How many of you deny you know anything at all about computers

[blckgrffn]

Originally posted by: Golgatha
I'd be glad to help you configure your Dell Online. Yeah, I think the 4year service plan sounds right for you.

Amen. The in-home one. Heck, get the XPS and the priority queue. Just don't call me!

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
eh, you're too grumpy. i wouldn't ask you for a favor anyway.

This sort of work MAKES people grumpy. You see sides of people that most everyone else isn't exposed to. It might sound dramatic, but it has seriously challenged my faith in us as a people. I've seen how superficial and selfish people really are... people who you would otherwise think were bred from angels and saints.

Deep down, most people are asshole covered bastards with a retard filling.

 

[meltdown75]

LOL. this thread sort of reminds me of when I used to "help" people with their satellite cards.

You were their best friend when the dish was up and working... but the moment it went down, you were a piece of crap. LOL

and that my friends is a LOL bookend.

 

[BillClo]

Originally posted by: daveymark

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Oh yeah...I'm there. I say I'm a garbage man- that way nobody wants to ask me about my work.

When at a party, NEVER say you're a:

1) dentist
2) doctor
3) PC tech
4) chiropractor

Or accountant, for that matter.

or mechanic

Or a pharmacist. You wouldn't believe how many relatives/friends want her to give out hours of free medical advice. My sister pratically never calls to talk to me; she wants to talk to my pharmacist wife. Sheeit, they don't have pharmacists in NC? Why not talk to the one who fills your scripts, not one 3 states away? They NEVER send her a gift/card/note or anything for her 6 years of schooling.

I tell my wife she needs a credit card scanner and to tell them she takes Mastercard, Visa, and Discover. $15 for 10 mins consultation.

 

[jacko49]

Love this story,wish my lotteries would come in,to send you to all paid vacation to Hawaii FREE.good humorous writing skill here.

 

[Stuxnet]

Another note on the topic of helping friends and family...

I went through a number of "stages" in how I conducted myself when dealing with the dreaded fix-it requests. In the beginning, I was happy as hell to drive to someone's house on my spare time and lend a hand. Unfortunately, whenever I tried to call in my own favors, people - family included - were nowhere to be found. All of a sudden it's like they don't even know you. My wife and I have lived in three places: one apartment and two houses. Since we've been together, we've moved three times. Care to know how many times friends and my wife's family lent a hand?

ZERO

My father, who had suffered a heart attack, was 100lbs overweight, and had never even ASKED for "computer help", was the only one to pitch in. My wife's family: 3 brothers, a brother-in-law, three sisters, mother, step-mother, father, step-father, were all too busy every single time. These are all very capable people whom I had helped in the past. I've built no fewer than six computers and spent countless hours on nights and weekends digging these people out of problems.

When payback time came, everyone was always too busy and they couldn't be bothered, not even after all the work I had done for ALL of them.


On another note...

Any of you fellow slaves ever notice how, when someone asks you to fix their computer, they look at you like you're an asshole for asking THEM to bring the computer TO YOU? You're expected to drive miles out of your way on your free time to work at no charge, partly because they can't be bothered to bring their problems to your doorstep? No no... that's WAY too much hassle for them.

Take my father in law... on one of the many occasions he wanted help (prior to me cutting him off), I was really busy working from home. I told him I'd look into things if he tore down the computer and brought it to me.

"Oh, come on... I don't want to take everything down and load it into my car! How about you and [wife] just come over and have dinner, and you can do it then."

I can't tell you how many "dinners" really consisted of my wife's family socializing over great food and wine while three rooms over I crawl around in a mess of dust, wires, and year old french fries trying to fix their computer for the nth time.

Yes, Mosh, a lot of us are grumpy... but we're just tired of being sh*t on. If we do the work for the sake of keeping the peace, we're selling out. If we don't, we're jerks. If we do it for free all the time, we have no self-respect. If we ask for money, we're greedy bastards.

Can't win.

 

[jacko49]

Originally posted by: DaiShan

Originally posted by: jbourne77
I


Love this story,wish my lotteries would come in,to send you to all paid vacation to Hawaii FREE.good humorous writing skill here.

