A tale of superstition and tech support

SzczerbiakManiac · 12-22-2005, 12:26 PM

A tale of superstition and tech support

Okay, short backstory needed. Usernames at my place of employment are generated and not user choose-able. They consist of your first initial and the first 7 characters of your last name. E.g., I would be smaniac. If you're initial/name combo has already been used, a number will be substituted for the last character(s). So if you were the 6th S. Maniac hired, you'd be smaniac5.

I just got off the phone with someone who was recently hired and whom has a relatively common last name. He was very concerned that his username ended in the number 13 and even admitted (albeit, embarrassedly so) that he was superstitious. Now after I informed him it was not changeable, I expected him to say something like, "Oh, I can't change it huh? Oh well, thanks anyway." But that's not what he did. Instead, he started asking things like, "Well can I get a new username next semester?" (no), "Can I choose the number"? (no, they're generated), and several other paranoid attempts to avoid the number 13.

The whole time, all I could think was, "Jeebus dude, get a grip on reality and GET OVER YOURSELF!"

In an attempt to ease the tension, I jokingly suggested he invest in some rabbit's feet to counteract the 13 effect. He was not amused.

Capt Jack · 12-22-2005, 12:57 PM

ok..thats definitely a new one on me.

maybe I should have been offended when at one place I worked my employee ID number was 5150. (law enforcement code for "insane" or "mentally disturbed" offender). I just thought it was cool that Van Halen had an album with it.

guess it takes all kinds......but geez, why THAT kind??

Alex · 12-22-2005, 01:02 PM

At Lani's company they actually skipped a release number because it is considered horribly unlucky in one of their major markets.

I think it is calming to people to think that their mystic forces are so easily fooled.

You should have just told him that you could change it to 14 but since Gamesh (or whoever) would know that he was really 13 his painful death is inevitable regardless so why should you take the trouble.

12-22-2005, 12:26 PM	#1
SzczerbiakManiac "ZER-bee-ak" Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,409	A tale of superstition and tech support A tale of superstition and tech support Okay, short backstory needed. Usernames at my place of employment are generated and not user choose-able. They consist of your first initial and the first 7 characters of your last name. E.g., I would be smaniac. If you're initial/name combo has already been used, a number will be substituted for the last character(s). So if you were the 6th S. Maniac hired, you'd be smaniac5. I just got off the phone with someone who was recently hired and whom has a relatively common last name. He was very concerned that his username ended in the number 13 and even admitted (albeit, embarrassedly so) that he was superstitious. Now after I informed him it was not changeable, I expected him to say something like, "Oh, I can't change it huh? Oh well, thanks anyway." But that's not what he did. Instead, he started asking things like, "Well can I get a new username next semester?" (no), "Can I choose the number"? (no, they're generated), and several other paranoid attempts to avoid the number 13. The whole time, all I could think was, "Jeebus dude, get a grip on reality and GET OVER YOURSELF!" In an attempt to ease the tension, I jokingly suggested he invest in some rabbit's feet to counteract the 13 effect. He was not amused.
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12-22-2005, 12:57 PM	#2
Capt Jack check your head Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,174	ok..thats definitely a new one on me. maybe I should have been offended when at one place I worked my employee ID number was 5150. (law enforcement code for "insane" or "mentally disturbed" offender). I just thought it was cool that Van Halen had an album with it. guess it takes all kinds......but geez, why THAT kind?? __________________ a clear conscience is a sure sign of a fuzzy memory
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12-22-2005, 01:02 PM	#3
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	At Lani's company they actually skipped a release number because it is considered horribly unlucky in one of their major markets. I think it is calming to people to think that their mystic forces are so easily fooled. You should have just told him that you could change it to 14 but since Gamesh (or whoever) would know that he was really 13 his painful death is inevitable regardless so why should you take the trouble.
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