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by Bill Detwiler, Head Technology Editor
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As someone who’s taken hundreds of support calls on both enterprise and small-office help desks, I can attest to the fact that IT pros hear several key phrase over and over again from end users. These expressions sound harmless enough but often have hidden meanings. During this IT Dojo video, I take a lighthearted look at some of the things you hear from your users and try to decipher what they often, really mean.

For those of you who prefer text to video, you can click the Transcript link that appears below the video player window or you can also read Jeff Dray’s download “10+ things users say (and what they really mean),” on which this video is based.

You can also sign up to receive the latest IT Dojo lessons through one or more of the following methods:

Bill DetwilerBill Detwiler is Head Technology Editor of TechRepublic. Previously, he worked as a Support Tech and IT Manager in the social research and energy industries. Read his full bio and profile. You can also follow him on Twitter.

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What's the craziest thing you've ever heard from an end user? Bill Detwiler - TechRepublicTechrepublic Moderator | 03/02/09
Correct gdewrance@... | 03/03/09
No signal ascott@... | 03/03/09
RE: No Signal dannytan1126@... | 03/03/09
Yep. Just noise. seanferd | 03/04/09
The Windows Key keith@... | 03/03/09
Put the mouse there... dave@... | 03/03/09
And she was correct SObaldrick | 03/03/09
Alt+F4 t34.mod.85@... | 03/03/09
rofl krawitan@... | 03/03/09
Users t34.mod.85@... | 03/04/09
You lost all my Oulook Contacts Barry 441 | 03/04/09
I've seen this too many times Bill Detwiler - TechRepublicTechrepublic Moderator | 03/05/09
contact list Coss71 | 03/05/09
IE PSK_ | 08/06/09
my computer is slow today MikeGall | 03/03/09
How does a Tech get to the source of the call? syxguns | 03/03/09
Klaatu Barada Nikto... Gene_Deel | 03/03/09
You're right about us (Techs) not always being clear bwilliams@... | 03/03/09
Good Point, teach the user! babznme@... | 03/03/09
Hey, share your list! ^_^ Becca Alice | 03/03/09
My computer is slow today (2) kari@... | 03/03/09
There are so many! richard.mcloughlin@... | 03/03/09
Amusing, but... celerITas | 03/03/09
So true amm@... | 03/03/09
restraint rykerabel@... | 03/03/09
slight variation on the training statement elangomatt | 03/03/09
Fast user richard.ots@... | 03/03/09
Silly as it sounds... yesmarklapointe@... | 03/03/09
Grabbing focus Cerebral*Origami | 03/03/09
Grabbing focus lucien86@... | 03/03/09
Grabbing focus SObaldrick | 03/12/09
Fast User dreamersland@... | 03/03/09
she may well have been right DesD | 03/03/09
Don't laugh. JohnBeaman | 03/11/09
I need to get a print out but I cannot send an e-mail... gizembudur@... | 03/03/09
What I hate the most... JackOfAllTech | 03/03/09
Tools can help richardp@... | 03/10/09
Everything's down! rhoffman@... | 03/03/09
The Server's down!! dis@... | 03/03/09
Good old IE error messages JohnBeaman | 03/11/09
Response: Where is your wireless card? kari@... | 03/03/09
The mail server is down! DaBigTrain | 03/03/09
The best one I heard about the Internet petetr@... | 03/03/09
The networks down emily.glew@... | 03/03/09
"I'm not a computer person..." Roc Riz | 03/03/09
What do you mean, "change oil"? seanferd | 03/04/09
Printing on the wrong side of the paper annec@... | 03/03/09
One that I honestly do not understand Becca Alice | 03/03/09
I have had this also RebelFlag | 03/03/09
So, he did what your security awareness training said... darren.meyer | 03/11/09
I must not have been clear in my post RebelFlag | 03/17/09