 

[blckgrffn]

Originally posted by: jbourne77

Originally posted by: moshquerade
eh, you're too grumpy. i wouldn't ask you for a favor anyway.

This sort of work MAKES people grumpy. You see sides of people that most everyone else isn't exposed to. It might sound dramatic, but it has seriously challenged my faith in us as a people. I've seen how superficial and selfish people really are... people who you would otherwise think were bred from angels and saints.

Deep down, most people are asshole covered bastards with a retard filling.

I hear you - although I think I cut it off/raised prices/lowered expectations sooner than you did, in time to forgo all the bitterness.

That, and I have had the privilege to actually have some very nice, understanding people be customers. Not many of them, but enough to know that when you say "most", it really doesn't mean "all".

I hope that you too, have had customers taht respect and revere your skills at least to some degree. If not, then I am sorry you missed out.

Nat

 

[dquan97]

I would fix my immediate family's pc, but ppl outside of the circle would need to buy me dinner before I do any kind of work...and I eat A LOT!

 

[archiloco]

the files are "in the computer" heads to computer and proceedes to smash the living Caca from the unit until it opens like a cheap piñata

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: blckgrffn
I hope that you too, have had customers taht respect and revere your skills at least to some degree. If not, then I am sorry you missed out.

Nat

I've had a couple who were very grateful. Ironically, the most grateful person was someone who I had pegged as the most arrogant person I've ever met. The President of the company (this was back in 1999 or 2000) had me over to his house to fix his computer. After I had been there a few times, they had me stay for dinner and they sent me home with a bottle of wine (from his own personal cellar... must be nice!).

Unfortunately, most others that I've encountered are what I call "users". I don't mean "user" as in "system user". I mean user as in "uses up all their 'relationship currency' with a person until that person tells them to go the hell away". There are a few people I simply won't even talk to anymore because of this. They just used and used until I got so sick and tired of them (and realizing that I was more their repair technician than friend/colleague) that I quit interacting with them. There was one guy in particular that I went out to lunch with, watched football with, etc., but it got to the point where every single time I was in his presence, he was asking me to diagnose his computer problems. I finally just stopped returning his calls and email. I'm sure in the end he just figured I was a dick who didn't value our friendship, but some people are just completely oblivious to their own narcissistic behavior. Unfortunately, it also seems that the more narcissistic you are, the more oblivious you are to it. Talk about the snowball effect...

Sad.

 

[randay]

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
My boss wants me to install OSX on an old iMac that can't handle it. I have lost track of how many times I have told him it can't be done.

Don't let them know if you have any DJ experience either. I got volunteered to DJ a Christmas party by my co-workers. I found out after the fact, when I was given a list of the kinds of music I was supposed to bring.

at least your getting paid for it, well, at least they are getting a bill for it.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: K1052
Invariably someone you know (usually family) breaks the silence and volunteers your services without your consent.

Man my brother in-law did this the other day for his roommate! I'm like "WTF!?" if he offered me as a suggestion of a person that could fix their PC for a fee that'd be one thing but he just straight up told her I'd be willing to fix it for her.


But I just tell even family members that they'd be better of bringing it to a place like Geek Squad since they'll warranty the work they do and I'd rather them do that than me get money for doing it myself even. Of course I don't really think Geek Squad is going to be better than if I did it myself but it's less hassle.

 

[kranky]

This got me thinking about one friend who has asked me to help fix his PC 3-4 times over the years. He's always been great about thanking me.

Originally posted by: jbourne77
I'm sure in the end he just figured I was a dick who didn't value our friendship, but some people are just completely oblivious to their own narcissistic behavior. Unfortunately, it also seems that the more narcissistic you are, the more oblivious you are to it. Talk about the snowball effect...

Sad.

I've run into a few of those. They call it "networking" when they rationalize their tendency to exploit everyone they've ever met.

"Hello, kranky! How are things? This is John Smith - remember we met at Hank's party last Fourth of July? We talked about buying computer parts online and good and bad places to shop?"

You're that writer guy?

"Yeah, right, the writer, that's me. Hey anyway, I'm doing an article about online buying experiences and that reminded me of some of the great stories you told me at the party. Would you be able to meet me for lunch Friday to go over those stories again?"

