Just because I work with computers...

[nageov3t]

/agree to this whole thread

I work in IT... pretty much exclusively on server hardware. people never believe me when I try to explain to them how useless I am at anything software related. we're actually not even allowed to log into client boxes in my department.

is your motherboard on fire? give me 30 seconds and I can get it working.
do you have spyware on your PC? I can provide absolutely no help outside from suggesting that you reformat.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: lokiju

Originally posted by: Joemonkey
Don't forget, if you do IT for a living you can apparently also fix any problem with any model of cell phone, explain to people why that light is on in their car, why their home wireless isn't working, why that light bulb in the bathroom keeps burning out, why the printer is jammed, why any webpage is down, why their wireless mouse batteries are dead, how to use any corprorate phone system, any climate control system, how to fix a broken chair, install an under desk keyboard tray, explain how to use a sharpie, and fix other email servers when mail doesn't go through

in fact, i think i'm putting all that on my resume next time rather than any certs or actual networking/server experience

Man that one about other mail servers just kills me!

The lady asked me to see if I could fix a problem she was having, sent me a copy of the bounce back message and when I reviewed it and explained to her that she's sending it to an invalid address she asked me how I could help her fix it! I'm like WTF it's not broken, you're just typing in the incorrect address, which of course wasn't possible as far as she was concerned.

Haha I get that one all the time. You just have to remember that the Internet and computers in general = magic for most people; they don't understand that it's like physics or engineering; everything is based in fact, i.e. there is a machine that is like a digital mailbox at our company and another digital mailbox at the other company that receives our email, and if it doesn't go through because their machine is broken or incorrectly configured THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. But you'll still get an earful.

They should make a reality TV show about us.

 

[chusteczka]

You have the opportunity to be a hero for your girlfriend and her mom. Instead you decide to act like a selfish child. You will lose.

 

[thirdlegstump]

That's why I charge EVERYONE for EVERYTHING, including friends and family and of course my time to research the problem and find solutions.

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: Joemonkey
Don't forget, if you do IT for a living you can apparently also fix any problem with any model of cell phone, explain to people why that light is on in their car, why their home wireless isn't working, why that light bulb in the bathroom keeps burning out, why the printer is jammed, why any webpage is down, why their wireless mouse batteries are dead, how to use any corprorate phone system, any climate control system, how to fix a broken chair, install an under desk keyboard tray, explain how to use a sharpie, and fix other email servers when mail doesn't go through

in fact, i think i'm putting all that on my resume next time rather than any certs or actual networking/server experience

What, are you serious? I thought thats what the A+ certification was for..

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: loki8481
/agree to this whole thread

I work in IT... pretty much exclusively on server hardware. people never believe me when I try to explain to them how useless I am at anything software related. we're actually not even allowed to log into client boxes in my department.

is your motherboard on fire? give me 30 seconds and I can get it working.
do you have spyware on your PC? I can provide absolutely no help outside from suggesting that you reformat.

I use the Engineer example - there are aerospace engineers, civil engineers, etc. - just like that there are server people, PC people, database people...you can't specialize in everything. I do mainly PC hardware plus OS/software installation and some light website work, but I don't do databases, programming, or much server hardware. "But you know computers, can't you just fix it?"

I think the only difference between a "computer guy" and a regular person is that a computer guy is willing to learn. Some people seem to have computer phobias and stereotype the problem as only something a computer guy can solve, rather than trying to fix it themselves.

 

[Tobolo]

HEAR HEAR!

 

[jlbenedict]

It all boils down to a stereotype that has been around for a couple of decades:

"Those who work with computers are nerds/smart and know it all, or almost all things that exist."



The problem with that is today computers and operating systems are more easier to use than ever before. But, most people today play ignorant and chose not to learn how to use their computers/operating systems. Therefore they fall back onto that old stereotype, and find the "computer guy" to help him/her out..

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: chusteczka
You have the opportunity to be a hero for your girlfriend and her mom. Instead you decide to act like a selfish child. You will lose.

I agree. My family gets free use of my skills if it's for basic things like building a computer or helping with a website. Don't be stingy, you have to live with them

 

[Joemonkey]

Originally posted by: pontifex
why not? heh, i just sent my resume to a law firm for a network admin position.

Aren't you in the same area I am? hope it's not for the firm I'm leaving

 

[jdini76]

Originally posted by: Kaido
... I think the only difference between a "computer guy" and a regular person is that a computer guy is willing to learn. Some people seem to have computer phobias and stereotype the problem as only something a computer guy can solve, rather than trying to fix it themselves.

QFT

 

[BurnItDwn]

I hate people that ask for "help" before they even try to do something on their own. Frickin slackers, I want to be the damn slacker, not some other person.

 

[psydancerqt]

if you hadnt agreed to help her in the first place, you wouldnt be in this mess. next time you think she can do it herself, tell her to try it herself and if she cant figure it out, then you'll help her out.

