Wired Differently

It has been just one of those weeks when technology decided to go against me. The email server has been going bonkers at the office. Then a few days ago, the broadband at home died. When i tried to use my mobile, there was NO SERVICE! And the next day, at an event, my camera didn't work when i switched in on, even though i had already charged it the night before. AARRGHH!!

Luckily, the mobile & camera was ok the next day but it was utter agony when we couldn't figure out what was wrong with our broadband. Ok, i admit... i'm too dependent on the internet. It felt as if i have been alienated from everyone. Yes, pathetic that i have more friends virtually than in real life. But that's not the point here.

Naturally the 1st thing i did was call the service provider to complain. Then after rounds of checking this, that, try this, try that, area service down, area service ok.... the problem was STILL there. Then i tried disconnecting the wires, modem, router and reconnecting them, called tech friend to ask for advice, fiddle here there, STILL not working. To cut long story short, after having different ones telling me they didn't know how to resolve the problem, i found out it was the phone cable that was broken. So armed with a screwdriver and pliers, i attempted to fix it and VOILA! :D

As i thought about what had happened, it made me realize how easy it is to point fingers at people when things go wrong. In this instance, the 1st thing we complained about was the service provider, how incompetent & inefficient they are. Then being annoyed about no one being able to help. And in end, having to fix it myself.

It brought to mind the various conversations and incidences that i've encountered with friends over the past weeks. How similar it was that we often jump to conclusions about things and get angry 1st. Worse when we fume for days over how unreasonable they are. When sometimes, perhaps what we see on the surface is not really the issue after all. And if you take a bit of time to look at the situation, sometimes it's not that difficult to rectify the 'problem'. Just need to remember we're all 'wired' differently. Of course, important to know which wires not to cross also but i guess a little 'jolt' sometimes helps us learn not to make the same mistakes again. ;)