Re: Don't ask "is it plugged in"
There is a multitude of reasons why the callers seem "dumb".
The usual reason is corporation rules. You have no technical job description so all you are allowed to to is call for help.
The second is language. What might be obvious for anyone technically interested might be magickery and eldritch runes for those not interested at all in tech or even scared by any kind of "magic black box".
Add to this list to your liking and experience.
But there are also many reasons why tech/support/whatever trained people get impatient and those reasons often are the same why callers seem "dumb" - only from the other side.
And then there is of course agressive dumbness, stubbornness or plain idiocy....
Like those customers at (censored), unwilling or unable to open the electrical cabinet to take a look at the PLC screen, flashing red with not only the error code but also the reason for it (safety switch trigggered). Would have helped them a lot to take a look below the machine to discover what we discovered, a piece of broken pallet triggering said switch and thus inhibiting any dangerous movement.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
