What is Digg?529 Comments
- Otto, on 10/12/2007, -14/+1059Comment abuse for content repost, since site just shat itself and duggmirror didn't get it:
---
I only met my brother’s ex-girlfriend’s family once — the year they invited our family over to share Thanksgiving dinner. Since we were basically a group of strangers looking to make a good first impression, the table conversation was nothing more than friendly idle chitchat.
When I asked our hostess for more mashed potatoes, she took the opportunity to ask me about myself while dishing out my second helping — “So Shaun, what do you do for a living?”
Hesitantly, I responded: “I work in computer support.”
The transition to silence was immediate. All eyes suddenly turned to me, raised eyebrows all around. If you hadn’t heard my response, judging from everyone’s reaction you might think I said something outrageous like I was a male stripper or a gynecologist — but I knew the awkward silence would soon be broken by an overwhelming outpouring of computer questions.
“Oh wow, a computer guy!” — “So you know how to remove spyware and viruses and stuff, right?” — “Our family computer is really slow, I think it has a virus.” — “Do you have a business card, or can I get your number?”
I politely and patiently answered their questions, hoping that we’d exhaust the subject in a matter of minutes and then move on to something else. As it would turn out, my hopeful prediction was very wrong — the gentleman sitting next to me scooted his seat closer to me to begin an interrogation.
This man I was meeting for the first time must’ve truly believed that I was going to help him with his problem at that very moment. It didn’t matter how uninterested I looked or sounded, he was convinced that I must know the answer he’s looking for and he was determined he would get it.
Situations like this one were common for me. I’ve had eavesdropping strangers approach me with questions about their computer while I was eating in a restaurant. I’ve had oblivious coworkers step in front of me in a buffet line to tell me about their computer problems while I was serving myself food. I’ve had neighbors who spotted me from their window rush outside to coax me into working on their home computer while I was walking to the corner market. My knack for solving people’s computer problems had become so well-known among my neighborhood that these circumstances were near impossible to avoid.
You might be thinking, “So why complain? If your help is in high demand, why not embrace your talents and charge people for your time?”
I tried to for seven years. I’ve worked in the computer industry in various ways — help desk support, web design, consulting and sales, field technician, freelance computer specialist, and whatever other fancy name you want to give “the computer guy.”
I stopped enjoying it. There were certainly times when I enjoyed myself, but most of those times were when my computer talents were still developing. Once I stopped learning new things on the job, I would become fidgety and want to move on to something else.
From my career-hopping experiences in the computer industry, I’ve become acquainted with the Top Ten Reasons it doesn’t pay to be the computer guy:
Reason #10 - Most Of Your Accomplishments Are Invisible
The computer guy never hears anyone tell him, “I just want to let you know … everything is working fine!”
The reality is that people call the computer guy when something is wrong.
As a computer guy, if you work really hard to make everything work the way that it should, and things work fine, then people believe you don’t do anything. Everything you manage to get working correctly or do perfectly will forever remain unnoticed by computer users. They’ll only ever notice that you do anything when something isn’t working correctly, and you are called upon to fix it.
Reason #9 - Every Conversation You Have Is Roughly The Same
When the computer guy dares to mention what he does for a living, the typical response is, “I have a question about my home computer…”
Or when the computer guy first hears about a widespread problem within the computer network he’s responsible for, he can barely begin to assess the problem before a dozen other people call to report the same problem.
Or when the computer guy explains a certain process on a computer to a user who is incapable of retaining the process, he will inevitably need to reinstruct the user of this same process — indefinitely.
Reason #8 - You’re An Expert Of Bleeding-Edge Technology Products, Aren’t You?
The computer guy often finds himself in situations where someone is asking him for advice on a pending investment of the technological variety.
“I heard about (some hardware or software product) that can do (something desirable) for me. I brought you these (advertisements/reviews/printouts) because I wanted your recommendation. Which would you buy?”
Although the inquiring person sincerely trusts the computer guy’s judgment over their own, in almost every instance the real objective of these meetings is to ensure their own immunity from making a risky purchase.
If it turns out to be a bad investment, and they cannot get (the hardware or software product) to do (anything desirable), then you will be their personal scapegoat — “But honey, the computer guy said I should buy it!”
Reason #7 - Your Talents Are Forcibly Undervalued
Thanks to the constantly declining price of new computers, the computer guy cannot charge labor sums without a dispute. If he asks to be paid what he is worth, he will likely be met with the “why not buy new?” argument.
