Justin To #НетВойне
When anyone at work says they heard the machine make a strange noise, I ask them if they could imitate the noise for me, and most people will do their best. This doesn't help me diagnose the problem at all, I just find it entertaining
May 26 at 9:26pmWeb
Show threadAndre LouisMay 26
@justinto That's a great Fesshole. Also I must adopt this.
Show threadJustin To #НетВойнеMay 26
@FreakyFwoof it's a lot of fun. I hope people try their best for you!
Show threadHelidonkeyMay 26
@justinto What machines are these out of interest?
Show threadJustin To #НетВойнеMay 26
@ednun_p Medical linear accelerators and CT machines (mainly), used for cancer treatments. They make a lot of different sounds, so it's a lot of fun
Show threadHelidonkeyMay 26
@justinto that's amazing. I've been inside an MRI machine a few times and ttthe sounds are just fantastic LOL
Show threadJustin To #НетВойнеMay 26
@ednun_p same here. I also really loved the sound! If I'm being fair, MRIs make better sounds than the machines I look after
Show threadBirdhouse in Your [Redacted]May 26

@justinto about 15 years ago I adopted a "how does that help you do your job?" filter for stuff like this.

People always make excellent noises in response.

Show threadMx. Luna Corbden 🐸May 26
@justinto @msbw This was an actual bit on the NPR talk show Car Talk, where one of the brothers was an ace at imitating the broken car sound the caller was describing. It was a real diagnostic tool.
Show threadDen of EarthMay 27

@justinto
Just a little bit up the slope from this, I do not instigate, but if they volunteer to make the noise unbidden, I ask if they can repeat a few times so that I can narrow down the source of the diagnosis.

Eventually they notice the gently teasing smile on my face and share their opinion of my methods in a manner that I probably deserve.

Show threadSteven D. Brewer 🏳️‍⚧️May 27

@justinto My wife called our mechanic to say that the brakes on the car were making a noise and needed to be checked.

"What kind of noise are they making?" he asked.

"They're making the kind of noise they make when they need to checked," she answered.

Show threadStumpy The MuttMay 27
@justinto Back in the day I listened to Car Talk on NPR. Sometimes the hosts would would encourage the caller to imitate the alarming sound their car was making, with Tom Magliozzi chiming in. It was wildly entertaining, and even my dog would cock her head and look quizzically at the speaker while it was going on.
Show threadEli the BeardedMay 27

@justinto

The hosts for the old NPR call in auto repair advice show "Car Talk" used to do that, too. Good fun for the listening audience

Show threadIDGAF CertifiedMay 27

@justinto I kid you not, I used to be able to diagnose hardware issues remotely. "Can you hold the phone over by the hard drive in question?"

*WHIRRRR-! clickaclickaclicka WHIRRRR!*