Why can't people follow simple directions?

[ArcticChicken]

I seriously don't understand why it is so damn hard.

I'm in a network forensics class over the summer, and the first couple weeks are basic network review. Today we did some command line stuff, including two different versions of a command, the first one gets you some very basic info, the second one gets you more in depth.

Our professor then told us to find some information about our network, which required the more in depth command. The girl sitting next to me tried using the simple command, and when that didn't work she leaned over and asked me how to get the info she needed. Now, I could forgive this, as I'd done the same thing except that instead of asking for help I just thought about it for a second, but the teacher ALSO told us to get some information using a specific web site. She was trying (and failing) to use google instead. I left before she could ask me for help and I got stuck coaching her through the rest of the class.

I seriously don't understand why it's so fucking hard for people to follow very simple, explicit directions that were given less than 5 minutes ago.

[Pixilated]

My guess would be that she wasn't listening 5 minutes ago ...

[telecom_goddess]

network forensics? is that investigating online histories and whatnot after someone has died or what?

[Chromatix]

More like coming up to an existing, possibly very complex computer network, and figuring out what structure it has and what's attached to it.

Even if you planned and built the network yourself, network forensics are useful to find stuff you don't know about, because someone else added or changed something. Turning on a telnet service here, plugging in an insecure wireless access point there, all the way up to attaching a PwnPlug...

[ArcticChicken]

Also collecting data for criminal or civil cases, like network traffic.

[wolfie]

Turning on a telnet service here, plugging in an insecure wireless access point there, all the way up to attaching a PwnPlug...

What is a "PwnPlug"?

[PepperElf]

From what I found online it looks like a device used to snoop networks. For "security testing".

One of those "should only use for the power of good" computer things.

[Geek King]

One of those "should only use for the power of good" computer things.

Can I still keep my vampire tap? <furtive look>

[dalesys]

Can I still keep my vampire tap? <furtive look>

Not if it's sparkly....

[Zoom]

"should only use for the power of good"

What kind of powers do you have? Do you use them for good, or for awesome? Would you like to join forces? I just happen to be the greatest criminal mind of our time.

[PepperElf]

What kind of powers do you have? Do you use them for good, or for awesome? Would you like to join forces? I just happen to be the greatest criminal mind of our time.

Only for good, sorry!

[EricKei]

Only for good, sorry!

Hey now! "Good" and "criminal" aren't *always* mutually exclusive -- look at Robin Hood

[Ironclad Alibi]

Hey now! "Good" and "criminal" aren't *always* mutually exclusive -- look at Robin Hood

Speaking of Robin Hood...

[Moosenogger]

Sometimes it's because they think they know what they're doing better than everyone else in the room. I worked with a lady like that - 20 years of experience and she didn't know her own asshole from a hole in the ground. She sure thought she was the greatest person alive, though.

[pzychobitch]

My guess would be that she wasn't listening 5 minutes ago ...

Or thinking about the fact her bf's dingdong would be in her mouth 5 minutes after class ended.