Official Thread of Flogging the Log: A Place for Better Random Talk

[lennedsay]

Oh yea you couldn't smoke either.

I saw them last year at this chill place with 40 other people, tables, booze, and it was 21+, not fetus+.

[The Fake Shemp]

Anyone hate being the IT guy for the folks?

My mom went through her THIRD WORK LAPTOP in less than a year, and decided to buy a personal one. So yesterday evening, I spent most of my free time setting it up for her, removing all the bloat ware, installing proper security measures, counseling on her on routine maintenance and what not to do. I got her Digsby to consolidate all fifty of her stupid social messaging programs.

Today, after I got done with breakfast, I got a call that it's acting all funky and when I just checked it, she's got like fifty messaging programs ("I didn't like Digsby!"), downloaded some weird bloatware themes package ("I didn't like the one in the background!") and had already fucked up her computer with malware.

I was like, "Fuck it, you're on your own."

[The Fake Shemp]

She plays all these shitty flash games and buys all these wacky fucking mahjong and puzzle games from less-than-reputable sources. Everytime I try to get her to buy PopCap games or use specific software vendors, she turns her nose at me.

She also exercises no proper application management or software maintenance. Her laptops have approximately ONE BILLION shortcuts and she leaves fifty million windows open.

She hates the new laptop too. It's brand new Gateway! She hates the new LED screen because "the font is too small", but when I use Windows 7 to make it bigger it the font then becomes "too large". She is irritated by the fact that the shortcuts have little arrows in the icons (which I had to tell her was always the case) and why all of her music did not appear in iTunes when she loaded it up for the first time (she has not imported her library over from the iPod yet).

Old people.

[demi]

i normally just attach a usb drive, transfer anything they need, then wipe the PC. fuck it, why bother with all that mess.

[The Fake Shemp]

Every time I attempt a clean install, that just makes her upset. But with three dead laptops, two dead desktops and one eMachines PC that is so loaded with malware that I feel like I should donate it to science for research, all left in her wake, she finally asked me for help in setting up her new laptop.

Eh, it was a dumb judgment call on my behalf. I should have known better. Oh well. Live and let learn.

[Van Cruncheon]

how does that necessitate a new laptop? i mean, i go through three laptops a year, too, but that's because i'm a tech whore

the worst things malware can do are fuck up a bios (which can be reflashed) or fuck up an hd (which can be replaced).

[The Fake Shemp]

She'd run each machine into the ground until it couldn't even boot from the hard drive. I was able to salvage the desktops, but I don't feel like tinkering with her work laptops.

Her IT guys just give her a new machine, as well. But when there's downtime, she has nothing, since she uses her work laptop for personal computing. That's why she went and bought a personal laptop.

[Van Cruncheon]

then reformat 'em! put in windows disk, boot from cd, MAGIC TYME

and if she somehow picked up a rare sata/ide spindown virus, the laptop's hd is stupid easy to replace. like maybe even father_mike could do it


...


well, okay, it's more kosma level

[The Fake Shemp]

Like I said, I'm not doing anything with her work laptops. Those have specific programs and software that go over my head (a lot of government and security garbage), so it's not really a matter of just loading her up with Windows 7. Besides, that's what they pay her IT people for.

In the past, I have resurrected desktops though.

[elektrikluv]

Just get her a macbook

[T234]

I saw them 5 years ago in a venue that not only had booze and seats, but you could smoke!  Those were the days.

Yeah, now all of the sudden you can't smoke in fucking bars over here, its pretty stupid because one of the reasons its to help the environment, but everyone just go outside to smoke which I guess is actually worse for mother nature.

Its not to help the environment Its to not subject other people to your smoke in enclosed indoor spaces. When you're outside smoking, its no where near as bad as in a bar.

Everybody I work with smokes. We even burn the store's incense just because it begins to smell too much like cigarettes. I was able to laugh when he said I was getting drug tested. I got no complaints about the smoke.

[elektrikluv]

Its the best solution for people like his mother who just aren't savvy enough to run security checks and not install shit onto their computer.

[recursivelyenumerable]

a rather beautiful woman (inadvertantly) sat next to me at the bar down the street last night, and eventually tried to talk to me.  the conversation went like this:

she: Hi.  I've been sitting close to you so I figured I should talk to you at some point.
me: Yes, in this configuration there are only two seats adjacent to yours -- I suppose you could consider the booth behind you, but it's really too far away to count -- so it makes sense that you'd eventually try to engage both neighbors, although you're of course not obligated to do so.
she: Um, right.  Anyway, so ... I think I've seen you somewhere before.  Do you live around here?  I mean, do you come here a lot ... do you come here often?
me: Yes.
she: I'm not hitting on you, though.
me: It's good that you clarified that.

