A Display Of Patience
Back when I worked in computer repair in 2010, I was sent out to take care of an issue with a PC at a local, small bookshop. When I got there, I managed to determine that the issue they were facing was simply a VGA cable that had been pinched by a metal file cabinet being pushed against the side of the desk. After moving the offending cabinet, I started working on replacing it with an HDMI cable when this conversation happened.
Owner: “My boy?”
Me: “Sir?”
Owner: “Is there a way you can adjust the mount so I can see the corkboard there?”
There is indeed a corkboard mounted to the wall behind the dual monitors.
Me: “I can lower the mount a little, but would you be opposed to…” *I moved the monitors apart from one another.*
Owner: “OH! No, no, you can’t do that, I have to drag things back and forth.”
Me: “You will still be able to do that.”
Owner: “No, won’t they fall out?”
Me: “They… won’t they what fall out of what?”
Owner: “The files and the pictures, won’t they fall out if there’s a gap?”
Me: “No, sir. The desktop, the computer, it’s not a physical… uh… plane of existence, it’s uhh… It’s digital. So, think of a rectangle.”
Owner: “Yes?”
Me: “Okay, so that rectangle is the space of these two screens.”
Owner: “Yes?”
Me: “That rectangle remains intact whether or not you move the monitors apart, it’s… the 3D movement doesn’t influence the 2D space. Does that make sense? So, even if these monitors were on opposite sides of the room, as long as they are plugged into the computer, your rectangle is still the same.”
Owner: *Smiling.* “Good job.”
Me: “Sorry?”
Owner: “I know how a monitor works, son, but [My Boss] asked me to run that by you to evaluate your customer service skills.”
Me: “Incredible.”
Owner: “Yeah, well, he wanted to make sure you were up to snuff. This is your first service call, right?”
Me: “Yes, sir.”
Owner: “You are going to be dealing with a lot of elderly customers, some even older than me. You’re going to have to keep your head no matter what kind of questions they ask.”
Me: “Understandable.”
Owner: “Good man.”
He wandered off, and I finished my work. He was right. I didn’t go on service calls very often, but I did deal with some… colorful… let’s just say insults get more interesting with age.