 

[Saint Nick]

yeah, since i work for geek squad, i have been getting a couple more requests to fix stuff than usual. thats okay though--all part of having the talent of using and knowing the PC.

 

[jdini76]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: chusteczka
You have the opportunity to be a hero for your girlfriend and her mom. Instead you decide to act like a selfish child. You will lose.

I agree. My family gets free use of my skills if it's for basic things like building a computer or helping with a website. Don't be stingy, you have to live with them

umm. I have built a few computers in my day. I wouldn't consider it a basic thing. And designing a website is one thing, but hosting it and setting up domains are not basic and that is usually what people want as a result.

My point is getting lost in the shuffle of people focusing on the example at hand. Don't lose the big picture.

 

[JackBurton]

I just say, "what is this internet thing you keep speaking of?"

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: jdini76

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: chusteczka
You have the opportunity to be a hero for your girlfriend and her mom. Instead you decide to act like a selfish child. You will lose.

I agree. My family gets free use of my skills if it's for basic things like building a computer or helping with a website. Don't be stingy, you have to live with them

umm. I have built a few computers in my day. I wouldn't consider it a basic thing. And designing a website is one thing, but hosting it and setting up domains are not basic and that is usually what people want as a result.

My point is getting lost in the shuffle of people focusing on the example at hand. Don't lose the big picture.

Heh I should rephrase that as "assembling computers" - I usually tell people to buy a basic Dell, then I upgrade the ram/video/DVD/etc. Also yeah as far as the website goes, the hosting and everything else is seperate. Bottom line - take care of your gf, her family, and your family. If you make them a priority life will be much better. They will trust you and rely on your skills. I used to not have my family as a priority with my computer skills - since I work in IT, I'd get home and not want to fix their computer or give them a hand with their website or whatever. Flip that around and they will be much happier, and as a result, you will be too

 

[jdini76]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: jdini76
My girlfriend wants to open an ING account. Because I opened one sand said it was good. because it is soley on the internet, She asked me to help her. I gratefully agreed. But our schedules have been crazy lately and when ever we are together we are too involved with each other that we forget to open the account. So last night I was eating dinner at her parent?s house, and the ING subject comes up. Her mom says and I thought the ING account was on your to do list (meaning me). I held back my normal computer guy outburst and kindly said "Well, I would greatly help out with it, but its not rocket science. If she has some time on her own its easy enough to do by herself." Of course my girlfriend took it the wrong way saying "you said you would help me!" I didn't realize "help" really meant "do it for you."

Then her mom chimes in saying "well you know the inner workings of the website." I'm thinking to myself. I know the website because I did it by myself. I figured it out on my own. Its a website, its designed for the average web user. I don't have special knowledge of the website encoded in my DNA! If you can use any normal online banking account (which they do) you can use this one!

So I said when we get together again we will set it up together. But I know we will forget. and then when she is by herself wondering what to do, the ING account will be the last thing on her mind because I am supposed to help her.

She isn't computer illiterate she knows her way around the internet no problem! She just feels that since this thing is on the computer I will know how to do it better!

I guess all I am trying to say is that is people would just try to do computer related things first, us computer guys' life would be so much easier! How do you think we learned what we know!?

Agree or disagree?

you're not a very nice person. someone looks to you for expertise - feel honored.

Not a nice person!? I am insulted. I go out of my way and help out anybody that asks. I just feel that sometimes people take us computer people for granted. They come running to us on the drop of a hat when anything computer related comes up!

Trust me i have all the intention of helping my GF and want to help!

I would feel more honored if people would ask me for the best way to do something in order to do it themselves. Not to do something for them. That is a better use of my expertise. I feel like I am teaching them something. Instead I feel like the government giving out welfare!

 

[jdini76]

Originally posted by: IMaN00BieGF

Originally posted by: jdini76

Originally posted by: Lord Zado
She asked you for help and you said you would help her. Sounds like she was simply waiting for you to help out. Yeah, she could've done it by herself, but maybe she was nervous signing up for something online that involves money. Who knows?

Besides, if it was so easy, you could've taken 5 minutes out of the day and helped her out.

You are right and I will help her. But she uses other online banking accounts, so she is not new to the whole online banking thing. Also, my point goes beyond this example.

If i didn't have someone holding my hand while I did something computer related, why is it so hard for other people to not have their hand held?

You sound just like my boyfriend. You have to understand that some people don't understand how to do computer-related things the way you talented computer nerds do. She's your girlfriend and as long as she shows you that she appreciates your help, whats the big deal. I'm sure she'd be willing to repay you in other ways.

Haha this is a perfect example of my point!

Typing that was computer-related. Did your boyfriend do it for you? If not how did you know how to do it?