That is, desktop computers are always getting smaller, faster, and cheaper. It’s possible to purchase a new desktop computer for under $400. If the computer guy spends five hours fixing a computer and wants $100/hour for his time, his customer will be outraged, exclaiming “I didn’t even spend this much to BUY the computer, why should I pay this much just to FIX it?”
Reason #6 - You’re Never Allowed A Moment’s Peace
The computer guy is so prone to interruption that he rarely finds an opportunity to work on his own problems. This is because:
1. Computers never sleep.
2. Computer problems aren’t scheduled.
3. Every problem takes time to diagnose.
4. The computer guy can only give one problem his full attention.
5. Each user believes their problem deserves attention now.
Consequently, the computer guy has a 24/7 obligation to keep critical computer systems running, while simultaneously juggling everyone’s problems. He’ll often need to forfeit any opportunities to tend to his own needs for the sake of others — because at any moment, of any day, he can be interrupted by someone who wants to make their problem his problem.
Reason #5 - People Ask You To Perform Miracles
The computer guy is often mistaken for someone who possesses the combined skills of an old priest and a young priest. I’ll sum this up easily by example:
“No, I really can’t recover any files from your thumb drive, even if you did find it after it passed through your dog.”
Reason #4 - Your Assumed “All-Knowing” Status Sets You Up To Let People Down
There is no common understanding that there are smaller divisions within the computer industry, and that the computer guy cannot be an expert in all areas. What makes things worse, is when the computer guy attempts to explain this to someone asking for help, the person will often believe that the computer guy is withholding the desired knowledge to avoid having to help.
This is somewhat related to the next reason:
Reason #3 - You Possess Unlimited Responsibility
The computer guy is expected to solve problems. It is difficult to determine the boundaries of that expectation.
Some of the oddest things that I’ve been asked to do include:
1. Use pirated software to undelete important company files.
2. Create an Intranet, after explaining I didn’t know how to.
3. Teach someone how to hide their pornography collection.
Solving problems can range from replacing batteries in a wireless keyboard to investigating why the entire building loses power at the same time every morning. Resolutions can necessitate weaving a 50-foot cable through a drop ceiling, or wriggling under a house on your belly to add an electrical outlet.
Reasons #4 and #3 boil down to this: no matter how often you want to play the role of a hero, there will always be circumstances that test the limits of your ability to be one. It’s difficult to judge when helping someone means doing something immoral, and it’s even harder to admit you are unable to solve someone’s problem — and chances are, that someone will view you as incompetent because you were unable to help them.
Reason #2 - A Life Of Alienation
People only talk to the computer guy when they need him to fix something. Also, when the computer guy approaches a user, they’ll hop up out of their chair under the presumption that he’s there to fix something — as if it would never be expected that he only wants to strike up a conversation.
The fact that the computer guy never gets a moment’s peace can also practically force him to withdraw into solitude. His co-workers don’t understand that he doesn’t want to hear about their computer problems during his lunch hour — he does that every other hour of the day. That’s why the computer guy eats lunch alone with his door closed, or goes out to eat every day — not because he’s unfriendly, but because he needs to escape the incessant interruptions.
Reason #1 - You Have No Identity
It’s an awful experience when the computer guy shows up at a neighbor’s doorstep with a plate of Christmas cookies, only to have the child who answered the door call out, “Mom, the computer guy is here!” He begs for an identity that is not directly associated with computers, but “the computer guy” label walks ahead of him — it simply cannot be avoided. I was given a name and I’d love to be addressed by it.
Having read these reasons, you may believe that I’m complaining. It’s true that I was upset with many aspects of my life as the computer guy, but I’m past the point of complaining.
I took a good hard look at my existence and realized that things were not likely to change in the line of work I had chosen. Instead of just complaining, I took action and began making positive changes in my life.
Working in the computer industry isn’t for everybody. It wasn’t for me. I’ve compiled my reasons for putting it behind me and placed them here, so that anyone who is unsatisfied with their life working in computers might recognize it’s not for them either. - emanggid, on 10/12/2007, -4/+651
Does everyone else always get that "Hey my computer is slow, will you fix it" like every day? - zappo1776, on 10/12/2007, -1/+502"You've never used AOL? I thought you're a computer expert."
