3175: Website Task Flowchart - Revision history

1234231587678 at 15:27, 10 April 2026

2026-04-10T15:27:04Z

81.179.199.253: /* Explanation */ It's entirely possible for http://www.example.com to be technically different from http://example.com. Or indeed the only truly working web-server host. But do we need to discuss this in detail? Added just a bit of a caveat, however.

2026-04-08T00:13:28Z

‎Explanation: It's entirely possible for http://www.example.com to be technically different from http://example.com. Or indeed the only truly working web-server host. But do we need to discuss this in detail? Added just a bit of a caveat, however.

PaintspotInfez: /* Explanation */ +1.

2026-04-08T00:02:45Z

‎Explanation: +1.

Elektrizikekswerk: /* Explanation */ No reason for tag given. Explanation seems complete, removed tag.

2026-01-12T11:51:28Z

‎Explanation: No reason for <incomplete> tag given. Explanation seems complete, removed tag.

Giraffequeries: the transcript is done

2025-12-26T17:02:01Z

the transcript is done

82.13.184.33: /* Explanation */

2025-12-08T09:45:05Z

‎Explanation

N0lqu: /* Explanation */

2025-12-04T15:57:19Z

‎Explanation

130.76.187.33: /* Explanation */ rm unnecessary hyperbole

2025-12-03T23:55:24Z

‎Explanation: rm unnecessary hyperbole

AgentMuffin: Trimming down and reorganizing explanation

2025-12-03T21:59:35Z

Trimming down and reorganizing explanation

BunsenH: /* Explanation */ Break run-on; spelling, other minor tweaks

2025-12-03T15:22:00Z

‎Explanation: Break run-on; spelling, other minor tweaks

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 If your troubleshooting fails at either stage, the chart guides you to call the website's {{w|customer service}} line, which is framed as admitting defeat. The flowchart reckons that an {{w|Automated attendant|automated}} phone system will put you {{w|Hold (telephone)|on hold}} and a {{w|On hold messaging|prerecorded message}} will then suggest trying to use the website ''instead'' of calling directly. While this would be helpful for someone calling the support line ''before'' trying the website, it assumes that the site is working properly and that the task can actually be accomplished there. It's like kicking you when you're already down to hear that "advice" after spending hours trying to use a website that simply would not work like you need it to. (Additionally, the voice reading out the website's URL is reading out the "www." before the URL, which is usually unnecessary in the modern day (depening upon how the web-server, host/domain entries and/or browser are set up), possibly implying that the voice on the other end belongs to someone who's slightly technologically inept.)
-From there, the flowchart predicts that you will be so frustrated, you'll throw away both your computer and your phone into the sea before even listening to the rest of the on-hold message. This would be a drastic and non-trivial way of responding to the situation, as it would destroy those devices. (It would, at least, formally end your attempt to use the website.) The flowchart presents this as an inevitability as a form of {{w|hyperbole}}.
+From there, the flowchart predicts that you will be so frustrated, you'll throw away both your computer and your phone into the sea before even listening to the rest of the on-hold message, similarly to [[1912: Thermostat]]. This would be a drastic and non-trivial way of responding to the situation, as it would destroy those devices. (It would, at least, formally end your attempt to use the website.) The flowchart presents this as an inevitability as a form of {{w|hyperbole}}.
 The title text is another part of the presumed hold message, perhaps for anyone who had not followed the flowchart as faithfully. It encourages the caller to visit the website's {{w|live chat}} function, a fairly recent development that combines the best and worst aspects of both online and phone-line support. It can be ambiguous whether the "live agent" is zero, one, or many people. You may reach a qualified staff member with all the answers to your questions; or, the conversation may be passed around between various less-than-knowledgeable staff who are merely following a ''script'' with a flowchart process (hopefully more useful than this one) to let them give more expert advice than they might be capable of; or, increasingly, you may connect to a {{w|chatbot}} that processes your queries, follows a similar script, and may be more difficult to reason with or escalate the issue. It may {{wiktionary|triage}} your initial responses before 'bothering' a real human who can help you with your request, if it is able to transfer you to a human at all.

