Caller: I have your internet, Vonage and a computer. None of them work.
Me: Okay, let's go back to the basics. What we're going to do is shut everything down...
Caller: I've done that.
Me: I understand. But it's important that everything gets restarted in the right way.
Caller: I've done that. I restarted the modem, then the Vonage unit, then the computer. I know how to do this.
Me: I understand. Let's do it again anyway.
Caller: I don't see why I have to go through this all again.
Me: Because I'm funny that way.
All right. We get everything shut down. So...
Me: Now, just follow along with what I say. You can plug in the modem now.
Caller: Okay, I've plugged in the modem. Now I've plugged in the Vonage, and...
Me: Wait... I said "plug in the modem." Did I say anything about plugging in Vonage?
Caller: (exasperated sigh) I've done this before.
Me: We're going to have to start all over again.
And so... we did it the right way.
Me: We've got the Vonage unit plugged in. Do you get a dial tone?
Caller: (long silence) Yeah.
Me: I knew you would. Now we can start the computer.
I know there are some people who can do it right... but I'm not taking that chance.
Me: Okay, let's go back to the basics. What we're going to do is shut everything down...
Caller: I've done that.
Me: I understand. But it's important that everything gets restarted in the right way.
Caller: I've done that. I restarted the modem, then the Vonage unit, then the computer. I know how to do this.
Me: I understand. Let's do it again anyway.
Caller: I don't see why I have to go through this all again.
Me: Because I'm funny that way.
All right. We get everything shut down. So...
Me: Now, just follow along with what I say. You can plug in the modem now.
Caller: Okay, I've plugged in the modem. Now I've plugged in the Vonage, and...
Me: Wait... I said "plug in the modem." Did I say anything about plugging in Vonage?
Caller: (exasperated sigh) I've done this before.
Me: We're going to have to start all over again.
And so... we did it the right way.
Me: We've got the Vonage unit plugged in. Do you get a dial tone?
Caller: (long silence) Yeah.
Me: I knew you would. Now we can start the computer.
I know there are some people who can do it right... but I'm not taking that chance.
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