I was asked this so many times in the 90's I almost went mad. - pseudojd, on 10/12/2007, -20/+418at 95$ an hour, I think I will continue to be the 'computer guy'
- CaptMonkey, on 10/12/2007, -8/+398@emanggid
Yes, almost every time I go to a friend or family members' house I get that same question. Sometimes just if I'm standing outside of my apartment or walking to my car, I'll get it. And sometimes they even come over to knock on my door and ask me.
The most ironic moment I ever had in computer troubleshooting was at a large dinner the night before my sister graduated from pharmacy school. The people running the presentation following the meal had computer issues when they tried to show a video through the projector. All eyes at our table turned to me and I went to fix the problem. Me, who never bothered to finish college, fixing the computer in a room full of hundreds of people who would be doctors the next day. - sigmaman2, on 10/12/2007, -3/+389"...Oh, by the way, while you're here..."
- mattmcm, on 10/12/2007, -8/+315@Otto (#6492159)
It's not comment abuse, you're giving us a great service. Thanks for that :) - ramiro, on 10/12/2007, -4/+304Diggmirror missed it, call that computer guy!
- cscalfani, on 10/12/2007, -1/+252The thing that gets me is that the "computer guy" is expected to just fix things for free (I'm not talking a service here, but friends, family, etc.). If I worked as a mechanic, you wouldn't come up to me and say, "Hey, my car needs a tune up. You think you could come over do that for me?"
Every other profession is met with a modicum of respect. No one would ask a dentist to come over and look at their teeth next Saturday. There is respect for what dentists do. Computer guys are just expected to come over and fix stuff for FREE. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+24599% of the time, the problem lies somewhere between the keyboard and the chair.
- Waiting2awake, on 10/12/2007, -57/+253LOL, I have used essentially the same thing....
Them: Hey, can I ask you a question?
Me: Just did, didn't you?
Them: My computer is slow, do you think I have a virus?
Me: Sure do, probably tons of spyware, malware, rootkit's and probably a couple of trojans too!!
Them: What can I do about it? Can you come over and fix it?
Me: I can come over and install Linux for you.
Them: Thats too hard to work, can't you just remove the bad stuff?
Me: I was, I was removing Windows. - tit4tat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+192I get a lot of "My home computer is all screwed up, runs slow, browser go's to some weird site I've never seen before, there's all kind of crap installed on it...yaddayadda... How can I fix it?"
Get rid of your kids. - maximumsteve1, on 10/12/2007, -2/+167@ "You've never used AOL? I thought you're a computer expert."
omg, yes! irony at it's finest right there. I love how people these days have broadband and still pay for aol on top of it because they think they'll lose their email. I have to sit there and tell them it's free and you can still log in and get it after you terminate your service. You're paying aol basically for nothing. One old couple threatened to sue me because their router broke 3 months after I set it up for them and an ambulance company wanted me to refund them on a computer that had it's hard drive crash 1 year later. Complete BS. I'm out of the game now. - sigmaman2, on 10/12/2007, -0/+162Them: Why can't you fix my computer once and for all?
Me: I did. You had a problem with Popup windows, and I got rid of what was causing it.
Them: But I still have a problem
Me: Why do you say that?
Them: Because right after you got rid of the popups, my MySpace Toolbar disappeared. - dave11980, on 10/12/2007, -0/+161Here is the phrase everyone should know. "I would have to sit down and look at it to figure it out." Works 95% of the time.
- Civil, on 10/12/2007, -1/+159Wow, very accurate. I've made strides to remove myself from "computer guy" status for several reasons related to this:
1. People won't take the goddamn advice I give them.
2. Taking money from people for work implies that I owe them some sort of warranty when they ***** their machines up.
3. I don't have (won't give up) the free time to do everything people ask me for
4. They don't listen when I instruct them how to use something, then ask the same thing again days later. - mickeyknoxxx, on 10/12/2007, -8/+163But it does pay to be "The Commander Guy" :-)
- danmoran, on 10/12/2007, -3/+132We referred to that as an ID-10T error.
- ozid, on 10/12/2007, -4/+125I was about to defend windows. But I remembered I am typing this in Ubuntu. But seriously, Windows isn't TERRIBLE. It just makes you realize how many idiots are in the world.
- mythandros, on 10/12/2007, -1/+114@Ngai
So, in other words, you charge $180/hr instead of $95/hr. - TheKricket, on 10/12/2007, -7/+108am i the only one who was fighting back tears at the end of the article?