[The Fake Shemp]

These are her work laptops? And she treats them like this?

The thing is, it's not like she believes she is using the computer improperly. Her belief is that it is a machine and that it is doing what it is designed to do - its failure to stay up with her fast-paced, flash game lifestyle is on the hardware, not her.

Why wont she listen to you about reputable casual sites?

Eh, she's old and stubborn. She argued with me this morning for fifteen minutes that she can load her entire MP3 library to any machine just by logging into her iTunes account and I had to tell her that it really didn't work like that.

Just get her a macbook

Why would I want to turn an ignorant PC abuser to a smug and ignorant Mac-phile?

[elektrikluv]

Why would I want to turn an ignorant PC abuser to a smug and ignorant Mac-phile?

Because it would be better for her and you? You wouldn't need to keep attending to her broken PCs because she wouldn't be able to bloat them up with malware and viruses. This isn't a matter of PC vs Mac, its a matter of someone as stubborn as her who refuses to do the right security and computer maintenance would probably be better off with a mac.

And no need for the stereotypes either!

[The Fake Shemp]

She'd never go to Apple at this stage in her life. Everything is about comfortability for her. She doesn't even like to use Digsby and would rather use six different messaging devices out of stubbornness! The switch from PC to Mac would probably be too much for her to bear, and I'd be burying my poor mum after just a weekend of trying to slog through such a pretentiously hip OS.

As for the stereotypes: another Mac fan in denial, what else is new?

[elektrikluv]

What am I in denial about? I acknowledge the fact that PCs are better for some people whilst Macs are better suited to others.

"A pretentiously hip OS"

[Mandark]

comfortability

Comfort!


Sorry, but that's a pet peeve.

[Agent Whiskers]

Why do most of you guys feel depressed? In this forum especially i've noticed many people suffering from depression. What do you have to be depressed about? Fuck depression, I say. That shit's for pussies. Man up and take charge of your life.

[The Fake Shemp]

The only people better suited for Apple products are these folks:

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

... When I want my mom to listen to Owl City and read Pitchfork RSS feeds, I'll buy her a Mac, okay?

[The Fake Shemp]

By the way, if you squint hard enough, I think you can see cloudwalking and jarosh in the background.

[Flannel Boy]

Why do most of you guys feel depressed? In this forum especially i've noticed many people suffering from depression. What do you have to be depressed about? Fuck depression, I say. That shit's for pussies. Man up and take charge of your life.

Done.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

[elektrikluv]

Isn't Mac for gay people? So is elektrik a lesbian?

We've already established that I'm a transsexual.

[Flannel Boy]

How much flannel do you own?

[The Fake Shemp]

If the vintage shoe fits, wear it.

[elektrikluv]

None, Malek

And everyone's already seen my bad excuse for bangs.

[The Fake Shemp]

Wrath2X is going to buy you some decent bangs!

[elektrikluv]

I'll buy you some!

Well, maybe.

Awesome, are you a rich Saudi?

I need a sugar daddy.

[Agent Whiskers]

I dunno, I may just be a very positive person but I've never let depression bog me down. Whenever I felt like shit, a good book, playing music, a good friend, or even a video game always curbed those thoughts until I recovered. Try to give yourself the feeling that you're always in control and it might help.

[Agent Whiskers]

I'll buy you some!

Well, maybe.

Awesome, are you a rich Saudi?

I need a sugar daddy.

He lives in a nice neighborhood. He also probably has a nice cock.

[The Fake Shemp]

What else does a girl need?

[Madrun Badrun]

a rather beautiful woman (inadvertantly) sat next to me at the bar down the street last night, and eventually tried to talk to me.  the conversation went like this:

she: Hi.  I've been sitting close to you so I figured I should talk to you at some point.
me: Yes, in this configuration there are only two seats adjacent to yours -- I suppose you could consider the booth behind you, but it's really too far away to count -- so it makes sense that you'd eventually try to engage both neighbors, although you're of course not obligated to do so.
she: Um, right.  Anyway, so ... I think I've seen you somewhere before.  Do you live around here?  I mean, do you come here a lot ... do you come here often?
me: Yes.
she: I'm not hitting on you, though.
me: It's good that you clarified that.

[fistfulofmetal]

i want to be just like recursivelyenumerable when i grow up

[The Fake Shemp]

In that situation, recursive should have just acted like a dick.

<Her> I'm not hitting on you, though.
<Recursive> I wouldn't really care if you were. [begins to read paper, completely ignoring her]
<Her> What?
<Recursive> Could you keep your voice down, I'm trying to read the paper.
<Her> You're a terrible person!
<Recursive> And you're five pounds overweight with the ego of a woman that's a size zero.
<Her> Fuck you!
<Recursive> Not even if you paid me. Excuse me, this is my stop. Good luck with your day job - whatever that is.

