Now I know how a doctor or stock broker feels

[rwmidl.livejournal.com]

Does anyone get annoyed when they are talking to someone new for the first time (in a social setting) and when asked "what do you do?" and your reply is "I work with computers" or "I'm tech support" people then jump right in to questions about why so and so doesn't work on their computer?

Comments

[chickenfart.livejournal.com]

That doesn't happen a lot, but when it does, I just play stupid and tell them I don't know.

[random-c.livejournal.com]

"I know, but my contract states no freelance work."

[jcaswell.livejournal.com]

I really really want to get one of those to wear to work. Shame the boss wouldn't go for it :)

[jcaswell.livejournal.com]

Oh, that would be so cool to use on some of the kids at the school I work in!

[toastmaniscool.livejournal.com]

Easy, just take a scrap of paper, and write "adaware", "spybot search and destroy" and "windowsupdate.microsoft.com" on it, and make them buy you a drink.

Do *NOT* use your business card.

[pharisee.livejournal.com]

Very sensible advise, taking it to Corporate Gothic ;0

[whisperoutloud.livejournal.com]

that drives me crazy. personally, my encounters are usually like this ...
- first they ask if i like my job
- they assume that it's "good money" (as if you hit the jackpot if you work with computers and the internet .. which, to some people a computer and the internet are both one in the same *snicker*).
- then they assume i know everything about everything when it comes to computers

but, what really gets me is if i actually don't have any suggestions for fixing their problem .. they look at me with a blank stare, hoping for something, and when i have nothing they think i'm just an idiot.

[rhonan.livejournal.com]

Which is why I don't tell people I work in support. I just tell them I'm a systems analyst for IBM. When they ask the inevitable question, I just let my eyes glaze a little and tell them they should call whoever they got their computer from. Unless it's a babe, then I offer to rebuild their system from the ground up, and then cook them breakfast in the morning.

[kyndig.livejournal.com]

heh, that's exactly what I do (including the systems analyst for IBM part.) I'm with ITES, which division are you in?

[rhonan.livejournal.com]

IGS End User Services. I'm a queue manager for the Home Office Automation project on the Washington Mutual account. I usually tell people people I'm a systems analyst because it doesn't scream PC technician, and it's a lot easier than trying to explain what a queue manager is.

[kyndig.livejournal.com]

on that note..what the hell is a queue manager? :-p

You aren't part of the WAMU helpdesk are you? They and I have some issues from my time in SSR Support

[rhonan.livejournal.com]

no, I am not part of the helpdesk. I manage workflow and tickets for teams of deskside support techs for home office groups in Seattle, Stockton, Chatsworth, and Irvine. I clean up a lot of the tickets that come from the helpdesk.

[zig-mover.livejournal.com]

My extended family is the worst.

I've had a reputation as a computer geek since like 5th grade, so people couldn't possibly bother me any more than they already do now if they knew what my job was.

[servermonkey.livejournal.com]

Very annoying, though using doublespeak for job titles is handy.

If they don't know what you do, you've diffused the situation? Maybe?

[zercool.livejournal.com]

Oh, but try combining fields! I do systems work professionally - so I'm fair game for computer questions. Photography is a hobby, so I'm asked about cameras (digital and film) and printers all the time. And emergency services is my passion, so people are asking me "should I get *this* looked at?"

It's just creepy.

[ximinez]

"Here's my card. Call me sometime. My freelance rate is $50 ($75, $100) per hour."

If they're willing to pay whatever I think they'll consider an outrageous amount, then I'll be they're little whore for a little while...

[ximinez]

s/they're/their/

Damned no-time-to-proofread font.

[said-by-me.livejournal.com]

*nods* I HATE that. Worse is when they want you to *help* them. "Yes, hi, I do this all day long, its not fun. Its work, that's why they pay me"

[rwmidl.livejournal.com]

Hah..I'm to the point when I get home I don't like dealing with my own computer.

[oddball42.livejournal.com]

i hope i never get to this point.

[oddball42.livejournal.com]

the horrible one is you do a freind a personal favor in ressurecting their mothers computer, then their mother keeps coming back like you are their personal helpdesk. never once realising that this was a one time favor to their child not them. once is all good, even caling with questions related to the specifc install/rebuild. but calling back because you hosed it again entirely is abuse of the origonal favor.

[fnordx.livejournal.com]

"Sorry, I don't support Windows-based computers, online Linux and FreeBSD."