Can't do it, I'm going out of town tomorrow.

"Oh, going out of town, huh? Too bad. Well, do you think you could type up a few of those for me to use? I could really use them by the weekend since my deadline is tight. Doesn't have to be fancy - I'll polish them up. But you had some GREAT stories and I know you'd enjoy seeing them in the magazine when the story comes out."

No, I won't be able to do that.

"Um, well, uh, when do you think you might have time?"

Gotta run, Dave, take care. <click>

 

[bonkers325]

i do nowadays, so people dont ask me to troubleshoot their crappy problems

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: kranky
This got me thinking about one friend who has asked me to help fix his PC 3-4 times over the years. He's always been great about thanking me.

Originally posted by: jbourne77
I'm sure in the end he just figured I was a dick who didn't value our friendship, but some people are just completely oblivious to their own narcissistic behavior. Unfortunately, it also seems that the more narcissistic you are, the more oblivious you are to it. Talk about the snowball effect...

Sad.

I've run into a few of those. They call it "networking" when they rationalize their tendency to exploit everyone they've ever met.

"Hello, kranky! How are things? This is John Smith - remember we met at Hank's party last Fourth of July? We talked about buying computer parts online and good and bad places to shop?"

You're that writer guy?

"Yeah, right, the writer, that's me. Hey anyway, I'm doing an article about online buying experiences and that reminded me of some of the great stories you told me at the party. Would you be able to meet me for lunch Friday to go over those stories again?"

Can't do it, I'm going out of town tomorrow.

"Oh, going out of town, huh? Too bad. Well, do you think you could type up a few of those for me to use? I could really use them by the weekend since my deadline is tight. Doesn't have to be fancy - I'll polish them up. But you had some GREAT stories and I know you'd enjoy seeing them in the magazine when the story comes out."

No, I won't be able to do that.

"Um, well, uh, when do you think you might have time?"

Gotta run, Dave, take care. <click>

LMAO!!!!

It's so funny because it's SO true!

 

[dragonfang]

Originally posted by: randay

Originally posted by: randay
Hey my friend has a HP computer and he wanted to know if his hard drive has enough memory to run email? can you go look at it for him?

whoa i read my own post and almost punched my screen.

LOL.

don't be silly. the memory goes into the monitor

 

[SmoochyTX]

I have started doing this in the last year. Unfortunately my co-workers, friends, and family rat me out. So then I just say *whatever problem* is something I've never heard of before or I'm too busy or blah blah blah.

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: Golgatha
I'd be glad to help you configure your Dell Online. Yeah, I think the 4year service plan sounds right for you.

Winnar!

I still help friends all the time for computer problems... heck, I've helped random students with computer issues as well. In most cases I learn one or two more things in terms of hardware/software/disassembly/procedure that helps me in the future. That and the undying gratitude... eh, who am I kidding

 

[Gillbot]

Often

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

I charge people money/food/other services.

 

[mundane]

Originally posted by: jbourne77
...
I can't tell you how many "dinners" really consisted of my wife's family socializing over great food and wine while three rooms over I crawl around in a mess of dust, wires, and year old french fries trying to fix their computer for the nth time.

Spot on.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Well, I have to drive to a fricking trailer park tomorrow to have a look at my uncles wireless internet connection because he just changed ISP's and now cannot send/receive emails. Hmmm...geee...wonder what the problem could be. What's worse is that the fricking isp helpdesk couldn't help him (although he is a 12'o'clock flasher).

How did I get this gig? Well, my father told him I would fix it for him. Did my father ask me first? Nope. Am I some 16 year kid from high school? Nope. Will I get paid? Nope. What do I do all week? Desktop Support. What don't I want to do in my free time? Drive 20 miles to a trailer park and change a couple of mail settings in Outlook Express.

I will get revenge on my old man though. He's a structural engineer. Next time my wife's dad needs a new roof...guess who I'm signing up?

 

[lithium726]

I just dont mention it all too often. The people who know, pay me for it. I don't work for free, except for my Family.

 

[zerocool1]

depends on who it is....