[Madrun Badrun]

Why do most of you guys feel depressed? In this forum especially i've noticed many people suffering from depression. What do you have to be depressed about? Fuck depression, I say. That shit's for pussies. Man up and take charge of your life.

Done.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

You didn't even try.  I on the other hand, tried and totally manned up there for a bit.  But then I swiftly manned down again.  I just can't keep it up.

[Flannel Boy]

I dunno, I may just be a very positive person but I've never let depression bog me down. Whenever I felt like shit, a good book, playing music, a good friend, or even a video game always curbed those thoughts until I recovered.

  Your advice is rather useless; one of the symptoms of clinical depression is the inability to obtain any pleasure from activities that one formerly enjoyed

[recursivelyenumerable]

You appear to have transplanted the setting, although it did give me an idea for a combination singles bar/mass transit vehicle for busy professionals with long commutes who'd otherwise find it difficult to fit looking for love into their schedules.

[The Fake Shemp]

Sorry, I misread that as "bus" (my mind is racing right now). Although, it does make the last line pretty funny.

"Excuse me, this is my stop." /recursive runs out of bar

[fistfulofmetal]

no dude. you say that regardless of the setting. sitting in a bar telling the chick that this is your next stop? classic

[The Fake Shemp]

I want to totally try that out now.

[Agent Whiskers]

I dunno, I may just be a very positive person but I've never let depression bog me down. Whenever I felt like shit, a good book, playing music, a good friend, or even a video game always curbed those thoughts until I recovered.

  Your advice is rather useless; one of the symptoms of clinical depression is the inability to obtain any pleasure from activities that one formerly enjoyed

Well that just sucks. Guess I've never been depressed then.

[recursivelyenumerable]

Somebody needs to convey this new improved tactic to the girl from Prole's Gamestop story.

[Madrun Badrun]

no dude. you say that regardless of the setting. sitting in a bar telling the chick that this is your next stop? classic

[The Fake Shemp]

Somebody needs to convey this new improved tactic to the girl from Prole's Gamestop story.

him: "i work for a local window washing company, i handle their contracts and stuff"

her: "oh, i bet that pays well!"

him: <totally lights up> "yeah, i do alright"

her: "i'm not doing much right now myself. but i'm glad i have the time off for final fantasy 13 TEE HEE"

him: <getting closer> "what's final fantasy like? is it good?"

her: <now getting a bit uncomfortable> "oh, uh, yeah, i love it."

him: "well, if you're bored, maybe we could hang out and you could show me or something"

her: "excuse me this is my stop"

him: <deflated, confused> "uh what"

her: <collects items, walks out of store>

him: "..."

[Flannel Boy]

I will use this line on Cute Girl if I ever go to class again (I won't).

[fistfulofmetal]

then when you are walking about of the bar you flick a quarter into someones cup.

[The Fake Shemp]

 

[Agent Whiskers]

"This is my stop" sounds like a good ad for GameStop actually. See you when I get rich, bitches.

[The Fake Shemp]

Malek, what if Cute Girl and Flannel Girl talk about you behind your back? WORLDS COLLIDING!

[fistfulofmetal]

Gamestop should totally change their name to "The Stop"

[The Fake Shemp]

They are figments of Malek's imagination.

[Flannel Boy]

Malek, what if Cute Girl and Flannel Girl talk about you behind your back? WORLDS COLLIDING!

They would only talk about me indirectly.

CuteGirl: I heard strange sounds coming from the bushes outside my window last night.
Flannel Girl: That's odd--I've heard strange noises coming from outside my window. When I searched the area the next morning, I found a a bottle of nyquil and some used tissues.

[recursivelyenumerable]

I think we had this (that?) depression discussion with "abrader" some time ago, with TVC providing the definitive smackdown.

[The Fake Shemp]

DEPRESSION IS ONLY A STATE OF MIND, THINK POSITIVE GUYS STOP BEING SO BITCHY

[Flannel Boy]

MAN UP

[The Fake Shemp]

The only thing that makes me depressed is knowing that Cute Girl and Flannel Girl are totally making out with skeevy hipsters right now, when both belong in jars in Malek's basement.

[Flannel Boy]

Both are actually dating dudebros.

[The Fake Shemp]

Wow, that's even worse.

Upstaged by a dudebro.

[The Fake Shemp]

Eh, you really don't want to sleep with a chick that would date a dudebro or sleep with Wrath. You're better off.

[Flannel Boy]

As long as she hasn't been exposed to Kosma, I really don't care who she has dated.