If they are calling me for tech help, they are most likely a director of photography (DP) and they are experiencing issues related to one a very few specific cameras. . . Or, they are completely insane.
Usually, they're both, the issue having driven them crazy enough to call me.
I bank favors in this industry like real currency. Everyone does.
Somebody who has unearthed my tech background. I'm a sweet old lady with a serious gadget addiction, but I do not let people know, because they'd want me to teach them how to use the iPad their granddaughter gave them for Christmas. No.
I build websites. To most of the people I know that means I know how to stop their Word from crashing, get rid of all their viruses, and tell them what laptop to buy.
I was in tech support for phone and internet at a major cable company for years. Anyone and everyone turns this way for help. Just glad I got out of that position. Had enough of people thinking they know everything and talking down to you when they can't even tell you what their up address is or how to release and renew it People asking why the internet is down when their computer is a 15 yr old pos or that "it never used to be this slow before". Asking for help to log in or sign up with Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, Facebook (ya, that's happened), Amazon etc. One device out of 5 doesn't work on WiFi, but the internet is broke, they own their own router and modem.. but want a tech out... For free. How about the lady that says her internet doesn't work on her new laptop, she just bought at bust buy. "What do you see on the screen" nothing it's black, no internet" "ohh, is it (computer) turned on? " "It was, then the internet just went out" "ohh the laptop battery must have died, can you plug in the power cord for me?" "No, why would I do that? The guy at best buy told me it's wireless!" Yep... I'm done... Can't even do it. I give up... I just give up.
@bigbo2003, i believe it, about twenty years ago our VP of technology asked his secretary to ask me why he couldn't open his email that day, he had just gotten a laptop, i asked him if he had logged into the network, he said he didn't have to log in because his computer was set up special so he did not have to, VP of technology remember. turns out his secretary always logged into the network for him on his desktop because he could never remember his password and he never knew she was doing it for him. he was gone in a little over a year. VP of technology. at least they got it right with the next one.
@bigbo2003 So you're the guy that when I say my upstream levels are wonky and I think there is a bad actor on my node creating ingress, you tell me it's my cable modem?
@bayportbob Those vp's man... It seems the higher up they tend to get in the corporate chain, the more disconnected they get. LOL. "Mines setup special" haha!
I'd say they are desperate and unwilling to learn anything basic about computers. Or just use some good ol trial and error. "Have you tried restarting your computer/router?"
one of my kids, or the smart son in law that knows everything about everything and messed up something he owns, or a friend that knows that i know something about technology and would like some help. it's tough being the comp eng person that tries to keep a low profile and not get stuck in other people's tech misery because they think that all comp eng people are like the tech support 800 number person.
Both (A) and (D). When everybody knows you're the "tech guy", everybody calls. Here's my winning strategy to keep sanity, though. 1) I get to choose who to charge my "friends and family rate" to. 2) "Friends and family rate" is one dinner with their family and mine. It's not about the money, it's about the time - I had somebody try to buy me a gift card to a restaurant, and that didn't fly. If they can't invest the time for time with our families together, they can pay my business rate ($100/hr). 3) Don't be a jerk. I have some neighbors that call maybe once every couple of months with (usually) short questions or easy fixes. I don't charge them anything, but they also help me out on a regular basis. One neighbor, a contractor, spent a few days helping me put a roof on my house and didn't charge me anything for it because we're on friendly terms.
My office is right next to the IT office. If our IT guy isn't here, everyone assumes they can ask me the same question and I can fix it. I usually can.
I got the extended family to stop coming to me once I converted them to Apple. Now they go to the Genius bar and leave me alone. I still do support for Mrs. G and the kiddo.
My Brother is a genuine IT Guy, for a Large University Medical Center in DFW. But instead of calling Him, the Relatives all contact me, the 35yr old Grocery Cashier/3 time college dropout, because i'm "Techie", and (this probably has more to do with it) Local. (we're in NW Buckeyeland)
I've Tried to distribute this excellent Reference material, but they apparently don't share my love of flow charts...
If they are calling me for tech help, they are most likely a director of photography (DP) and they are experiencing issues related to one a very few specific cameras. . . Or, they are completely insane.
Usually, they're both, the issue having driven them crazy enough to call me.
I bank favors in this industry like real currency. Everyone does.
stoned?
@nadroj hitting the blue e
Somebody who has unearthed my tech background. I'm a sweet old lady with a serious gadget addiction, but I do not let people know, because they'd want me to teach them how to use the iPad their granddaughter gave them for Christmas. No.
One of my children. Ptttthbh.
