal with users anymore, but they're 10x better from what i see on the odd ticket i pick up.

 

The trick to it is learning how to diffuse those sorts of situations and let the rest bounce off you. Most of the time staff can be brought round to your way of thinking by careful considered language, theres no point banding around jargon to a staff member who is likely going to be frustrated by not understanding the lingo.

Unfortunately most IT career choices involve these types of people all the way up the ladder with the added joy of the people you come into contact with are also higher up the food chain and while they will know more than your average accountant in the branch office you will need to know how to tell them why their idea is misguided and yours is better etc.

 

Love this this thread.
Answer is Yes 100% Users frustrate me.

Dont get me wrong, 90% of the requests / Incidents I receive are fine....However, things like

User: "We have a meeting and we cant get the screen working"
Me "When does it start?"
User "10 Minutes ago. We tried to fix it ourselves but it not working and CFO has asked if you can help"
Go up to the board room to find two "Techie wannabe Finance bods surrounded by HDMI Cables, clickshare modules and phone wires saying "We tried to help" by unplugging everything that was connected to the TV!

Anyone that uses the Phrase "Do you know who I am"

Users that think they have every right to walk up to you when you are in a meeting room on your lunch break surrounded by books and think its fine to discuss their home Internet issues.

Users that contact you directly as they think you are "Friends" rather than go via Service Desk.

Anyone that says "Why dont you do it this way?" Turns out they configured a Home Router and setup WiFi on their Playstation so I know everything".

 

^^ lol Yeh typical for where I have worked. In the end I would have a laugh about it with other IT support folk, thats the trick.
Even had some guy who was in his 60s suddenly run down from the top of a school field when he seen me to tell me about his IT problems

 

Funny reading that post and remembering some of the people that use to post on here, never met them but you end up wondering what happened to them.

Back in the day they even use to do CF meet ups!

 

This site must have been buzzing back in the day, if we had a CF meet now it would be a pub full of tumbleweed.

Just looked at that thread did the user UCHEEKYMONEY actually die?

 

Crazy really, I've been here a few years now, consider a few of the people here friends wouldn't like to lose contact but guess it's inevitable really..One day we will all stop posting.

 

I still meet up with EV_Simon and VMFCraig, same industry circles so we normally bump into each other at conferences n stuff. I know Arroyn is doing well as a horror novelist now (ghost name of Warren Fielding). Few years ago though some of the very frequent posters got upset and went off in a huff so no idea what happened to them.
Phoenix moved to the US and is a Microsoft Cloud Tech lead.
I seem to remember there was some discussion over hbroomhall. I think we came to the conclusion that he had passed on because he suddenly stopped posting, someone had his real email address and enquired to his health but received no reply.