Dealing With Stupid People [Monday, May 21]

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

When the students in the workshop arrived at the tables by the main campfire, they found them covered with phones.

"Welcome to the help desk!" Josh said, grinning proudly. "People are very stupid over the phone, especially when they know you can't see the expression on their faces. This is also why video conferences aren't as popular as regular conference calls--hiding your eyerolling is easier when, well, they can't see your eyes."

He waved his hands out. "Today you will be manning a help desk. I have handwavily put out posters to let people know that it's open during this class time, so the phones should start ringing any minute now. Your job is to answer the person's question in the most polite way possible without letting them know you think they are completely out of their minds."

"Coffee, muffins and bagels are available, answering their questions correctly is completely optional." Josh smirked. "Have fun."

[OOC: Phone lines are open for townies, students, and faculty members to call in. Josh has conveniently forgotten to specify what kind of help the students would offer. Ask for relationship advice, song requests, technical support, people to vote for or against bills in Congress, just to say hi...go nuts.

Comments

Re: Man the help desk!

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis barely -- barely -- knew how a phone worked.

But she was there and prepared to deal with whatever might come her way.

Re: Man the help desk!

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John called in.

"How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?"

Re: Man the help desk!

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis was the only daughter of the lord of the province of Calavar. As such, she had spent the first fourteen years of her life under the watchful eye of nannies, nurses, governesses and tutors to ensure that her manners and poise were everything that a young lady should be.

They taught her to never be rude, and to have the patience and dignity that any well-bred Tarkheena should be able to wield.

All that training had culminated in this moment:

"...huh?"

Re: Man the help desk!

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"You know, a lollipop," John said. "How many licks does it take to get the gummy center?"

Re: Man the help desk!

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"I have no idea what you are talking about. Please be coherent and speak English so that I may find a way to assist you, sir."

Re: Man the help desk!

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John frowned.

"Use contractions."

Re: Man the help desk!

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis narrowed her eyes. "Why?"

Re: Man the help desk!

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Because I asked you to," John answered.

Re: Man the help desk!

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"It should not matter and I will not lessen my speech for the sake of pleasing you," Aravis snapped.

Re: Man the help desk!

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"...you're not related to Aeryn, are you? That'd be so Lifetime movie, if you were."

Re: Man the help desk!

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"...what?" Aravis was now getting a little loud. "Who? And what is Lifetime movie? I do not think I should like to view a movie that lasts my whole life!"

Re: Man the help desk!

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Lifetime movie," John explained. "Chick channel. Where women can be women. And talk about how much men suck. Do you have cable?"

Re: Man the help desk!

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"I did not think any cable should be necessary," Aravis said, now very confused. "This movie is specifically for bird hatchlings? And where can women not be women? Is it normal for women to shroud themselves as men in this land? I rather thought that was only an emergency measure!"

Re: Man the help desk!

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

After finishing with Peter, Seely rang again. "Hello?"

Re: Man the help desk!

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Hello, this is Aravis, and how may I assist you today?" Aravis asked, trying to sound calm after dealing with that...other caller.

Re: Man the help desk!

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

Seely grinned. "I think I misplaced a Tarkheena. Any idea where I might find one?

Re: Man the help desk!

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis smiled. She knew that voice. "Have you checked under the bed?"

Re: Man the help desk!

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

Seely shook his head, regardless of the fact she couldn't see it. "Not even a tentacle monster."

Re: Man the help desk!

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Pity," she commented. "Perhaps she is hiding?"

Re: Man the help desk!

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"You think I scared her off?"

Re: Man the help desk!

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"I shouldn't think so," she said lightly. "She may just be shy. Either way I imagine she's likely concerned and curious about how a certain gentleman's health and well-being today."

Re: Man the help desk!

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"I imagine that he's feeling much better today." If not quite mature, but that was hardly new. "Well enough to go to classes, even."

Re: Man the help desk!

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Really?" Aravis asked skeptically. "Are you certain? Did the fever break?"

She might have forgotten to pretend to talk about hypothetical people.

Re: Man the help desk!

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"Uh-huh," Seely said. "Must have been the tea."

Re: Man the help desk!

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Or the sleep," she said practically.