Monday, 2 February 2009

Keyboard confusion.

Allow me to share with you the delights of a telephone conversation I had yesterday in work. I had just completed a travel bulletin on one of the BBC local radio stations, giving out the number that people can call if they spot any traffic problems. As is frequently the case, as soon as I'd finish the phone rang. I answered it.

Oooh, I hope you can help. Can you put me through to someone who could tell me how to get a copy of a show that was broadcast last thursday?'

'No, I can't put you through, we're in a different building, but do you have access to the internet?' I was expecting a straight 'No' here, but was surprised,
'Yes'
'OK, good. So all you need to do is to go onto the radio station website and there is a listen again function on there.'
'Oh. OK. So.....'
'All you need to do is go to www dot b b c dot co dot uk forward slash.....'
'Erm.....b b c dot....co...dot....uk......forward....just type forward?'
'No. Forward slash.'
'How do I spell it? f....o...'
'No. Forward slash. On the keyboard....the small diagonal line on the keyboard. The one leaning to the right at the top?'
By this point my colleague was doubled over in the corner of the room.
'oh.....ok, forwards slash ....'
'Yes, forward slash Liverpool. Then follow the link from there. OK?'
I'd like to say she sounded confident when she said thank you and good bye, but I'm guessing she's still trying to find a key on her computer with 'forward slash' written on it, in very small letters. I couldn't think of any other way to explain it though! Could you?

10 comments:

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

These things are so easy when we know how to do them. I'm not sure how to describe a forward slash, other than a vertical line leaning to the right.

Dee said...

our forward slash is down the bottom of the keyboard... weird...

Hillary said...

That's really funny. It reminds me a bit of when I lived in Malawi. Phone conversations were horrid...especially if you tried to give someone a phone number. How hard is it to exchange six digits? Well...apparently very hard. It was like a comedy sketch. I can't even begin to describe it.

I've been toooo away from blogland for a couple weeks. Have missed reading your blog. Trying to get back!

Jayne said...

Debs - I certainly couldn't think of any other way! lol

Dee - ours is at the bottom of the keyboard, I was just trying to explain that the slash leans to the right at the top.....oh boy, see, it's too complicated!

Hill - that sounds hilarious too! lol Looking forward to having you back in blogland (((HUGS)))

Chris Stovell said...

Oh, that's cheered me up! Thanks for your very kind comments too - it's not easy, is it?!

Jayne said...

lol Chris - it cheered me up no end too! hehehe :)

Emily said...

That's too funny! Reminds me of a girl I work with, sadly enough!

Anonymous said...

ROFL!!! Are people really that stupid? Are you sure you weren't being set up by someone lol

S x

Jayne said...

Em- oh dear - lol

Suzie -no, it wasn't a set up....worringly enough! I was half expecting the phone to go again later when she still couldn't work it out!

Ladybird World Mother said...

I just love those conversations that have your brain twisted inside out...normally happens for me when I ring some Customer Service and end up talking to someone 8,000 miles away... had a giggle about your chat... poor lady. Hope she found it!