I admit it … I watched the presidential debate on Tuesday night. And I feel somewhat dirty about it. I probably didn’t scream at the TV as much as I did during last Sunday’s football game, but the frustration and the rant were similar: “Can’t anyone tackle that guy?” “Can’t anyone tackle that subject?”

I wonder if we could evade questions the way politicians do when dealing with technical support calls. I suppose it would go something like this:

APPX Customer: We get this system error whenever we run this report. Is there a solution?
Tech Support: Well, first I’d like to remind you that my record is very clear on this issue. Through all my years of public service, I have always strongly supported solutions. I think it’s very important, especially in today’s challenging times, that we work together to find solutions. We cannot do this alone, but if we join together, under the kind of leadership that I can provide, and that I have provided for many years, using the kind of leadership that experience brings, and, of course, I have that experience, then we can defeat this common enemy.
APPX Customer: So, is there a patch, or a work-around?
Tech Support: My competition would like you to think that there are easy answers to these questions, but that just is not the case. These problems have been building for years, and despite its well-meaning efforts, the current administration has not been able to address them in a way that you and I and the average citizen would appreciate. But we cannot give up on that effort. We cannot pull out now, because that would be admitting defeat. We must stay focused and finish the job. And we’re almost there now.
APPX Customer: Um, does that mean that the next release will address this?
Tech Support: Others might be willing to make empty promises to you, but I stand here on my record, and when I say that we are going to work hard to solve not only this problem, but every problem that might arise, you can trust me to keep saying exactly that. I’m going to bring a fair, equitable solution to our community, but I cannot do it alone. I need your help. So, let me leave you with this: “Ask not what Tech Support can do for you; ask what you can do for Tech Support.” Thanks for calling. <click>

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 9th, 2008 at 8:55 am and is filed under Al. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.