 

[fisheerman]

Originally posted by: jdini76
ONE example:
My girlfriend wants to open an ING account. Because I opened one sand said it was good. because it is soley on the internet, She asked me to help her. I gratefully agreed. But our schedules have been crazy lately and when ever we are together we are too involved with each other that we forget to open the account. So last night I was eating dinner at her parent?s house, and the ING subject comes up. Her mom says and I thought the ING account was on your to do list (meaning me). I held back my normal computer guy outburst and kindly said "Well, I would greatly help out with it, but its not rocket science. If she has some time on her own its easy enough to do by herself." Of course my girlfriend took it the wrong way saying "you said you would help me!" I didn't realize "help" really meant "do it for you."

Then her mom chimes in saying "well you know the inner workings of the website." I'm thinking to myself. I know the website because I did it by myself. I figured it out on my own. Its a website, its designed for the average web user. I don't have special knowledge of the website encoded in my DNA! If you can use any normal online banking account (which they do) you can use this one!

So I said when we get together again we will set it up together. But I know we will forget. and then when she is by herself wondering what to do, the ING account will be the last thing on her mind because I am supposed to help her.

She isn't computer illiterate she knows her way around the internet no problem! She just feels that since this thing is on the computer I will know how to do it better!

I guess all I am trying to say is that if people would just try it first, us computer guys' lives would be so much easier! How do you think we learned what we know!?

Agree or disagree?


Edited for Clarity.

This is exactly the same situation i am in with my wifes whole family. Every time we go over to the inlaws house it goes something like this.

(father)
Hey can you show me how to get onto my email?
(me)Did you try to get on and have a problem?
(father)No but i figured since you new computers i would what for you to show me how?

Literally i have shown him this 5 times in thelast month. always forgetting passwords. i even went so far as to write down the instructions and he lost them.

the other night my wife informs me that her dad feels like he can't ask my help on anything. I asked oh yeah what in specific? she said he can't get onto his email. i couldn't believe it.

i will not even go into the brother............

This is one programmer that hates computers..............


-fish

 

[TXHokie]

A$$ or ca$h - nobody rides for free!!! - 'nuff said.

 

[AMDZen]

Originally posted by: jdini76

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: jdini76
My girlfriend wants to open an ING account. Because I opened one sand said it was good. because it is soley on the internet, She asked me to help her. I gratefully agreed. But our schedules have been crazy lately and when ever we are together we are too involved with each other that we forget to open the account. So last night I was eating dinner at her parent?s house, and the ING subject comes up. Her mom says and I thought the ING account was on your to do list (meaning me). I held back my normal computer guy outburst and kindly said "Well, I would greatly help out with it, but its not rocket science. If she has some time on her own its easy enough to do by herself." Of course my girlfriend took it the wrong way saying "you said you would help me!" I didn't realize "help" really meant "do it for you."

Then her mom chimes in saying "well you know the inner workings of the website." I'm thinking to myself. I know the website because I did it by myself. I figured it out on my own. Its a website, its designed for the average web user. I don't have special knowledge of the website encoded in my DNA! If you can use any normal online banking account (which they do) you can use this one!

So I said when we get together again we will set it up together. But I know we will forget. and then when she is by herself wondering what to do, the ING account will be the last thing on her mind because I am supposed to help her.

She isn't computer illiterate she knows her way around the internet no problem! She just feels that since this thing is on the computer I will know how to do it better!

I guess all I am trying to say is that is people would just try to do computer related things first, us computer guys' life would be so much easier! How do you think we learned what we know!?

Agree or disagree?

you're not a very nice person. someone looks to you for expertise - feel honored.

Not a nice person!? I am insulted. I go out of my way and help out anybody that asks. I just feel that sometimes people take us computer people for granted. They come running to us on the drop of a hat when anything computer related comes up!

Trust me i have all the intention of helping my GF and want to help!

I would feel more honored if people would ask me for the best way to do something in order to do it themselves. Not to do something for them. That is a better use of my expertise. I feel like I am teaching them something. Instead I feel like the government giving out welfare!

QFT. I understood how you meant it the first time, and it wasn't in any way mean. Its the fact that people seem to become helpless in this day and age and I, as well as quite a few others here know exactly where your coming from. People don't even attempt o try it themselves, they learn to depend on you so much they forget how to do things for themselves. I can assure you that most of my friends and family now come running to me instead of even troubleshooting simple problems and it gets old.

Mosh, well she is simply better, and more moral then we mere mortals can ever hope to become. She would have opened that ING account, and then proceeded to open one for every less fortunate human on the planet.