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 As the flowchart suggests, troubleshooting a website can be a major deviation from your goals, and can involve following many false leads for hours on end. There's a chance that the issue resolves, putting you back on track. But in the meantime, you're trying to find a solution on your own. According to the chart, talking to tech support is a last resort.
-If your troubleshooting fails at either stage, the chart guides you to call the website's {{w|customer service}} line, which is framed as admitting defeat. The flowchart reckons that an {{w|Automated attendant|automated}} phone system will put you {{w|Hold (telephone)|on hold}} and a {{w|On hold messaging|prerecorded message}} will then suggest trying to use the website ''instead'' of calling directly. While this would be helpful for someone calling the support line ''before'' trying the website, it assumes that the site is working properly and that the task can actually be accomplished there. It's like kicking you when you're already down to hear that "advice" after spending hours trying to use a website that simply would not work like you need it to. (Additionally, the voice reading out the website's URL is reading out the "www." before the URL, which is usually unnecessary in the modern day, possibly implying that the voice on the other end belongs to someone who's slightly technologically inept.)
+If your troubleshooting fails at either stage, the chart guides you to call the website's {{w|customer service}} line, which is framed as admitting defeat. The flowchart reckons that an {{w|Automated attendant|automated}} phone system will put you {{w|Hold (telephone)|on hold}} and a {{w|On hold messaging|prerecorded message}} will then suggest trying to use the website ''instead'' of calling directly. While this would be helpful for someone calling the support line ''before'' trying the website, it assumes that the site is working properly and that the task can actually be accomplished there. It's like kicking you when you're already down to hear that "advice" after spending hours trying to use a website that simply would not work like you need it to. (Additionally, the voice reading out the website's URL is reading out the "www." before the URL, which is usually unnecessary in the modern day (depening upon how the web-server, host/domain entries and/or browser are set up), possibly implying that the voice on the other end belongs to someone who's slightly technologically inept.)
 From there, the flowchart predicts that you will be so frustrated, you'll throw away both your computer and your phone into the sea before even listening to the rest of the on-hold message. This would be a drastic and non-trivial way of responding to the situation, as it would destroy those devices. (It would, at least, formally end your attempt to use the website.) The flowchart presents this as an inevitability as a form of {{w|hyperbole}}.

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 As the flowchart suggests, troubleshooting a website can be a major deviation from your goals, and can involve following many false leads for hours on end. There's a chance that the issue resolves, putting you back on track. But in the meantime, you're trying to find a solution on your own. According to the chart, talking to tech support is a last resort.
-If your troubleshooting fails at either stage, the chart guides you to call the website's {{w|customer service}} line, which is framed as admitting defeat. The flowchart reckons that an {{w|Automated attendant|automated}} phone system will put you {{w|Hold (telephone)|on hold}} and a {{w|On hold messaging|prerecorded message}} will then suggest trying to use the website ''instead'' of calling directly. While this would be helpful for someone calling the support line ''before'' trying the website, it assumes that the site is working properly and that the task can actually be accomplished there. It's like kicking you when you're already down to hear that "advice" after spending hours trying to use a website that simply would not work like you need it to.
+If your troubleshooting fails at either stage, the chart guides you to call the website's {{w|customer service}} line, which is framed as admitting defeat. The flowchart reckons that an {{w|Automated attendant|automated}} phone system will put you {{w|Hold (telephone)|on hold}} and a {{w|On hold messaging|prerecorded message}} will then suggest trying to use the website ''instead'' of calling directly. While this would be helpful for someone calling the support line ''before'' trying the website, it assumes that the site is working properly and that the task can actually be accomplished there. It's like kicking you when you're already down to hear that "advice" after spending hours trying to use a website that simply would not work like you need it to. (Additionally, the voice reading out the website's URL is reading out the "www." before the URL, which is usually unnecessary in the modern day, possibly implying that the voice on the other end belongs to someone who's slightly technologically inept.)
 From there, the flowchart predicts that you will be so frustrated, you'll throw away both your computer and your phone into the sea before even listening to the rest of the on-hold message. This would be a drastic and non-trivial way of responding to the situation, as it would destroy those devices. (It would, at least, formally end your attempt to use the website.) The flowchart presents this as an inevitability as a form of {{w|hyperbole}}.

