When The Mouse Is Not Mousing

Console gamers are getting absolutely destroyed right now. Xbox raising prices, $80 games becoming the norm, and Nintendo charging $499 for a Mario Kart bundle? Meanwhile, the PC gaming prophet descends from the heavens with his divine message: "Don't worry and come to PC, you can trust me." Sure, you'll need to sell a kidney for a graphics card, but at least you won't be paying $70 for a game that goes on sale for $12 three months later on Steam. The PC Master Race welcomes another batch of console refugees with open, angelic wings.

Behold the ANCIENT ONE! While those pathetic RTX 4090 babies are crying for upgrades after TWO MONTHS, my 9-year-old GTX 1080 sits on its mechanical throne like some unholy cybernetic deity from the depths of silicon hell! It's seen things you people wouldn't believe... it's rendered attacks ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion, watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. And yet here it stands - IMMORTAL, UNDYING, running Minecraft at a blistering 45 FPS while these hardware snowflakes throw tantrums over ray tracing! The audacity! The DRAMA! Meanwhile my graphics card is basically running on pure spite and the tears of my wallet that begs for mercy!

That moment when your BIOS update turns into an expensive paperweight speedrun. The dreaded click of death - where your computer's soul leaves its body mid-firmware update. Nothing quite matches the sheer terror of watching your machine flatline while performing open-heart surgery on its firmware. Your eyes widen just like that cat's as you realize you've just transformed your $2000 rig into modern art. Pro tip: always have a UPS backup power supply... and maybe a therapist on speed dial.

The evolution of graphics "cards" is the tech equivalent of your friend who said they'd "just have one beer" and ended up ordering the entire menu. Started with that cute little PCI card that could barely render Minesweeper, moved to something resembling an actual card, then suddenly we're installing mini-refrigerators that require their own power supply and structural support. Next GPU generation will come with its own mortgage and custody agreement. Remember when upgrading your PC didn't require reinforcing your desk first?

When your power supply is literally smoking but tech support insists on running through their entire script before admitting the obvious. This is the perfect illustration of the eternal battle between users who can see their computer is on fire and tech support who needs you to turn it off and on again first. Because clearly, the NOSMOKE module being incompatible with your power supply isn't as obvious as the actual smoke pouring out of your case. And the final punchline? Microsoft can't help because NOSMOKE isn't compatible with your power supply. You don't say! Next they'll tell you that water isn't compatible with electrocution.

Revenge is a dish best served with administrative privileges. The IT guy didn't need to throw a punch - just removed the "i" key from the keyboard. Perfect digital karma! Next time someone messes with IT support, remember they control the literal keys to your productivity. And yes, technically that IS a white "i" that's missing, proving IT folks are both punny and petty in the most brilliant way possible.