You can relate to this post only if logging on to a computer is part of your daily routine.

You stagger into your office early morning, while the sun is bright, the sky is blue and the birds are chirping. The only thing you have to look forward to is your Outlook inbox. With a resigned look, you mutter your Good Mornings in a monotone to colleagues who are within the earshot or sight.

You try logging on, and the computer flashes an error message: "The password is incorrect...."
I have observed that based on how people react at this point; they can be classified into one of the following categories:

• The clueless coworker

These people shall be taken aback for a second, and then look as if they might burst into tears. They shall look around like a rabbit, trying to find someone to share their misfortune. They shall go to the nearest person and say, “My computer doesn’t like me anymore …” No further attempts are necessary: the day has already been ruined in perspective.
People falling into this category are usually females (No offence meant: Note that I did not write ‘Females usually fall into this category’ …)

• The lazy leech

People in this category shall initially glare at the screen, and then look around like Golem for secrecy. Next, the password shall be entered incorrectly twice ensuring that the account is locked. They shall then help themselves to a low chuckle, and promptly head out for a smoke …People, who have been around in the organization for a while at the same level, usually fall into this class. With a brilliant scheming mind, this is their way of getting back at the organization.

• The panicky pessimist

People in this category initially react like the category above, and then… panic!
They get all keyed up, and think of 3498 reasons why they have been denied access to their own system – but the possibility of having entered the password incorrectly does not occur to them. Maybe my internet browsing history was tracked, maybe they found all that music on the hard disk, maybe they just plain terminated me … every possible scenario shall flash thru their amazing minds. Ask them to try logging on again, and they shall look at you beseechingly, as if to say,” What’s the use?”
These people are born pessimists, but a great source for music, games and useful two-bit software that shall expire in 13 days.

• The natural nerd

This group is like the white Bengal tiger… rare and endangered species.
These people shall be initially shocked, and then try to enter the password again – this time as if an incorrect keystroke would cause them to lose their job. If the same message appears a second time, they shall repeat the exercise, as if computer ran on a third-time-lucky algorithm. Once this fails, and the account is hopelessly locked, they raise a ticket with the helpdesk. Some high achievers shall go ahead, sit at an unoccupied machine and start working on whatever is possible, so that the organization’s quarter-end revenue target remains achievable.

• The woeful wanna-be

This class of people wants to be like the nerds, since its appraisal time.
These people shall be classified as the lazy leech a few years from now. They shall suspend the account the on purpose and then bawl about not being able to work – making sure the boss hears it. To be doubly sure, they shall have the boss raise an urgent ticket with the helpdesk to resolve the issue.
Next, they shall call the helpdesk person, and take him for a smoke.

• The Neolithic non-techie

This category is strictly for the management types… the pointy haired bosses….
These people shall write their passwords on a sticky note and put it on the back of the keyboard. The day after they change their password, inevitably they shall try to enter the same old password. The error message appears … If you try and help them out, they shall throw some technical jargon at you – network issue, firewall problem, system crash down, etc… it’s their way of making conversation. In most cases, you shall sheepishly move away before tearing your hair apart …

What category do you fall into?