- rootryan, on 10/12/2007, -2/+97I always tell people, the worst things for a computer:
AOL
Myspace
IE toolbars
teenagers - Paktu, on 10/12/2007, -1/+81"This AOL 9.0 you have installed seems to be causing all kinds of PEBKAC errors."
- oddroot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+79I so agree with your 2nd point there,
2. Taking money from people for work implies that I owe them some sort of warranty when they ***** their machines up.
And it's getting to the point where beer and everything else just isn't worth it either. I love making people bring me their computers though, this seems to be key... if they have to take it out of their house, and not have it for 3 or 4 days it seems to make them work harder to fix it themselves.... course they likely just screw it up worse but hey :) - ericrous, on 10/12/2007, -9/+83As a "computer guy" with annoying family myself, I've found that a firearm and a willingness to use it go a long way towards dissuading computer questions.
- Beatmiser, on 10/12/2007, -6/+76I would never suggest to some of the idiots I work with that they should use Linux. Not ever.
- rwallen, on 10/12/2007, -18/+83Telling someone to learn a new system isn't being helpful. It doesn't matter what you like or what you think would work better, it's about giving the customer what they ask for. All you people refusing to help someone because they don't run your latest flavor of linux or telling a customer to spend more money than they want to on a mac when a $300 dell notebook is even more than they need are just making the situation worse.
Maybe the reason 'the computer guy' doesn't get any respect is because he rarely shows it to his customers. - eatmorgnome, on 10/12/2007, -15/+79"(even though it should be virii i think)"
No it shouldn't. - qmeister, on 10/12/2007, -3/+62@adidos
The difference is choking person's life is at stake...no one will die because they can't get email very fast....wait, I know a few, but not most. - Urusai, on 10/12/2007, -4/+60Oh yes, the women get moist when the computer guy struts into the room. He's like a plumber, but without the social or physical skills, or the union pay. Loosen her up with some talk about your favorite script languages or mangas, then go for the gold with an invitation back to your pad to compare the graphics on your XBox 360 and PS3, some light conversation about the Cell processor not really being put to its full use, then bust out the ramen and Bawls for dinner on the living room floor. You da mack, daddy!
- brbubba, on 10/12/2007, -0/+55Agreed.
Never do home consulting.
Home users whine about the price, and if the thing blows up a week later there is always the issue of, well you gotta pay me again. Businesses know the cost and don't care about shelling out $70-$100+/hour, even if there are repeat visits.
Home users ask you to fix issues which aren't really problems, and many times no one in the computer industry knows how to fix them because no one asks to fix them! Case in point, a gentleman asked me to fix his email client window because it wouldn't properly expand to the exact right size everytime it opened. I got it to work by sheer luck, but upon researching the issue later, no one had a definitive answer online either.
Home users don't want to hear that technology can't solve their problem. They think that there is always a solution for under $100 for their problem. For example, Wireless doesn't always reach the entire house, and telling someone to pay $1k to get jacks properly wired is rarely an option.
Home users expect you to know everything. There are many problems that have to be researched, but many people assume that you have encountered every possible problem and know the solution immediately. Some tricky issues can take an hour of research and 5 minutes of real work to fix.
Home users cannot be trained or taught. I could spend hours and hours with someone teaching them how to work a program, but 5 minutes after I leave they would have no clue what I just did. Learning is best done the hard way, through lots of mistakes and wasted time with occasional guidance from a more knowledgeable source.
Easy way to avoid #8, don't make definitive statements. Pick two products and compare and contrast them, with pros and cons. Let the user figure out which one they think is better. They will usually either make a snappy decision or become so frustrated by the problem that they will make up some excuse to put off the purchase for another month.
In the end I would like to say that for all these problems there are a few individuals out there who are diamonds in the rough. Who truly know the value of your work, are not stingy about paying you, and are genuinely good people. - ElliotShoe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+49screw the headhunters! they treat you as expendable!
- betasp, on 10/12/2007, -2/+46I would think that as a recruiter you would know the difference between an IT professional and a computer guy. I work in a $4B company and we no longer have any computer guys, we outsource those.
- ethnicman, on 10/12/2007, -13/+56BTW anyone who is a profesional has to deal with this to an extent. Would you not ask financial advice from a friend or family who is an accountant or a if your car makes a funny noise and you have a mechanic friend would you not ask him what he thinks the problem might be?
