remotus operandi 

The practice of pointing the wrong remote control at an electronic device and expecting it to work; also the feeling shame, idiocy and frustration realizing you have done so

Brutus is using the TV remote to try to operate the DVR! It's clear a case of remotus operandi!
I spent five minutes with remotus operandi trying to turn down the volume on the stereo!

remotus operandi by Creed Cur December 22, 2017