3 ms·

What, you mean you don't want to talk to their nephew who is "also really into those computer things" (read: plays a lot of world of warcraft). Yes, I'm bitter

by blhack 18y ago

What, you mean you don't want to talk to their nephew who is "also really into those computer things" (read: plays a lot of world of warcraft). Yes, I'm bitter. It annoys me that people thing that IT consists of helping you with your num lock button, blocking them from porn, and doing lots of things with cables.

DanielBMarkham 18y ago
About 8 years ago I was flying from the East Coast out to San Francisco for a programming gig. As I sat in the plane, getting started for my trip, I happened to ask the guy next to me what he did. "I'm a dentist," he said, quite proud of himself, "and what do you do?" "I do computer stuff mostly," I mumbled. The guy -- I swear -- spent the next 5 hours of the flight telling me about how he wanted to computerize his dental office but his partner didn't understand things, how he was having problems with some software they had purchased, how he was looking to buy a new computer and didn't know what to get. For each subject, he questioned me at length for what I thought he should do. Finally, at the end of the flight just before we got off, I opened my mouth as wide as I could and pointed to the back of my throat "Doc," I said, "I got this sore tooth that only acts up when I eat ice cream, but sometimes the gum swells so I've been using a special toothpaste. Care to take a look?" That was the end of that.
- katz 18y ago
  The worst thing is that everyone expects you to help them with their IT problems. Over the phone.
  - pavelludiq 18y ago
    Its worst with relatives, I just can't say "no" to my dad. Anybody else i can either tell to call me later(if he is my friend), or to get lost(depending on my mood, I may say this politely).
    - katz 18y ago
      That is the thing! My dad paid for college so I can't just tell him no, I will not help. My dad is a reader - if there is a problem he will read everything on the screen over the telephone - even if it takes an hour. It is absolute torture to help him (or my mother). But then again, an hour of IT- waterboarding is a small price to pay for someone who changed your diapers.
      - DanielBMarkham 18y ago
        I just bought a notebook computer to give to my mom in Florida at the end of the month. She's 74 and she wants to keep up with the kids and grandkids on the internet, although she has no idea what that means. My mom thinks cell phones are the epitome of hi-tech. The last time she used a keyboard it was an electric typewriter and the year was 1990. I'm thinking about changing my number.
      - kalid 18y ago
        Get logmein. It's free and will save you hours of potential tech support headaches :).
  - Celcius 18y ago
    I refuse to help people with their computers unless I can remote control them. Even then it's only for close enough friends and family. Programmer != Technitian :(
  - ealar 18y ago
    I've found the best answer to that is "I only do theoretical Computer Science." If you do it while other computer scientists are in hearing range the look on their face will be worth it.
- swombat 18y ago
  On that note, even though HN is not usually well suited to jokes, I'll contribute this one: -- A lawyer and a doctor meet up at a party. They're chatting, and the doctor tells the lawyer "You know what really bugs me? When I tell people I'm a doctor, they always end up telling me about their health and basically asking me to diagnose them right there and then. They don't seem to care that I'm, say, at a party, and that I don't want to spent my party time working." "I know exactly what you mean. Used to happen to me all the time with legal advice." "Oh really? Can I ask you... what did you do to stop people asking you legal questions at parties?" The lawyer eyes him up. "Sure. Here's the trick. I answer the question, graciously, efficiently. Then, the next day, I send them an invoice." "Oh, that's really great!" They enjoy the party and then go home. The next day, the doctor receives an invoice in the mail. -- Perhaps we should start invoicing our friends for tech support work?
  - talboito 18y ago
    That's kinda how my dad ended up a lawyer. He called a guy for some legal advice (a taxi had driven through his storefront, trashing the place). He got the lawyers' bill the next week or so. Decided law school might be a good idea, soon after.

by blhack 18y ago

DanielBMarkham 18y ago

About 8 years ago I was flying from the East Coast out to San Francisco for a programming gig. As I sat in the plane, getting started for my trip, I happened to ask the guy next to me what he did. "I'm a dentist," he said, quite proud of himself, "and what do you do?" "I do computer stuff mostly," I mumbled. The guy -- I swear -- spent the next 5 hours of the flight telling me about how he wanted to computerize his dental office but his partner didn't understand things, how he was having problems with some software they had purchased, how he was looking to buy a new computer and didn't know what to get. For each subject, he questioned me at length for what I thought he should do. Finally, at the end of the flight just before we got off, I opened my mouth as wide as I could and pointed to the back of my throat "Doc," I said, "I got this sore tooth that only acts up when I eat ice cream, but sometimes the gum swells so I've been using a special toothpaste. Care to take a look?" That was the end of that.

katz 18y ago
The worst thing is that everyone expects you to help them with their IT problems. Over the phone.
- pavelludiq 18y ago
  Its worst with relatives, I just can't say "no" to my dad. Anybody else i can either tell to call me later(if he is my friend), or to get lost(depending on my mood, I may say this politely).
  - katz 18y ago
    That is the thing! My dad paid for college so I can't just tell him no, I will not help. My dad is a reader - if there is a problem he will read everything on the screen over the telephone - even if it takes an hour. It is absolute torture to help him (or my mother). But then again, an hour of IT- waterboarding is a small price to pay for someone who changed your diapers.
    - DanielBMarkham 18y ago
      I just bought a notebook computer to give to my mom in Florida at the end of the month. She's 74 and she wants to keep up with the kids and grandkids on the internet, although she has no idea what that means. My mom thinks cell phones are the epitome of hi-tech. The last time she used a keyboard it was an electric typewriter and the year was 1990. I'm thinking about changing my number.
    - kalid 18y ago
      Get logmein. It's free and will save you hours of potential tech support headaches :).
- Celcius 18y ago
  I refuse to help people with their computers unless I can remote control them. Even then it's only for close enough friends and family. Programmer != Technitian :(
- ealar 18y ago
  I've found the best answer to that is "I only do theoretical Computer Science." If you do it while other computer scientists are in hearing range the look on their face will be worth it.
swombat 18y ago
On that note, even though HN is not usually well suited to jokes, I'll contribute this one: -- A lawyer and a doctor meet up at a party. They're chatting, and the doctor tells the lawyer "You know what really bugs me? When I tell people I'm a doctor, they always end up telling me about their health and basically asking me to diagnose them right there and then. They don't seem to care that I'm, say, at a party, and that I don't want to spent my party time working." "I know exactly what you mean. Used to happen to me all the time with legal advice." "Oh really? Can I ask you... what did you do to stop people asking you legal questions at parties?" The lawyer eyes him up. "Sure. Here's the trick. I answer the question, graciously, efficiently. Then, the next day, I send them an invoice." "Oh, that's really great!" They enjoy the party and then go home. The next day, the doctor receives an invoice in the mail. -- Perhaps we should start invoicing our friends for tech support work?
- talboito 18y ago
  That's kinda how my dad ended up a lawyer. He called a guy for some legal advice (a taxi had driven through his storefront, trashing the place). He got the lawyers' bill the next week or so. Decided law school might be a good idea, soon after.