It is crap to think that only computer guys are hit up for free advice. - Mininday, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4399% of the time...REBOOT
- adidos, on 10/12/2007, -1/+42Even worse is that the general population seems to get "Computer Scientist" and "IT Help Desk Worker" confused...As soon as I mention that I'm a CS, they go, "Ohh, you know what, I'm having trouble with my ____ software. Can you fix it?" Ugh
- iarenzana, on 10/12/2007, -4/+43RTFM
- judicar, on 10/12/2007, -2/+41if it's a mac, tell em you only work on pc and visa versa
- Waiting2awake, on 10/12/2007, -4/+42and 10 figure headaches
- offwithyourtv, on 10/12/2007, -0/+38@cscalfani
Actually, I'd say it happens all the time to people of other professions. My dad was a car mechanic, and he also used to install car stereos. Family and friends ask him for help with their cars all the time. And since I learned a lot from being around him while he installed stereos, I became the "car audio girl" in addition to the "computer girl." Also, since I have a bachelors in psychology, friends ask me all the time to "diagnose" them or other people they know, as if a BS in psych actually qualified me to be a shrink. It never ends. People ask their doctor/nurse friends to tell them what sort of sickness they have and to give them free samples of meds, ask their hairdresser friends to cut their hair for free, ask their web designer friends to make websites for free for the "exposure," et cetera. - ExSlashdotter, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3760% of the time, it works everytime!
- ericrous, on 10/12/2007, -0/+37The worst part about being a computer guy is that women want you to fix their computers, but none considers the "computer guy" sexy. They may screw the mechanic, the plumber, hell maybe even the milkman--but fixing their computer will get you NO play--NONE, ZIPPO, ZILCH. No matter how sweet she acts when she needs your help, she will promptly show you to the door when you're done. So don't bother. Tell her to get the sexy mechanic to fix her goddamn computer.
As for me, after years of annoyance I finally just took the old "Gas, Grass, or Ass--Nobody Rides for Free" approach to my computer work. I got tired of "helping out" everybody and his ***** brother for nothing. Now, when someone asks me to work or their computer, or do a video, or work on some graphic or webpage for them, I tell them my costs up front--which START at $30 an hour. I don't really even care about the money (I make plenty already). This is just a good way to shut them the Hell up. I would also be willing to work for grass or ass, but no one has ever offered me that (see above).
The point is that you finally just have to lay down the law and stop letting people take advantage of you. If people aren't willing to pay or reciprocate in kind, piss on them. This doesn't mean you can't help out a family member or little old lady once or twice. Just don't make it a habit. The idiot Geek Squad guy at Best Buy sure as Hell wouldn't fix it for free, and neither should you. And, if you have an IQ above 60, you're certainly better qualified than the Geek Squad guy. - bevans, on 10/12/2007, -1/+37#11 - I think there is something wrong with my PC, this website I keep going to keeps saying 'Internal Server Error"
- deadsenator, on 10/12/2007, -0/+35Have you tried turning it off and on again?
Is it definitely plugged in? - arbulus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+35It's astonishing how few people know the basic troubleshooting tasks:
1. relaunch the program
2. reboot the machine
3. check your cables and plugs
You'd think that would be common knowledge by now. - ElliotShoe, on 10/12/2007, -2/+36no it doesnt.
- quentinp, on 10/12/2007, -0/+34Or a Layer 8 error?
- strangewill, on 10/12/2007, -6/+38Imperialistic Linux attitude, a computer guy does not make.
Anyway, I'm still very unlikely to recommend Linux for anyone that isn't at least moderately schooled in computer operation, and not worried about not being able to use 99% of the software available.
As for $300 laptop, I'd simply say that it couldn't be done without buying a used and probably completely garbage one. - technobabble042, on 10/12/2007, -29/+61When I don't want to help someone, and I'm tired and weary, my conversations go like this:
Person: Hey
Me: Hi, what's up?
Person: Not much. Hey, I was having a problem with my computer...
Me: Install linux. Anything else?
Person: But the--
Me: LINUX. Moving on?
After a bit they get the point that I don't want to help them, and that's the only answer they're damn well gonna get. Doesn't work quite as well on the ones who actually HAVE installed Linux, but that's beside the point. Then I just recommend Gentoo. *evil grin* - colecut, on 10/12/2007, -0/+31I was once asked "Do you just have online, or the internet too?"
-
Show 51 - 100 of 524 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is