[PW] ACDL's own memorable reference questions

[Chris Corston]

Douglas' fax story reminded me of a photocopier story. Not exactly a 
reference question, but ....

This was before fax machines, so it seemed even more bizarre at the time. 
One of our reference patrons was a rather unstable character who thought 
everything in the entire world was part of a vast Zionist conspiracy. Mostly 
he just kind of mumbled under his breath, but on his bad days, he would rant 
loudly and have to be removed from the building. One day he sidled up to the 
photocopier where someone was making copies, pointed at the machine, and at 
the document being copied and announced in a loud voice , "Y'know what 
happens to everything you put in that machine ..... Straight to Tel Aviv!"
Chris Corston
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia


 4.) We provide fax service.  One gentleman asked me to fax an order
> form for him.  I happened to notice that the payment information had
> been left blank, and (perhaps foolishly) asked him if he wanted to
> fill that in before we sent it.
>
> "Oh," he said, "they want a credit card.  I don't have one.  Can you
> fax a check for me?"
>
> I explained that they were unlikely to accept a faxed check.
>
> "What about if I pay you?  Can you pay them?"
>
> No, I said, we weren't allowed to act as the middle party in a
> commercial transaction.
>
> "Well, can you fax them the money?"
>
> He evidently thought that the fax machine was a sort of transporter.
> It took a full twenty minutes of explaining before he finally accepted
> that we had no way of sending cash through the fax machine.  Luckily,
> he was cheerful and patient.