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We’re all doing the best we can with technology these days, and it’s been harder for some of us than others. The older a person is, the more set they’ve been in their ways, the tougher time some have had with switching to online meetings and happy hours and consultations – and this attorney, who somehow got tangled up with the filters on Zoom, is no exception.
Texas attorney Rod Ponton arrived at a court hearing that was being conducted on Zoom with a cat filter on, making him appear as a big-eyed kitten instead of his normal, professional self.
https://twitter.com/JudgeFergusonTX/status/1359202090824966151?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1359202090824966151%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeednews.com%2Farticle%2Fsalvadorhernandez%2Fcat-lawyer-zoom-court
Kendyl Hanks, the attorney who posted the exchange on Twitter, says she received permission to post the normally closed-door proceedings of the 394th Judicial District Court.
Judge Roy Ferguson was presiding, and pointed out the elephant in the room in the dry way only a judge could have managed.
“Mr. Ponton, I believe you have a filter turned on in the video settings.”
Ponton, as a cat, spoke (yes, it’s as hilarious as it sounds).
“I don’t know how to remove it. I have my assistant here. She’s trying to but I’m prepared to go forward with it. I’m not a cat,” he added after a moment, the kitten making a piteous face in the process.
Image Credit: YouTube
Mr. Ponton remained the picture of professionalism, even though at least one of the other attorneys appears to be struggling with his composure.
Ponton explained to Buzzfeed News that he had logged on from a secretary’s computer, and wasn’t aware of the filter until he’d joined the conference.
He ended up not having to go through with the hearing as a cat, even though he’d been prepared to do just that.
“The judge figured out how to take the filter off and remove it, and miraculously my less humorous, old guy image appeared during the hearing.”
We should all be grateful, of course, that attorneys and assistants and judges and secretaries are dedicated to keep the legal system moving forward during these trying times.
To the latter point, Ponton doesn’t mind the hilarious video going viral, though he is happy the others in the hearing were able to keep their composure at the time.
Image Credit: YouTube
“If the country can pause for a moment and chuckle at a computer snafu at my expense, I’m glad. It’s been a stressful time.”
Amen to that.
May we all have such calm composure, and such ability to laugh at ourselves.
Life is too short to take ourselves too seriously, don’t you think?