 

[Maxspeed996]

Originally posted by: Joemonkey
Don't forget, if you do IT for a living you can apparently also fix any problem with any model of cell phone, explain to people why that light is on in their car, why their home wireless isn't working, why that light bulb in the bathroom keeps burning out, why the printer is jammed, why any webpage is down, why their wireless mouse batteries are dead, how to use any corprorate phone system, any climate control system, how to fix a broken chair, install an under desk keyboard tray, explain how to use a sharpie, and fix other email servers when mail doesn't go through

in fact, i think i'm putting all that on my resume next time rather than any certs or actual networking/server experience

AMEN BROTHER.

 

[jdini76]

Originally posted by: fisheerman

Originally posted by: jdini76
ONE example:
My girlfriend wants to open an ING account. Because I opened one sand said it was good. because it is soley on the internet, She asked me to help her. I gratefully agreed. But our schedules have been crazy lately and when ever we are together we are too involved with each other that we forget to open the account. So last night I was eating dinner at her parent?s house, and the ING subject comes up. Her mom says and I thought the ING account was on your to do list (meaning me). I held back my normal computer guy outburst and kindly said "Well, I would greatly help out with it, but its not rocket science. If she has some time on her own its easy enough to do by herself." Of course my girlfriend took it the wrong way saying "you said you would help me!" I didn't realize "help" really meant "do it for you."

Then her mom chimes in saying "well you know the inner workings of the website." I'm thinking to myself. I know the website because I did it by myself. I figured it out on my own. Its a website, its designed for the average web user. I don't have special knowledge of the website encoded in my DNA! If you can use any normal online banking account (which they do) you can use this one!

So I said when we get together again we will set it up together. But I know we will forget. and then when she is by herself wondering what to do, the ING account will be the last thing on her mind because I am supposed to help her.

She isn't computer illiterate she knows her way around the internet no problem! She just feels that since this thing is on the computer I will know how to do it better!

I guess all I am trying to say is that if people would just try it first, us computer guys' lives would be so much easier! How do you think we learned what we know!?

Agree or disagree?


Edited for Clarity.

This is exactly the same situation i am in with my wifes whole family. Every time we go over to the inlaws house it goes something like this.

(father)
Hey can you show me how to get onto my email?
(me)Did you try to get on and have a problem?
(father)No but i figured since you new computers i would what for you to show me how?

Literally i have shown him this 5 times in thelast month. always forgetting passwords. i even went so far as to write down the instructions and he lost them.

the other night my wife informs me that her dad feels like he can't ask my help on anything. I asked oh yeah what in specific? she said he can't get onto his email. i couldn't believe it.

i will not even go into the brother............

This is one programmer that hates computers..............


-fish

I have more patience with older people learning computers. But I really feel your pain. My 86 year old Grandmother has her own Laptop. and can e-mail all her friend and play bridge online. She has what she does down to a routine on click motions and link locations. But if one thing is out of sorts. i.e the website updated its look and the link isn't there anymore. She cannot for the life of her figure out whats wrong or what to do. So I have to re-teach her. and I am happy to! its just draining and frusdtrating.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: jdini76

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: jdini76
My girlfriend wants to open an ING account. Because I opened one sand said it was good. because it is soley on the internet, She asked me to help her. I gratefully agreed. But our schedules have been crazy lately and when ever we are together we are too involved with each other that we forget to open the account. So last night I was eating dinner at her parent?s house, and the ING subject comes up. Her mom says and I thought the ING account was on your to do list (meaning me). I held back my normal computer guy outburst and kindly said "Well, I would greatly help out with it, but its not rocket science. If she has some time on her own its easy enough to do by herself." Of course my girlfriend took it the wrong way saying "you said you would help me!" I didn't realize "help" really meant "do it for you."

Then her mom chimes in saying "well you know the inner workings of the website." I'm thinking to myself. I know the website because I did it by myself. I figured it out on my own. Its a website, its designed for the average web user. I don't have special knowledge of the website encoded in my DNA! If you can use any normal online banking account (which they do) you can use this one!

So I said when we get together again we will set it up together. But I know we will forget. and then when she is by herself wondering what to do, the ING account will be the last thing on her mind because I am supposed to help her.

She isn't computer illiterate she knows her way around the internet no problem! She just feels that since this thing is on the computer I will know how to do it better!

I guess all I am trying to say is that is people would just try to do computer related things first, us computer guys' life would be so much easier! How do you think we learned what we know!?

Agree or disagree?

you're not a very nice person. someone looks to you for expertise - feel honored.

Not a nice person!? I am insulted. I go out of my way and help out anybody that asks. I just feel that sometimes people take us computer people for granted. They come running to us on the drop of a hat when anything computer related comes up!

Trust me i have all the intention of helping my GF and want to help!

I would feel more honored if people would ask me for the best way to do something in order to do it themselves. Not to do something for them. That is a better use of my expertise. I feel like I am teaching them something. Instead I feel like the government giving out welfare!

get over yourself :roll:

i, also, have knowledge of a specialty field. i'm glad to give advice and help whenever asked.