The Joker Strikes
November 30, 2008
Filed under Parenting & Family Posts
Oldest Son has always been a prankster. Well, since he was 3 actually. I probably contributed to that part of his sense of humor but of course, he’s taken it further than I would. (Well, than I would these days, now that I am an enlightened compassionate grownup and not the selfish child I was up until about 30 years of age).
And this week the Joker struck. And he struck well… Well… he got me anyway.
I sit down at my computer to do some work. My PC desktop is about halffull of documents and files: the detritus of a busy life and busy mind. I click one of my projects to open it. Nothing happens. It’s as if the document’s not there. I click another. And another. All I get is the drop-down menu that asks me how I want to arrange my icons.
I don’t want to arrange them, I want to open them!
The one thing that I can open is the recylce bin … which is filled with stuff. In a moment of stupidity akin to the one that let in a virus to my PC four weeks ago, I say “what’s all this?” and start emptying it, before my Youngest Son shouts “Don’t do that!”. I hit cancel reflexively, saving 4 folders.
And then it dawns.
What Oldest Son did (with Youngest presumably laughing himself silly beside him) was to take a screenshot (an image) of the desktop, then make that image the wallpaper on the desktop. Then he “hid” everything from the desktop in the recycle bin. Not the smartest place to hide it.
So what I saw was simply a photo of what the desktop used to look like. And I deleted 80% of what was on there.
Was I cross? Yes.
Did I murder him? No.
I was proud of myself for calmly explaining the problems he’d caused me but then saying “I forgive you, I’m not angry at you” and then letting it go. For the first time in a long time, he actually apologised.
Really the only valuable thing I lost was the Whetstone articles I’d been working on. And I learned a valuable time management lesson … that I’ve actually coached other people on come to think of it: action stuff! Don’t leave paper and files cluttering your desk or your PC desktop; do something with them; decide whether they’re worth keeping and where they’ll go.
But now I’m wondering. When and where and how will the Joker strike next?
Hahahahaha! The computer equivalent of ye olde flaming bag of poop!
Watch out for its second cousin: a screen shot that looks like a cracked glass on your LCD monitor. Truly a horrific moment. Find it on YouTube (broken monitor prank or some such).
Backups are antidote the to tween prankers - they know way more about tech and will continue to do so
Leah, I’m assuming that’s your polite way of saying “You’re an idiot, Pete”
What I’ve been doing since is deciding where I want things or whether I want them and either binning them or filing them.
Joe, it certainly felt like the aftermath of that flaming bag.
firefox + gpsace+ gmail = free on-line backup
I created a gmail account specifically for backing up all my files. I use a laptop just about everywhere and in doing so I run the risk of it getting stolen or viruses and the such. I use gmail to store everything on-line that way, even if I have to borrow a computer I can get to any file I need.
I have a feeling the joker got a heavy dose of guilt and will probably shy away from messing with your computer again, but it won’t stop others.
hindsight (and advice to backup) is JUST what you want to hear, I’m sure! But it often takes events like this to ensure we DO backup when we should (which is ALL the time)
I’m assuming you’re on M$Windows - in which case Macrium Reflect is free and will take a ’snapshot’ of your HD and allow you to reimage your HD should you need to. SyncBack is also free - a good backup tool which can be set to backup at certain times (to save you remembering).
Hang on, this is Australian PC magazine, isnt it?
That is a GREAT trick though - I did it to a staff member once, but didnt keep the files in the recycle bin! It’s right up there with cling film on the dunny!
Ah, all the tekkies (closet and otherwise) come out of the woodwork. And your advice is appreciated. I’ll take a look at SyncBack in the morning, Ross, thanks!
… hey Ross, check your email. Matt and I want a beer with you soon! (Well, a coke for me, I can’t stand beer - very unAustrlalian, huh?)
So … un-techie comment here, more a prenting one … did you decide what you wanted to do with him and where he’ll go?
Actually I honestly did just let it go. Haven’t given it much thought since except in changing my habits. And he’s been a little more sensitive since too, so maybe the experience of doing something potetntally bad and having Dad just forgive him unconditionally was good for him.
Hmmm, I should reflect on that for a while…
HAHA! That’s a good one! Gee I should have thought of that I LONG time ago, used it on my brother or dad or someone, maybe my old life coach
Yeah, you can laugh, my former padawan. Wait til you have kids…