Spiceworks Community Digest: Classic PEBKAC
We’ve all been there: a user calls with an urgent problem, you walk over to their desk, and the solution is something so simple you try not to laugh. While situations like this can be frustrating, it’s a rite of passage for every IT professional. This classic “user error” is often summed up by the acronym PEBKAC, which stands for “Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair.”
This universal experience is a hot topic on Spiceworks Community right now. The Jonathan Johnson go-to example talked about users installing an under-desk UPS and plugging their PC and monitor into the “surge only” outlets, while the desk fan gets the battery backup. The community’s responses were a masterclass in common user errors.
The Mystery of the Unplugged
Several IT pros shared stories about calls where the fix was simply plugging in a cable or turning a device on. ich.ni.san’s most recent PEBKAC error was a monitor not being on, and they “repaired” it by “pressing that pesky “on” button.
Another common PEBKAC is the printer plugged into the wrong place. As Repairatrooper noted, “99% of the time when I get a trouble call that the printer beeps when printing, it is UPS related.” The user often doesn’t realize the printer draws too much power, overloading the circuit.
A Moment of Weakness vs. Talking to a Brick Wall
Several IT professionals on the Spiceworks Community noted there’s a difference between someone who just needed a quick reminder and users who can’t realize their mistake and make it IT’s problem.
This discussion is a fun reminder that while our jobs are technical, they are also very much about people. Whether it’s a simple fix or a frustrating miscommunication, these moments define a big part of the IT experience. Head over to the Spiceworks Community to read the full discussion and share your own PEBKAC stories.