I'm that guy in my family. The number of calls fell dramatically once I got everyone off windows and on Macs.
Everyone I work with. Even the PhDs.
I build websites. To most of the people I know that means I know how to stop their Word from crashing, get rid of all their viruses, and tell them what laptop to buy.
I also get this, "Oh, I don't want you to build me a website, I just want you to tell me how." ... a lot.
I was in tech support for phone and internet at a major cable company for years. Anyone and everyone turns this way for help. Just glad I got out of that position. Had enough of people thinking they know everything and talking down to you when they can't even tell you what their up address is or how to release and renew it People asking why the internet is down when their computer is a 15 yr old pos or that "it never used to be this slow before". Asking for help to log in or sign up with Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, Facebook (ya, that's happened), Amazon etc. One device out of 5 doesn't work on WiFi, but the internet is broke, they own their own router and modem.. but want a tech out... For free. How about the lady that says her internet doesn't work on her new laptop, she just bought at bust buy. "What do you see on the screen" nothing it's black, no internet" "ohh, is it (computer) turned on? " "It was, then the internet just went out" "ohh the laptop battery must have died, can you plug in the power cord for me?" "No, why would I do that? The guy at best buy told me it's wireless!" Yep... I'm done... Can't even do it. I give up... I just give up.
@bigbo2003 pardon the auto corrections and grammar errors... 22 hrs no sleep = IJDGAFF :)
Yup we get some good ones :)
@bigbo2003, i believe it, about twenty years ago our VP of technology asked his secretary to ask me why he couldn't open his email that day, he had just gotten a laptop, i asked him if he had logged into the network, he said he didn't have to log in because his computer was set up special so he did not have to, VP of technology remember. turns out his secretary always logged into the network for him on his desktop because he could never remember his password and he never knew she was doing it for him. he was gone in a little over a year. VP of technology. at least they got it right with the next one.
@bigbo2003 So you're the guy that when I say my upstream levels are wonky and I think there is a bad actor on my node creating ingress, you tell me it's my cable modem?
@Headly Haha... Headly. Its probably the 1980's vcr dumping impulse noise in your guest bedroom. ;)
@bayportbob Those vp's man... It seems the higher up they tend to get in the corporate chain, the more disconnected they get. LOL. "Mines setup special" haha!
this week so far
updated 2 different samsung phones (both to 4.4.4)
tried to figure out the edge CTS fusion software(build using .net 2.0)
bought a battery case for my brothers iphone 4 so he will actually answer his damn phone when i call .
got a replacement sim card for my mom
I'd say they are desperate and unwilling to learn anything basic about computers. Or just use some good ol trial and error. "Have you tried restarting your computer/router?"
one of my kids, or the smart son in law that knows everything about everything and messed up something he owns, or a friend that knows that i know something about technology and would like some help. it's tough being the comp eng person that tries to keep a low profile and not get stuck in other people's tech misery because they think that all comp eng people are like the tech support 800 number person.
and i know what you mean headily!
I liked the choice about the old relative. I'm 76 years old, and I'm the guy all my younger relatives call about IT issues.
Both (A) and (D). When everybody knows you're the "tech guy", everybody calls. Here's my winning strategy to keep sanity, though.
1) I get to choose who to charge my "friends and family rate" to.
2) "Friends and family rate" is one dinner with their family and mine. It's not about the money, it's about the time - I had somebody try to buy me a gift card to a restaurant, and that didn't fly. If they can't invest the time for time with our families together, they can pay my business rate ($100/hr).
3) Don't be a jerk. I have some neighbors that call maybe once every couple of months with (usually) short questions or easy fixes. I don't charge them anything, but they also help me out on a regular basis. One neighbor, a contractor, spent a few days helping me put a roof on my house and didn't charge me anything for it because we're on friendly terms.
My office is right next to the IT office. If our IT guy isn't here, everyone assumes they can ask me the same question and I can fix it. I usually can.
If they're asking me for help, it's usually about words. Engineers. What's another word for "thesaurus"?
90% of the time, it's my mother in law, asking questions she knows the answer to.
I got the extended family to stop coming to me once I converted them to Apple. Now they go to the Genius bar and leave me alone. I still do support for Mrs. G and the kiddo.
My Brother is a genuine IT Guy, for a Large University Medical Center in DFW. But instead of calling Him, the Relatives all contact me, the 35yr old Grocery Cashier/3 time college dropout, because i'm "Techie", and (this probably has more to do with it) Local. (we're in NW Buckeyeland)
I've Tried to distribute this excellent Reference material, but they apparently don't share my love of flow charts...
