When an online service isn't responsive, a cry for customer service assistance on Twitter is a highly effective maneuver. Placing customer experience under a very public microscope like this is a common go to.
However, that approach is not advised if you're the Acting Deputy Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security of the United States.
Ken Cuccinelli became the Acting Deputy Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security on November 13, 2019. The outbreak of the Coronavirus began in December 2020.
There's no on-the-job training quite like a global pandemic viral threat.
Aside from his assumed top post in DHS, Cuccinelli also joined the U.S. task force dedicated to defending against the virus' spread.
With confirmed cases in 37 countries around the globe, a major player in the anti-Coronavirus task force inevitably needed to get his hands on some maps. The best maps.
As would become wildly public, Cuccinelli ran into a snag while he attempted to access Johns Hopkins' Center for Systems Science and Engineering Department map.
Johns Hopkins CSSE
In his defense, that map is extremely cool and worth some trouble-shooting over.
Though you'd think Cuccinelli would then simply use the unique powers accessible to him as the head of a governmental agency. Surely a phone call gets you far with that business card.
Cuccinelli did not do that.
Instead, he put his feelers out on Twitter.
He evidently struggled for a little bit.
A few moments later, he followed up with some more complaints.
Twitter was a bit horrified that someone of his significance didn't have access to the very best intelligence around, ideally that of the Center for Disease Control.
One person did give some age-old wisdom.
Cuccinelli eventually was forced to respond to the outcry of concern.
At time of writing, there have been 34 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus and no deaths. Fingers crossed that all the free software around keeps humming along flawlessly for Cuccinelli to keep everyone safe.
