[jeramey]

Occasionally people don't understand how to plug extension power cables together, either, especially during times of high stress and low sleep.

Once upon a time, when I was in IT support, I got a call from someone in a satellite office across town saying that their computer wouldn't turn on. A new production had begun and everyone was a bit frantic, so this was an urgent request. After asking them to hold the power switch in for a few seconds and try to turn it on again, I asked them to make sure the power cable was secure and that the computer was plugged in. It was, of course, but the computer still wouldn't turn on, so it was time to jump on the bicycle and ride across town with a new power supply in tow, figuring it would be a quick fix.

When I arrive, I see that, indeed, the computer was plugged in to a power strip. And that power strip was plugged in to itself. From then on, I always made sure to ask, "Is the computer plugged into the wall?" Saved myself a few bicycle trips that way.

[wil421]

My Audio Video buddy has a very similar story. A school called because their newish PA system wasn’t working. Turns out the usual lady was out. The usual lady would rip the cord out of the wall every evening instead of pressing the power button. The stand in announcer was just trying to press the on off button like most normal people.

They ended up having to replace expensive equipment because the person wouldn’t stop ripping the cord out of the wall to turn it of.

[rational_indian]

I think American houses don't have a power switch per outlet like the rest of the world. The only way some (most?) devices can be turned off is by pulling the cord.

[wil421]

Not it’s not at all. Do you turn a computer or tv off by pulling the cord? No, you turn it off by a switch/button or in the GUI if it has one. I’m from the US.

If you had a stero system at your house you would not pull the cord to turn it off. Wow.

[Arrath]

Some places/people have a concern (complex?) about standby or parasitic power draw.

[pezezin]

European power outlets don't have switches either.

[firecall]

I was really hoping for some never before known knowledge of how to connect Extension Cables and Power Boards together!

But no, turns out someone didnt even manage the basics! LOL

There's a reason the IT Crowd have the running joke of 'have you tried turning it off and on again...'! :-)

[jeramey]

In all fairness, the person had obviously been awake for over 24 hours and was on their 1,001st cup of coffee. And since earlier in the summer I had crashed the entire ticket scanner network the night before the opening of the weekend festival we had put on by creating a network loop between a couple of non-spanning-tree-speaking network devices, I didn't feel I was in a place to be snarky about it!

[gumby]

> was on their 1,001st cup of coffee

9 cups is a lot but shouldn't cause cognitive disorder.

[patmorgan23]

There are 10 types of people

[freedomben]

heh, with power strips that have very long cables, I've seen them plugged into themselves a few times as well.

[Arrath]

Like tying a shoelace: the long grey cord goes around the backside of the desk, turns and comes around the front, and back into its own powerstrip.

..Wait why won't it turn on?