Gave a computer away to friend, he sold it to someone else, it broke down.

[dave_the_nerd]

Well, I've considered it a few times. I feel somewhat bad for the guy, he's got issues, he's in poverty, although working, but he has his addictions too. (Not that I don't, I'm slowly getting hooked on scratch tickets, and I'm already hooked on Mt. Dew.) But he's kind of a "welfare queen" type too. He thinks, that if he needs something, and you have it, that he "deserves" to get some of it.

Careful with scratch tickets - that's a more expensive habit than Celerons.

Feeling sorry for somebody is not a reason to be friends with them.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Feeling sorry for somebody is not a reason to be friends with them.

True, true. Although, we kind of go "way back".

And I helped him out when he was homeless, and he helped me out when I was homeless (though, not on the street) for a while.

But I doubt I would room with him again, he's just a little too... unstable?

He used to be a much nicer person. I dunno, maybe the addictions got to him, maybe life did, maybe I spoiled him too much as a friend, with free PC parts.

Edit: I think maybe he just has a bad attitude, because he's miserable inside. He's got a GF, but it seems more like a mutual use-use kind of relationship to me, sometimes. Or maybe I'm just being a tad bit cynical. He's VERY cynical, though, he refuses to look on the bright side of things.

I try to "stay positive" as much as possible, as much as some aspects of my life are lacking.

Edit: Here's an example of how cynical he is. I've given him, thousands of dollars worth of free tech-support hours, and probably a thousand dollars worth of free PC parts over the last 15 years, and he's constantly telling me how everyone in this world is only out for themselves, and that he never gets "help".

Yet, one time when his hand-me-down monitor broke, I picked up one from a local electronics recycler, and brought it to him. But it was a 5:4 monitor, and he was used to a 16:10, and complained and said that the monitor had "lag", and made his PC slower.

So, a week later, I went back to the recycler (no, I didn't try to return the first monitor), and picked up another one, for $15 or so, that was a wide-screen like my friend was used to.

So I take to his place, and exchange it with the first one, and leave him with the wide-screen, and he's like, "I know you're profiting from this somehow."

Like, in his worldview, even people giving him shit FOR FREE, are somehow "looking to profit", and not just "being kind as friends". He really doesn't understand friendship. It's frustrating.

 

[poofyhairguy]

True, true. Although, we kind of go "way back".

People change. Priorities change. He seems happy to scrape the bottom in life riding on the charity of others, while you take what meager (not insulting just going by your posts) resources you have an try to use those to help people. Yall are simply not compatible people anymore.

Part of the reason growing up is hard is you have to leave people behind, but it will be better for you in the long run.

I'm slowly getting hooked on scratch tickets

No, Larry. Just no.

Think of it this way- would you pay $20 for a "fried" GPU on the hope that a bake in the oven could revive it? Because a scratch off ticket is way worse odds.

Bet on yourself instead and get addicted to increasing your job skills.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Bet on yourself instead and get addicted to increasing your job skills.

Roger that!

 

[MrSquished]

Why does he always need help with his computers?

Over 20 years I've had a few drives go and a fan. As far as Windows I sometimes wipe and re-install. The only software issues I've had really ever were all minor except for Adobe Lightroom basically ceasing to work on my desktop recently. I can't even think of any issues I've had with games glitching or having video issues, and I gamed a lot for a bit over a decade. It's possible I'm forgetting something over the last 20 years I've been building but still, what's his deal?

 

[Elixer]

So, they get back to my vehicle, and she's holding the two drinks, and they... both have straws in them.

Well, this is a code for things to come, she was testing the waters!

I wouldn't be happy about it, this isn't normal behavior in that specific circumstance (I assume they aren't good friends), it is just plain rude.
You would normally ask the person for their preferences, not after the fact.

Heck, I have been *bitten* on a job, and that person said "Oh, that is normal for them!" I was like WTH!? Normal?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Why does he always need help with his computers?

Because he's picky, and whenever something doesn't go perfectly, he calls me. Like when an internet site is lagging. Or when Flash Player won't load a youtube vid, and he has to reload it a few times to play. ("OMG, something's LAGGING with the PC, SOMETHING'S WRONG!")

Then again, there's the general Windows 7 issues, like updates not installing anymore, which isn't his fault, really.

If you re-install Windows every few years, for that "minty fresh" feeling, then that's probably why you've not run into issues.

Edit: Also, he plays a lot of online "adult gaming", and those clients aren't always well-written, and they have more invasive system-wide "anti-cheat" code, that's worse than Ubisoft DRM, and interferes with other software running on the system, unless you reboot.

 

[IronWing]

Girl germs, fear them.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Well, I just had a good chat with him. I expressed that I felt a bit "chuffed" at the fact that he even thought to contact me for warranty work on the PC, when I had given the PC to him for free with no warranty, and he claimed that he said to his friend that it also had no warranty, and I said that he was spineless for giving in to his friend, that was saying he got ripped off by buying the PC from my friend, even after getting accurate specs and being told it had no warranty.

But it seems that he is willing to pay me a monthly fee for tech-support, that's progress.

Edit: I guess I'm using the word "chuffed" wrongly, I should have looked it up first.
I meant it to mean slightly but not fully upset, but it actually means "rude, or a boor", apparently.

Sorry ATOT.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Never again. That is all.

 

[Humpy]

What is going on in here?

How could you devote more than 3 seconds of your life to this silliness?

 

[XavierMace]

More importantly, is the girlfriend hot?

 

[VirtualLarry]

More importantly, is the girlfriend hot?

So-so. Kind of Munchkin-esque. Not what I would say bad-looking, she's healthy, but not really my body type. Plus, I need a woman I can actually have a conversation with.

 

[dud]

Love how this thread had morphed from a complaint about free tech support to a relationship discussion. Let's move it to L&R ---->

 

[Exterous]

So-so. Kind of Munchkin-esque. Not what I would say bad-looking, she's healthy, but not really my body type. Plus, I need a woman I can actually have a conversation with.

Heh - there was a girl I had the hots for in HS that I met again at our HS reunion. After 5 minutes talking to her I realized it wouldn't have worked out well because there wasn't much going on inside her head. You can miss a lot in the fog of inexperience and hormones

 

[Geekbabe]

That's the thing, I DID tell him, "No warranty".

He arrogantly decided, that since I built it, and he was in hot water with his friend, that I would have to fix it.

Give the 3rd party buyer the Windows key, tell him there is no warranty support from you as you weren't his seller. End the friendship with this so called "friend" of yours

 

[Geekbabe]

That doesn't help me, most of the technical support I provide for friends/family is related to mobile devices and networks.

Family can be a PITA but most of the time I don't mind helping them, that includes sending them links to the device makers website, most premium mobile devices have good " how to" sections. Plus introducing them to Google can usually be useful

 

[poofyhairguy]

Family can be a PITA but most of the time I don't mind helping them, that includes sending them links to the device makers website, most premium mobile devices have good " how to" sections. Plus introducing them to Google can usually be useful

I don't mind helping them.....buy iPhones so I can dump their technical support issues on the geniuses.

Hope you are doing well.