Shibboleet - The code for getting right through to tech support

Is tech support “programmed” in such a way that you can get much better care with a top secret passcode? Some say “shibboleet” may be that special word Despite what you may read on a comic, there is no passcode. Even if there is a passcode, it isn’t shibboleet. The word, based in multiple languages, does make some sort of sense.

Shibboleet could be found on XKCD

The XKCD comic is loved by many. It’s a “webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math and language.” The comic is hand-drawn and of stick figures. It is meant to humor those on the web that are tech-minded. At the storefront had been “shibboleet.” That had been in this morning’s comic. The character within the comic had been having a dream about the word shibboleet. By saying the word, a tech support caller would immediately be put through to a tech support worker who knew about computers better. This meant to “an individual who knows a minimum of two programming languages.”

Shibboleet possibilities

The XKCD comic showed that shibboleet is just a dream. It’s just a dream in real life too. One of two things will happen if you state shibboleet on a tech support call. The tech support person will likely be confused unless they have read XKCD. They also may have read the comic. If they have, they’ll just giggle a bit. Long story short, tech support most often relies on scripts and troubleshooting by people who barely get paid enough for a no no fax cash advance, not dreamt-in-a-comic backdoor passwords. If you’re lucky, the tech support personnel can at least have a good conversation with you if you say shibboleet.

Shibboleet has a real significance

Some state “shibboleet” comes from the Hebrew language. If this were true, it would mean “a person of knowledge.” Between “shibbo” and “leet,” the malmanteau “shibboleet” probably just means somebody who’s savvy and knows reading and writing access data and passwords. This is called “I33t” online with a second alphabet. This alphabet utilizes ASCII characters along with regular alphabet characters..

Articles cited

XKCD

xkcd.com