IP: TechoBlah! -- The Pepsi Machine Should Wear A Mask and Carry A Gun

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: "John F. McMullen" <observer () westnet com>
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 09:09:45 -0400 (EDT)
To: johnmacsgroup () yahoogroups com
Cc: Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>, <declan () well com>
Subject: TechoBlah! -- The Pepsi Machine Should Wear A Mask and Carry A Gun

(First of an occasional series of the travails of dealing with technology
to which I hope that others will contribute. -- I'll also have a
"ServiceBlah!" thread for stories such as "Dave Farber in VerizonLand")

On a break at school last night, I went off the the Pepsi machine for my
evening fix and deposited $1.25. When I pressed the Pepsi button (THEN and
ONLY THEN), a banner message scrolled across "Make another selection" --
but I didn't want Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Fresca, or overprice water; I
wanted a Pepsi so I pressed "Coin Return" and, instead of getting my money
back, saw "Make Another Selection". This went on for a while until I gave
up and took a water and went off and found another Pepsi machine with
Pepsi (I gave the water to another teacher on a break)

This was not the case of a malfunctioning Pepsi machine; the Pepsi machine
did just what it was supposed to -- get my money! As I often tell my
students, the large majority (95% in my unscientific observtion) of our
frustration with technology comes, not because of the equipment but rather
because of human beings, who either made errors or "wanted to design it
that way".

In the "old days", when soda from machines cost .10, .25, or even .50,
there would be a "Sold Out" light by individual selections advising the
customer BEFORE HE/SHE PUT THE MONEY IN that he/she would either have to
chose another selection or take her/his money elsewhere.

I'm sure that some smart designer, when designing the new improved model
with banner messages, hit on a revelation -- "Wait! Why should we give the
poor dope his ("poor dopes" are masculine) money back just because we
don't have what he wants to buy?? Make him drink Moutain Dew!"

And we take it -- who do we complain to? Nobody -- unless "Goddamn it" is
an invocation calling for Supreme Wrath.

   "When you come to the fork in the road, take it" - L.P. Berra
   "Always make new mistakes" -- Esther Dyson
   "Be precise in the use of words and expect precision from others" -
    Pierre Abelard
                          John F. McMullen
   johnmac () acm org ICQ: 4368412 Fax: (603) 288-8440 johnmac () cyberspace org
                  http://www.westnet.com/~observer


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