Technology Hell

Shuts down and closes the laptop. Very upset. Upset that the technology cannot hold up for a little while longer. Tossed the laptop in the air. Caught the laptop with a swift roundhouse kick. Who knew technology can put me at the end of my rope? For the time being, I was in the realm of Technology Hell.

Paranoid of exposing the website engine on a public computer. Decided to take yet another sabbatical from the site to plan a route from Technology Hell. Before finding myself in Technology Hell, I found semi-solace in Technology Purgatory as the technology gods decided upon my fate. Not a moment too soon or a moment too late. I made a mistake for giving myself too long of a wait. Fighting with the ghosts of technology pasts as I trudge my way out of this fiery lake.

Since the 1990s, I always bought my PCs out of the store just for the sake of conventionalism. I was part of the majority who would save money, pull a bit from some resources (i.e., savings account, money market account), grab the checkbook and head off to either a then-Circuit City or a Best Buy. Like any aspiring writer, the computer was my workstation. It gave me the access to research anything on the whim, type out my works whether it was educational or for this blog site, and play a myriad of songs from my ever-growing music collection.

The third and final store-bought desktop I purchased was a Compaq in 2004. Within a first two days, the sucker gave me a headache. I called the customer service rep. To my surprise, the customer service rep was based out in another country and barely spoke English. Despite the mild cultural barrier, he and I built a temporary working relationship via telephone to figure out the problem. Since it was almost ten years ago, I cannot remember what entirely happened, but it warranted me to get a replacement. Instead of sending it back to the store I bought it from, I opted to work with the company. In retrospect, it could’ve been considered as a big mistake, but I choose to see it as a learning experience. That was the first and last time I went down that path.

Working with Hewlett-Packard (Bodacious blogger’s note: they acquired Compaq in 2002) was an excellent experience. However, working with FedEx in regards of shipping was not. There was a snafu in the shipping which resulted the computer taking longer than expected in its delivery. After berating a few customer service reps and their supervisors, I demanded to speak to their regional manager. I told her my situation in regards of the shipping matter. She instantaneously remedied the problem. Not just only the package was shipped to me within a couple of days, I received an apology basket from her.

I had to retire the Compaq computer around 2008 and decided to run the website through the laptop until I felt it was the right time to purchase a new computer. For the past few months prior to getting this new desktop, the laptop was frustrating me with its hiccups. I decided to not just only buy a new computer, but to have one built. I got tired of dealing with customer service reps who barely spoke any English and know little to nothing about computers. I trudged my way out of a country mile long fiery lake back into purgatory. I know I just cannot function like the majority who refused to fight and see their way to the light.

The technology gods saw not only I fought myself back into purgatory with tenacity. They also saw I did it with humility. They gave me another chance in planning, but I was warned that I didn’t have long. Within a matter of time, I pulled my resources, grabbed the checkbook, and walked into the land of custom, personal computers. The land of custom, personal computers have shifted upon my arrival. I felt the ground shake and nervous I may be pulled back into Technology Hell, but it turned into this.

Just like a young, gifted, promising Jedi, you have the choice to choose to either go to the Dark side or the Light side. It is up to you to choose your fate in the land of technology. May the force be with you!