Hello everyone!

[Ben Franklin]

Thank you for allowing me the privilege of joining tech discussions with y'all. I've been a copier repair tech for over 25 years. I don't have to tell you old timers that our way of life is long gone in the digital age; I'm sure you guys have struggled like I have to adapt and evolve to the introduction of the laser, the computer and other innovations. Still, I feel that all the new technology builds upon the same basic core process that Chester Carlson discovered in 1938 and brought to market in 1960, which for me is still a marvel and a thing of beauty, something that we can all be proud of as Americans. The refinement of the process by the Japanese (i.e. changing electrostatics from positive/negative to negative/negative) is terrific but it was the keen insights of an American that dreamed it up. I look forward to learning from you and sharing what I have learned in the spirit of its beauty.
That said, I hasten to point out that we techs have another unique privilege: we find ourselves in a wide variety of workplaces, where we eavesdrop as we do our jobs, overhearing conversations about current events. We hear a wide variety of opinions about what's going on and sometimes we're even invited to join the discussion. Over my years of experience, my true love for the job has shifted from one of detective work and solving technical problems to observing the American mindset and analyzing it. I believe we all have a unique position to witness the collective consciousness of our age and hence the credentials to problem solve its failures and pitfalls, which I hope you'll concede are manifold. Sharing what you've discovered is my greatest anticipation! Ben

[Jules Winfield]

I never eavesdropped on customers when I was in the field. It's unprofessional...

[JustManuals]

Ben, you look great for your age!

[ddude]

Hi Ben!! What brands do you enjoy?

[Ben Franklin]

eavesdropping is unavoidable sometimes if the printer is at the center of the office. what do you do in such a situation, put in earplugs? that's real professional. each brand has its own unique strengths and weaknesses so I'm ambivalent. Konica Minolta seems to engineer in many tech friendly designs when it comes to maintenance, at least on the color models, which is what I work on. I'm grateful for that. Canon Image Press C1 is way overly complicated - hence prone to failure - and hard to maintain. Makes a great color print when its working though!

[Ben Franklin]

hey Jules, is that quote you have there from Yellow Submarine?

[Jules Winfield]

No earplugs, I just tune it out and focus on my work instead. The quote is from "Pulp Fiction"...

[blackcat4866]

Welcome! It sounds like you've got something to say.
I'm listening. =^..^=

[Ben Franklin]

I can dig it, Jules. Most of the time that's the best tactic and very professional! Most of the time what goes on in someone's private workplace is none of my business, unless I have a personal rapport with the customer, its just I overhear the strangest things sometimes, don't you? For instance, today there was talk in the mail room about 911 conspiracy theory, one of my interests, but I had to keep my mouth shut because I wasn't invited to the conversation and the discussion got quite provocative and controversial. I hope you guys feel you can be candid about anything with me, political, religious or whatever, I'll try not to judge. Maybe we can help each other figure things out and decide what's real. I'm open so I leave it to you. If you want to just talk tech, great! otherwise, here I am, fire away, and thanks for the welcome.

[Jules Winfield]

I can dig it, Jules. Most of the time that's the best tactic and very professional! Most of the time what goes on in someone's private workplace is none of my business, unless I have a personal rapport with the customer, its just I overhear the strangest things sometimes, don't you? For instance, today there was talk in the mail room about 911 conspiracy theory, one of my interests, but I had to keep my mouth shut because I wasn't invited to the conversation and the discussion got quite provocative and controversial. I hope you guys feel you can be candid about anything with me, political, religious or whatever, I'll try not to judge. Maybe we can help each other figure things out and decide what's real. I'm open so I leave it to you. If you want to just talk tech, great! otherwise, here I am, fire away, and thanks for the welcome.

Don't listen to me, I'm totally jaded. The eavesdropping thing just reminded me of some of the techs I used to work with who would have all these stories about the goings on at some of their customer's offices. They were great stories, some of them, but I kinda wish they just would have done their work instead. Especially when I had to go back out to the customer after them because the machine didn't get fixed. It doesn't matter anyway, I managed to get out of the field. Thank God...