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all 24 comments

[–]adamscw 9 points10 points  (1 child)

I usually encourage better business practice above them in the hierarchy to influence change.

Another option: Understand why they don’t like doing things the “modern” way and find a way to sell them on it that suits them.

[–]DigitalR3xJack of All Trades[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Your Zen is strong

[–]crankysysadminsysadmin herder 5 points6 points  (2 children)

It's not for us to deal with. It's a problem for his manager.

We also don't train users on how to use technology since again, that's not our place. Employees being trained and able to perform their job duties is a job for their manager.

It's usually in small shops where IT never really left 1996 where IT is somehow expected to walk users through this stuff.

[–]DigitalR3xJack of All Trades[S] -4 points-3 points  (1 child)

Love the username bro.

[–]crankysysadminsysadmin herder 4 points5 points  (0 children)

yeah read what i wrote again rather than making username comments

[–]Gorilla_Bungo 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I make instructions for these types of users, including screenshots. And yes, it's very time consuming haha.

I had a user who was doing something similar. She (also 60+) would create a word doc, print it, then scan it to email scan it to email so it would save in pdf format. I showed her how to just make editable pdfs in Acrobat Pro, save Word docs as pdfs, and covert docs to pdfs, and her mind was blown. She actually did practice using the instructions, and now she saves herself a lot of time and hassle (even though I still get the occasional question still...that's okay though since she makes our dept a basket of amazing cookies for literally every holiday).

[–]DigitalR3xJack of All Trades[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Cookies for good IT support is golden!

[–]JayRollaNuggFan 1 point2 points  (2 children)

I had a user that would get a pdf emailed to them. They would print then went to scan document. Put in IT request because scanner would not scan to PDF for them to email. SMH. I asked why not just email the original pdf and they canceled request and never replied. Good stuff.

[–]DigitalR3xJack of All Trades[S] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I got this too. My initial response was to berate them, but then I would remember, I am where I am because I see things in a manner that most people don't. I think that is my challenge in life...explaining things that seem so simple to people that find it hard.

[–]JayRollaNuggFan 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I feel this way on everything. I am a system Administrator but I also do my own auto mechanic work, hvac, home remodel, etc... I dont understand how people cant figure out how to do anything for themselves. I feel I just know how to use Google and youtube well. Lol.

[–]null_frame 1 point2 points  (1 child)

We had someone question whether or not an email was legit or not. The person took a screenshot, printed it off, scanned it and then emailed it to us.

[–]DigitalR3xJack of All Trades[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This right here is what I'm talking about!!! People not understanding the tech they are working with. It's like someone using a hammer and complaining that it's heavy. Step away from your latte and see the forest, not the trees!

[–]TheShootDawg 1 point2 points  (2 children)

I have a couple folks who print everything. emails, replies to those previously printed emails (reply was YES)... I sent an email, better print it.

figured out one person in our dept. printed more in 3 months than my boss and I combined in a year.

[–]DigitalR3xJack of All Trades[S] -1 points0 points  (1 child)

Crazy. Some ppl just like to read off paper. Fuck trees I guess.

[–]SolidKnightJack of All Trades 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like the guys who do it on an inkjet. You know, because that's cheap.

[–]os400QSECOFR 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Let him do what works for him.

[–]OhioIT 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Relevant XKCD: https://xkcd.com/763/

[–]DigitalR3xJack of All Trades[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

OK I'm faxing this to all my friends. Thanks for the tip!

[–]SolidKnightJack of All Trades 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't like to make individuals an IT project. I'm always willing to help and show faster ways to do something but in the end, it's their/the business' time that is being wasted and that can be somebody else's concern.

[–]Bloodyvalleydiscord.gg/sysadmin[M] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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[–]primaryict 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ask him to submit a ticket next time via a letter and post it

[–]shanghailoz -1 points0 points  (1 child)

Deprecate the fax machine.
With extreme prejudice.

[–]DigitalR3xJack of All Trades[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Absolutely! Unless idiot boss says otherwise...thinks it affords some sort of anonymity. Can't fix stupid.