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:51, 12 January 2026
Line 10:		Line 10:

	==Explanation==		==Explanation==
−	~~{{incomplete\|This page was created by a live agent producing words at you. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}~~
	This is a flowchart comic. It ostensibly shows how to accomplish a task on a generic website. With the improvements to web infrastructure, {{w\|accessibility}}, and {{w\|user experience}} research over the decades, one might think that this would be simple. And sometimes, indeed, everything just works as expected. However, the flowchart indicates that this system often fails to handle error states gracefully and can {{wiktionary\|a chain is only as strong as its weakest link\|completely shut down}} when the smallest [[2347: Dependency\|dependency]] breaks.		This is a flowchart comic. It ostensibly shows how to accomplish a task on a generic website. With the improvements to web infrastructure, {{w\|accessibility}}, and {{w\|user experience}} research over the decades, one might think that this would be simple. And sometimes, indeed, everything just works as expected. However, the flowchart indicates that this system often fails to handle error states gracefully and can {{wiktionary\|a chain is only as strong as its weakest link\|completely shut down}} when the smallest [[2347: Dependency\|dependency]] breaks.

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 ==Transcript==
 [Caption above the panel:]
 Doing a task using a company or organization's website:

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 From there, the flowchart predicts that you will be so frustrated, you'll throw away both your computer and your phone into the sea before even listening to the rest of the on-hold message. This would be a drastic and non-trivial way of responding to the situation, as it would destroy those devices. (It would, at least, formally end your attempt to use the website.) The flowchart presents this as an inevitability as a form of {{w|hyperbole}}.
-The title text is another part of the presumed hold message, perhaps for anyone who had not followed the flowchart as faithfully. It encourages the caller to visit the website's {{w|live chat}} function, a fairly recent development that combines the best and worst aspects of both online and phone-line support. It can be ambiguous whether the "live agent" is zero, one, or many people. You may reach a qualified staff member with all the answers to your questions. Or, the conversation may be passed around between various less-than-knowledgeable staff who are merely following a ''script'' with a flowchart process (hopefully more useful than this one) to let them give more expert advice than they might be capable of. Or, increasingly since 2024, you may connect to a {{w|chatbot}} that processes your queries, follows a similar script, and may be more difficult to reason with or escalate the issue. It may {{wiktionary|triage}} your initial responses before 'bothering' a real human who can help you with your request, if it is able to transfer you to a human at all.
+The title text is another part of the presumed hold message, perhaps for anyone who had not followed the flowchart as faithfully. It encourages the caller to visit the website's {{w|live chat}} function, a fairly recent development that combines the best and worst aspects of both online and phone-line support. It can be ambiguous whether the "live agent" is zero, one, or many people. You may reach a qualified staff member with all the answers to your questions; or, the conversation may be passed around between various less-than-knowledgeable staff who are merely following a ''script'' with a flowchart process (hopefully more useful than this one) to let them give more expert advice than they might be capable of; or, increasingly, you may connect to a {{w|chatbot}} that processes your queries, follows a similar script, and may be more difficult to reason with or escalate the issue. It may {{wiktionary|triage}} your initial responses before 'bothering' a real human who can help you with your request, if it is able to transfer you to a human at all.
 The claim that the agent can "produce words at you" (rather than "talk", "speak", or "communicate") implies that their responses won't convey any information, or perhaps even basic understanding of the problem. If the live chat is open 24/7, you may reach a human agent elsewhere in the world who {{w|English as a second or foreign language|doesn't speak English natively}} and struggles to understand you. This could also be a blatantly honest admission that you will converse with a potentially inexhaustible {{w|large language model}} AI, where the words you receive might demonstrate {{w|Markov chain|even less understanding}} of your problem, as merely being able to send even [[1068: Swiftkey|vaguely logical sequences of words]] might be worse than useless. Additionally, giving random vague sequences of words would add to the user's frustration, strengthening their urge to throw their laptop into the ocean.

