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26 February, 2009

RTFM

The (rhetorical) challenge: by phone, to explain how to transfer music from a CD to an mp3 player when:

  • The player is little more than a USB memory stick with a headphone socket and which came with no software.
  • The operator willfully and aggressively rejects the idea of learning anything, whatsoever, about computers.
  • The computer is running 'baseline' Windows XP Home. You may instruct the operator to install additional software, but will have to talk the operator through every stage of the procedure.
  • You may not introduce the concept of 'ripping' – not the word, the concept, however phrased.
  • You may not use any jargon, where the word "settings" is unacceptable jargon.
Go. 'Cos it's ****ing defeated me.
Posted by Ministry at 18:52 | 119 words
Comments

Of course it has defeated you, the fourth constraint :
"You may not introduce the concept of 'ripping' – not the word, the concept, however phrased"

This constraint makes the task impossible. It would be the same as requesting instructions on how to make a peanut butter sandwich but placing the constraint that you may not introduce the concept of 'spreading' (which would cover all actions that involve applying the peanut butter to the bread).

Ripping is the fundamental process required in your challenge.

Posted by protolith at February 26, 2009 10:16 PM

The player is little more than a USB memory stick with a headphone socket and which came with no software

Hey, I've got one of those. Still, since I got it for nothing, I can hardly complain...

Otherwise, what Protolith said.

Posted by Tim Hall at February 26, 2009 10:24 PM
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