I have had this as well emily.glew@... | 03/03/09
Muscle Memory--They Really Don't Know What They Put In Arsynic | 03/04/09
They don't know what a ... nathan@... | 03/11/09
It's skipping every other page ! butkus@... | 03/03/09
An "Edit" pops up grimstl@... | 03/03/09
Can you see... dreamersland@... | 03/03/09
I did everything you said. TX Chaplain | 03/03/09
The most annoying thing a user DOES is: Cerebral*Origami | 03/03/09
Google re-install please! Samuel Leung | 03/03/09
One of several cerziest things I've ever heard melekali | 03/03/09
Cup Holder richardp@... | 03/10/09
Call center customer expressions kim.hall10@... | 03/03/09
more meanings balaatcount@... | 03/05/09
2 of them Jimmy.McFart@... | 03/05/09
She proceeded to put the cursor over the box and hit the "X" key on the key SObaldrick | 03/12/09
She proceeded to put the cursor over the box and hit the "X" key on the key SObaldrick | 03/12/09
Bad boot floppy dick.ot@... | 03/09/09
Honesty, Trust richardp@... | 03/10/09
My CD-Rom drive is chewing up my CD's mark@... | 03/11/09
My craziest info@... | 03/16/09
What users say and what they really mean Tim.Parsons@... | 03/03/09
What users say and what they really mean chris.leeworthy@... | 03/03/09
Non-tech diagnosis is also problematic newcomb@... | 03/03/09
Users have a different perspective... anionic | 03/03/09
I keep getting the same error seanferd | 03/04/09
And when they leave voicemail ajohansson@... | 03/05/09
When the "user" knows more than the tech.... TheAncient | 03/03/09
Support Level Pass-phrase Tin Weasle | 03/03/09
Escalation seanferd | 03/04/09
True but .... TheAncient | 03/06/09
And why is it SObaldrick | 03/12/09
Is the Internet Slow Today? TexasJetter | 03/03/09
yeesh yawningdogge@... | 03/03/09
Today is ckelly@... | 03/03/09
RE: Video: Understanding what users say and what they really mean RockyTopJeep | 03/03/09
RE: Video: Understanding what users say and what they really mean delphi9_1971@... | 03/03/09
"It's doing nothing" alex.murray@... | 03/03/09
RE: Video: Understanding what users say and what they really mean jkgray@... | 03/03/09
RE: Video: Understanding what users say and what they really mean N9MDX@... | 03/03/09
Stop Taking users for IDIOTS! vucliriel@... | 03/03/09
Not all techs are idiots either... usa.sot611@... | 03/03/09
Thanks for that terry.sampson001@... | 03/03/09
thanks for your response! vucliriel@... | 03/04/09
Ouch! lucien86@... | 03/03/09
Great answer vucliriel@... | 03/04/09
When You Have a Ton of Tickets, Assuming Users Are Clueless Is Best Arsynic | 03/04/09
Insulting anyone is not in good humor hpsundance@... | 03/04/09
Has the Unabomber escaped??? bob@... | 03/11/09
RE: Video: Understanding what users say and what they really mean svgdrkness@... | 03/03/09
Users have asked me similar questions tunghoy | 03/14/09
So very true... vucliriel@... | 03/15/09
If the OS were in the CPU as a ROM file BALTHOR | 03/03/09
It's usually the... melekali | 03/03/09
I agree gcdimarketing@... | 03/04/09
RE: Video: Understanding what users say and what they really mean Jeff Dray | 03/04/09
excuse me!!!!! wrong!! geniusthemaster@... | 03/05/09
? seanferd | 03/06/09
Have you tried MikeGall | 03/06/09
Yeah, uh huh, sure... JohnBeaman | 03/11/09
Some info for "geniusthemaster" bob@... | 03/11/09
Ditto! pworlton | 03/12/09
lol geniusthemaster@... | 03/14/09
Proof SObaldrick | 03/15/09
do i give 2 shits about grammer? no geniusthemaster@... | 03/13/09
Translation Please! SObaldrick | 03/13/09
It's human nature darren.meyer | 03/11/09
Send copy of backup jheidman@... | 03/11/09
More: What they really mean... pworlton | 03/12/09

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