Minimalism conceals the messy realities of society
3 by prismatic | 0 comments on Hacker News.
Saturday, April 4, 2020
New ask Hacker News story: Ask HN: How does your App deal with the death of one of your users?
Ask HN: How does your App deal with the death of one of your users?
23 by herodotus | 2 comments on Hacker News.
My wife died recently. I had to close various accounts. From an IT perspective, the results were shameful. For example, I called her cell-phone provider and closed her account. The agent was very respectful. He offered condolences and closed the account, and said there would be a refund. The next day, there was an email, addressed to my wife, using her first name, asking her to rate her recent experience. I had to use text messaging to close her NY Times subscription. I texted "I need to cancel a subscription" The bot asked me why 1. No time to read 2. Price concern 3. Service issue And I was told I had to answer 1, 2, or 3! Really? Then a human got involved, and he/she was good, but obviously the bot still has some control because at the end I got this: "Thank for contacting the New York Times, I hope you have a wonderful rest of the day." Come on.....this is terrible. The human realized this and immediately added "And also before you go, I wanted to express my most sincere condolonces to you and your family" There is more, but this may be enough. My question for those of you working on apps that have registered users or subscribers: how do you deal with notification that one of your clients has died? Did you even give this use case some thought?
23 by herodotus | 2 comments on Hacker News.
My wife died recently. I had to close various accounts. From an IT perspective, the results were shameful. For example, I called her cell-phone provider and closed her account. The agent was very respectful. He offered condolences and closed the account, and said there would be a refund. The next day, there was an email, addressed to my wife, using her first name, asking her to rate her recent experience. I had to use text messaging to close her NY Times subscription. I texted "I need to cancel a subscription" The bot asked me why 1. No time to read 2. Price concern 3. Service issue And I was told I had to answer 1, 2, or 3! Really? Then a human got involved, and he/she was good, but obviously the bot still has some control because at the end I got this: "Thank for contacting the New York Times, I hope you have a wonderful rest of the day." Come on.....this is terrible. The human realized this and immediately added "And also before you go, I wanted to express my most sincere condolonces to you and your family" There is more, but this may be enough. My question for those of you working on apps that have registered users or subscribers: how do you deal with notification that one of your clients has died? Did you even give this use case some thought?
New top story on Hacker News: Ask HN: How does your App deal with the death of one of your users?
Ask HN: How does your App deal with the death of one of your users?
8 by herodotus | 0 comments on Hacker News.
My wife died recently. I had to close various accounts. From an IT perspective, the results were shameful. For example, I called her cell-phone provider and closed her account. The agent was very respectful. He offered condolences and closed the account, and said there would be a refund. The next day, there was an email, addressed to my wife, using her first name, asking her to rate her recent experience. I had to use text messaging to close her NY Times subscription. I texted "I need to cancel a subscription" The bot asked me why 1. No time to read 2. Price concern 3. Service issue And I was told I had to answer 1, 2, or 3! Really? Then a human got involved, and he/she was good, but obviously the bot still has some control because at the end I got this: "Thank for contacting the New York Times, I hope you have a wonderful rest of the day." Come on.....this is terrible. The human realized this and immediately added "And also before you go, I wanted to express my most sincere condolonces to you and your family" There is more, but this may be enough. My question for those of you working on apps that have registered users or subscribers: how do you deal with notification that one of your clients has died? Did you even give this use case some thought?
8 by herodotus | 0 comments on Hacker News.
My wife died recently. I had to close various accounts. From an IT perspective, the results were shameful. For example, I called her cell-phone provider and closed her account. The agent was very respectful. He offered condolences and closed the account, and said there would be a refund. The next day, there was an email, addressed to my wife, using her first name, asking her to rate her recent experience. I had to use text messaging to close her NY Times subscription. I texted "I need to cancel a subscription" The bot asked me why 1. No time to read 2. Price concern 3. Service issue And I was told I had to answer 1, 2, or 3! Really? Then a human got involved, and he/she was good, but obviously the bot still has some control because at the end I got this: "Thank for contacting the New York Times, I hope you have a wonderful rest of the day." Come on.....this is terrible. The human realized this and immediately added "And also before you go, I wanted to express my most sincere condolonces to you and your family" There is more, but this may be enough. My question for those of you working on apps that have registered users or subscribers: how do you deal with notification that one of your clients has died? Did you even give this use case some thought?
FOX NEWS: Pro-life leaders scrutinize WHO funding amid support for abortion during COVID-19 outbreak
Pro-life leaders scrutinize WHO funding amid support for abortion during COVID-19 outbreak

A host of pro-life leaders questioned whether the U.S. should continue funding the World Health Organization (WHO) after it voiced support for abortion during the coronavirus pandemic.
via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/2yAhrlP
FOX NEWS: Georgia reopens beaches despite coronavirus 'shelter-in-place' order
Georgia reopens beaches despite coronavirus 'shelter-in-place' order

Gov. Brian Kemp reopened all of Georgia’s beaches this week, even as he issued a “shelter-in-place” order to combat the coronavirus.
via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/2xOnT8t
FOX NEWS: Tennessee 6-year-old with cystic fibrosis beats coronavirus: ‘Thank you God,’ mom says
Tennessee 6-year-old with cystic fibrosis beats coronavirus: ‘Thank you God,’ mom says

A 6-year-old from Tennessee who has cystic fibrosis has beaten the coronavirus, he said in a video his mother posted to Facebook.
via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/2UFBAiO
FOX NEWS: Ohio inmate alleges COVID-19 outbreak in prison, lack of testing, threats of retaliation
Ohio inmate alleges COVID-19 outbreak in prison, lack of testing, threats of retaliation

An Ohio inmate is alleging a COVID-19 outbreak at one prison while Gov. DeWine announces 38 potential early releases.
via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/2JD4xFI
FOX NEWS: Rhode Island's top Catholic nixes drive-thru Palm Sunday palm distribution over coronavirus
Rhode Island's top Catholic nixes drive-thru Palm Sunday palm distribution over coronavirus

Catholic churches in Rhode Island are canceling plans to offer "drive-thru" pickup of blessed palms for Palm Sunday because of the state's coronavirus stay-at-home order, according to a report.
via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/2wecUol
FOX NEWS: New York family gets creative with funeral visitation during coronavirus outbreak
New York family gets creative with funeral visitation during coronavirus outbreak

It was a unique funeral visitation – and one that David R. Scott hopes will inspire other grieving families across America during this difficult and uncertain time.
via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/2xMDSUn
FOX NEWS: Essential Workers commuting to work by bike during coronavirus pandemic
Essential Workers commuting to work by bike during coronavirus pandemic

Dozens of bike shop owners across the country say there's been a sharp spike in the number of bike repairs and sales, with essential workers being the primary customer. Some owners are saying dozens of families and individuals are also bringing in their old-forgotten bike for repairs way more than usual, in fact, they haven't seen business like this in years.
via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/39Kg14S