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 ==Explanation==
 {{incomplete|This page was created by a live agent producing words at you. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
-This is a flowchart comic. It ostensibly shows how to accomplish a task on a generic website.
+This is a flowchart comic. It ostensibly shows how to accomplish a task on a generic website. With the improvements to web infrastructure, {{w|accessibility}}, and {{w|user experience}} research over the decades, one might think that this would be simple. And sometimes, indeed, everything just works as expected. However, the flowchart indicates that this system often fails to handle error states gracefully and can {{wiktionary|a chain is only as strong as its weakest link|completely shut down}} when the smallest [[2347: Dependency|dependency]] breaks.
-The first step as listed in the flowchart is to attempt to log into the website. In all cases this would include pulling up the website, which could fail if the website itself is having issues. Once the home page is visible, the next step (in some cases as not all websites require logging in) would be to sign in by entering your username and password, which could fail if you enter an incorrect username and/or password or if the website is having problems with their authentication coding such that even legitimate username/password combinations are being rejected.  Troubleshooting could include visiting a website such as https://www.isitdownrightnow.com/ to see if the problem is widespread or if you're the only one having the issue, double-checking your username/password, googling the specific error message you're seeing, if applicable, or seeing if anyone else is having the same problem you're having. The flowchart provides no guidance as to the actual troubleshooting involved, likely because the specific steps would vary greatly depending on the specific problem being encountered, and the personality of the individual this flowchart is likely aimed at being one who, like Randall, has a need to figure out why things aren't working and hates to resort to talking to someone unless absolutely necessary.
+The first step is to try to access the website. This includes {{w|Loading (computing)|pulling it up}}, and possibly {{w|Login|signing into an account}}. Websites may have legitimate or [[792: Password Reuse|nefarious]] reasons to profile their users. Either way, it is often another step in the way of the user's goals.
-If you finally get it working and are able to get to the area you were trying to get to to do that task you were trying to do, the next part of the flowchart asks if the task was successful. Being unsuccessful could include unintentional website issues (i.e. bugs) or simply that the website doesn't have the tools to accomplish the specific task you are trying to accomplish. Troubleshooting could include steps like above as well as things like trying to use those tools that ARE available in alternate or creative ways to try to accomplish your intended task.
+The very start of the process can already fail if the website doesn't load, you enter an incorrect username or password, or the website's {{w|authentication}} service is having problems and rejecting legitimate credentials, for example. Issues at this stage are often out of the user's control, and can kneecap your productivity if you rely on that website, as was recently discussed in [[3170: Service Outage]]. The flowchart provides no specific {{w|troubleshooting}} guidance, as the exact steps will vary greatly depending on the specific problem, and readers may have their own troubleshooting process similar to [[627: Tech Support Cheat Sheet]]. It could involve visiting another website like "[https://www.isitdownrightnow.com Is It Down Right Now?]" to see if others are having the same issue, double-checking your login information, or looking up any specific error messages the site gives. You may simply have to wait until the broken service is restored.
-If you have managed to both log in and do your work (perhaps eventually, see below), its last stage is merely a congratulatory message. At this point, you have succeeded in the task that the flowchart was supposedly helping you to complete.
+If you can enter the website, the next part of the flowchart asks if you finished your task successfully. If you have managed to both log in and do your work (perhaps eventually), it simply congratulates you for finishing your task. Failure here could be because of other issues with the website, such as {{w|Software bug|bugs}}, or [[3170: Service Outage|service outages]] in the middle of your work, or simply because the site doesn't have the tools to accomplish your specific task. You may have to use tools that ''are'' available in alternative or creative ways to accomplish what you need to. This might not be an option if your data or workflow relies on a specific site, or if alternatives are sketchy or paywalled.
-It is when you have problems that the flowchart gives you the additional instructions. In both the case of being unable to log in ''and'' being unable to do the whatever-it-is that you're trying to do, the chart guides you to the perhaps just as unhelpful troubleshooting directive for the respective issue. In line with the generalist brevity of the other instructions, this merely consists of the instruction to troubleshoot the issue, without providing any actual guidance as to what specific approaches to take in that troubleshooting. The only concession given to the complexity that might be involved is that it explicitly states that you will have to spend several hours doing this (without any actual indication what it is that you'll be doing for several hours). Following which, each diversion queries whether any of whatever-you-did worked. The good news, if that all did work out in the end, is that you're now back on the the path that ultimately leads to the trite congratulations for being successful.
+As the flowchart suggests, troubleshooting a website can be a major deviation from your goals, and can involve following many false leads for hours on end. There's a chance that the issue resolves, putting you back on track. But in the meantime, you're trying to find a solution on your own. According to the chart, talking to tech support is a last resort.
