“Wireless Free Internet”

I was in Wal-Mart the other day and needed to pickup a USB hub and USB printer cable.  Thus I found myself in the computer accessories aisle while an employee was explaining some stuff to an older woman and young teen, probably her grandson, or late-start son.

While I attempted to look around and through Wal-Mart kid to find what I needed, I fractional attention to what he was saying, enough to think he sounded competent enough, and good in a “with customers’ sort of way.  Then he reached the end, where he told them they could use wireless if they ever moved the computer.

Then he enthused about wireless hotspots and how it exists in many places, though sometimes you might need to get the password.  Then he told them just look for signs that say “WiFi.” “Some places will try to charge you for it, but don’t let them.  WiFi stands for ‘Wireless Free Internet’.”

I nearly laughed out loud and had to control my guffaw, while thinking “there’s a post!”

The employee fled then, and as the kid and granny walked away, he was making fun of what Wal-Mart kid had just said, amusedly explaining to her the inaccuracy.

Unbelievable.  I’ve encountered that kind of utterly self-assured, blustery-sounding inaccuracy before, and it’s funny unless it’s affecting you directly.

It’s called WiFi because that sounds like HiFi, even if some executive at Microsoft who ought have known better once pronounced it “wiffy” and became the butt of geek humor forever (also reminding me of the disdain for Sci-Fi, versus SF, by True Fans, who jokingly refer to Sci-Fi as “skiffy” to make fun of those who use it), and is much more memorable and marketable than 802 dot whateverthefuck.

Wireless free internet.  Heh.  Doh!

Posted by on 02/22 at 08:56 AM

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