February 26, 2001

8:26 PM

New to computers? Confused by that message telling you to "hit any key"? Get professional help here. Now, aren't you glad you bought a Compaq?
posted by kindall (4 comments total)

Homer Simpson: [reading screen] "To Start Press Any Key". Where's the ANY key? I see Esk ["ESC"], Catarl ["CTRL"], and Pig-Up ["PGUP"]. There doesn't seem to be any ANY key. Woo! All this computer hacking is making me thirsty. I think I'll order a TAB. [presses TAB key] Awp...no time for that now, the computer's starting.
posted by briandame at 9:19 PM on February 26, 2001

I used to write computer programs for a high school. One day the math teacher (Fundie) eyed my latest program interface and said "HIT any key?" That's when I first reflected on that common expression. Just for him I changed it to "Press any key".

But ya know, ummm, that was his trip. Now I realize after seeing the sensitive deNiro flick "Analyze This" that sometimes "SMASH any key" is an appropriate proportional orthopathic response to cyberaggravation. Or maybe "SMOKE any key". (Open to any therapeutic suggestions!)
posted by Twang at 2:35 AM on February 27, 2001

"Fondle any key to continue."
posted by sonofsamiam at 8:05 AM on February 27, 2001

My friend Matt (a reader but not a poster here) bashed me for not crediting him for finding this link. Matt, you now have officially been credited. For all the good it'll do on a days-old thread, I know.
posted by kindall at 11:36 PM on March 1, 2001