-However, failing either troubleshooting dumps you into a "give up"-themed flow, sending you down the route of calling the Customer Service line. This proceeds to uphold exactly the same standards of helpfulness as the rest of the flowchart, by introducing you to the inevitable '{{w|On hold messaging|hold message}}' which it fully expects (probably correctly) to contain an automated suggestion that you try to use the website ''instead'' of calling them directly.  While that message probably is helpful for anyone who called the support line BEFORE trying the website, it assumes their website is working properly and that all tasks a person might want to do can be accomplished via the website. It's like kicking you when you're already down to hear that "advice" after spending hours trying to use a website that simply would not work for what you were trying to do.
+If your troubleshooting fails at either stage, the chart guides you to call the website's {{w|customer service}} line, which is framed as admitting defeat. The flowchart reckons that an {{w|Automated attendant|automated}} phone system will put you {{w|Hold (telephone)|on hold}} and a {{w|On hold messaging|prerecorded message}} will then suggest trying to use the website ''instead'' of calling directly. While this would be helpful for someone calling the support line ''before'' trying the website, it assumes that the site is working properly and that the task can actually be accomplished there. It's like kicking you when you're already down to hear that "advice" after spending hours trying to use a website that simply would not work like you need it to.
-As, by now, you have probably been wrestling with the website already for several hours, the flowchart does not actually present any proper 'advice', merely the prediction that the entire frustrating episode will then have you throwing both computer and the phone handset away, before even hearing the full message. Specifically, into the sea, which is a drastic and non-trivial action to take, as you would be wasting devices which may cost over $1,000 each. It should at least, however, formally end this attempt to accomplish your troublesome task upon the troublesome website.
+From there, the flowchart predicts that you will be so frustrated, you'll throw away both your computer and your phone into the sea before even listening to the rest of the on-hold message. This would be a drastic and non-trivial way of responding to the situation, as it would waste important devices which may cost over $1,000 each, and would {{w|Data loss|destroy the information stored on them}}. (It would, at least, formally end your attempt to use the website.) The flowchart presents this as an inevitability as a form of {{w|hyperbole}}.
-The title text is yet another part of the typical automated support-line message, perhaps for anyone who had not followed the flowchart as faithfully. In this further recorded suggestion, you may be encouraged to visit the website's 'live chat' function, a fairly recent development that combines the best/worst<sup>&#91;delete as inapplicable&#93;</sup> aspects of both online and phone-line support. "Live agents" is an ambiguous term, ''possibly'' being true support-line staff with all the answers to your questions. However, as it often leverages the ambiguity of typed-text communications, it often remains ambiguous as to whether you have a single (and qualified) person assisting you, the conversation may well be passed around various rather less than knowledgeable staff who are merely following a 'script' that follows a flowchart process (hopefully more useful than this one) to let them give more expert advice than they might be capable of. Or, increasingly, an automated/AI text-processing backend that attempts to understand your queries and follows a similar script-based rabbit-hole towards whatever conclusion it is capable of (including {{wiktionary|triage|triaging}} your initial responses before even allowing 'a real human', with the necessary skills, to be bothered by your request).
+The title text is another part of the presumed hold message, perhaps for anyone who had not followed the flowchart as faithfully. It encourages the caller to visit the website's {{w|live chat}} function, a fairly recent development that combines the best and worst aspects of both online and phone-line support. It can be ambiguous whether the "live agent" is zero, one, or many people. You may reach a qualified staff member with all the answers to your questions. Or, the conversation may be passed around between various less-than-knowledgeable staff who are merely following a ''script'' with a flowchart process (hopefully more useful than this one) to let them give more expert advice than they might be capable of. Or, increasingly since 2024, you may connect to a {{w|chatbot}} that processes your queries, follows a similar script, and may be more difficult to reason with or escalate the issue. It may {{wiktionary|triage}} your initial responses before 'bothering' a real human who can help you with your request, if it is able to transfer you to a human at all.
-The claim that they can "produce words at you" might be {{w|English as a second or foreign language|slightly mangled English}}, or a blatantly honest admission that any conversation you have will be with {{w|Large language model|a potentially inexhaustible AI system}}, which websites have increasingly utilized in place of customer service representatives since 2024. At its worst, the words you receive might have {{w|Markov chain|even less understanding}} of your problem, as merely being able to send even [[1068: Swiftkey|vaguely logical sequences of words]] might be worse than useless. Additionally, giving random vague sequences of words would be very infuriating and cause the user to throw the laptop into the ocean.
+The claim that the agent can "produce words at you" (rather than "talk", "speak", or "communicate") implies that their responses won't convey any information, or perhaps even basic understanding of the problem. If the live chat is open 24/7, you may reach a human agent elsewhere in the world who {{w|English as a second or foreign language|doesn't speak English natively}} and struggles to understand you. This could also be a blatantly honest admission that you will converse with a potentially inexhaustible {{w|large language model}}, where the words you receive might demonstrate {{w|Markov chain|even less understanding}} of your problem, as merely being able to send even [[1068: Swiftkey|vaguely logical sequences of words]] might be worse than useless. Additionally, giving random vague sequences of words would add to the user's frustration, strengthening their urge to throw their laptop into the ocean.
 ==Transcript==