The Magical Power of Reading: How I Became a Tech Support 'Wizard' with One Simple Trick
There are moments in every techie’s life when you realize you possess a power so rare, so coveted, it borders on the supernatural. No, I’m not talking about coding the next billion-dollar app, nor am I referring to hacking the Pentagon. I’m talking about the ancient and mystical art of… reading instructions.
Recently, I had the pleasure of wielding this mighty power at a client’s office, and the results? Well, let’s just say they were magical enough to earn me the title of “wizard”—and all it took was the ability to read and, maybe, a pinch of patience.
When Photocopiers Attack: A Tech Support Tale
Let’s set the scene. I’d just finished a routine repair job—nothing special, just another day in the life of a wandering tech support agent. The hardest part of my day so far was finding a place to sit in a sparsely furnished office. As I made my way to the paperwork rendezvous, I passed a colleague—let’s call him “Old Mate”—locked in a fierce, silent battle with the office’s multi-function printer.
You know the type: a hulking, blinking beast, bristling with trays, drawers, and enough buttons to launch a space shuttle. Old Mate was glaring at the machine as if it had insulted his entire lineage.
I glanced at the screen: “Open door A, clear paper jam.” The message helpfully included a little animation—a cartoon hand opening a clearly labeled door. I filed this away, sat down, and thumbed idly through my phone, as one does.
Minutes ticked by. Old Mate muttered, poked, and prodded. At last, he turned, apologizing for the delay. The copier, he explained, was being “a bit tricky.” It was my moment to shine.
The Sorcery of Reading (and Pointing)
Now, I’m no Gandalf, but I do have a knack for reading labels. As I looked up, there it was: a big, clear “Door A” sticker on the side of the copier, right next to a latch handle. I gently suggested that perhaps—just maybe—he should try opening Door A.
Old Mate stared at me, then at the handle, as if I’d just recited the incantation for “Alohomora.” He opened Door A, and—behold!—inside was a crumpled, jammed sheet of paper, practically waving hello.
With some encouragement, he extracted the offending sheet and closed the door. Instantly, the copier sprang to life, spewing forth a backlog of documents like a paper geyser. Old Mate stared at me, mouth agape, and declared, “Thanks mate, you’re a wizard. I can’t understand these super-dooper complicated contraptions!”
Why Does This Happen? (And Why Is It So Funny?)
If you’ve ever worked in tech support, you know this story isn’t unique. In fact, it’s the bread and butter of the profession: Most “complicated” problems are, at their core, simple misunderstandings. Sometimes, the solution is right there—on the screen, in the manual, or literally plastered on the machine—but goes unnoticed.
Why? A few reasons:
- Tech Anxiety: Many people freeze up in the face of technology, convinced that every blinking light signals impending doom.
- Assumption of Complexity: We’ve come to expect tech to be inscrutable. If something goes wrong, it must require an expert (or a wizard).
- Overlooking the Obvious: In our rush to fix things, we often skip the step that’s right in front of us—reading the message or label.
It’s easy to laugh (and I do, often), but there’s a deeper lesson here: Sometimes, the most powerful tool in tech support isn’t a fancy certification or a suitcase full of gadgets—it’s the ability to slow down and actually read the instructions.
The Real Magic: Empathy and Patience
While it’s tempting to don my wizard’s hat and bask in the glory of my label-reading prowess, the real magic in tech support is patience and empathy. Old Mate wasn’t being obtuse on purpose; he just needed a nudge in the right direction. Next time, maybe he’ll remember the mystical Door A—or at least not be afraid to ask for help.
So, to all my fellow techies: Never underestimate the power of reading, or the joy of helping someone see that “super-dooper complicated contraption” in a new light (preferably, the light of a functioning copier).
Have you ever been hailed as a workplace wizard (or muggle) for something hilariously simple? Share your tales in the comments below—let’s keep the magic alive!
Inspired by the original Reddit post by u/Ich_mag_Kartoffeln on r/TalesFromTechSupport.
Original Reddit Post: Being able to read makes me a tech support wizard!