I am the techie *****. I hate it sometimes.
I'm extremely knowledgeable about PCs. I work for the Geek Squad. But there are times (which are becoming more and more frequent) where I wish I knew how to do something that people didn't need, like being a potter, or a pepsi taste-tester.
Half the phone numbers on my cell are people who only call me when they have an issue with their PC. I'm ok to fix it for them, I tend to have a lot of time and I've created a lot of scripts that automate some processes. But it STILL bugs the hell out of me. I feel like I'm being used.
There are other times when people will ask me about Car Stereo systems, Home Theater systems, or their alarm-clock. I used to tell them a bit of what I knew, because I know a little bit about car stereo, and home theater systems just due to being somewhat tech savy. But they assumed I knew how to mount and run lines and stuff. Now, I just say I have no clue.
Even worse is when they ask about something like a web application, piece of software, or how to do something on facebook (I don't have one of those vile spawns of evil). Once again, no clue.
Something recently that irked me, was my Professor, with whom I have 3 classes with this semester; sent me an e-mail asking if I would provide my services for his neighbor. I understand WHY my professor did this. If he fixed it, that neighbor thinks he has a 24 hour tech support line. If I fixed it, I'm just a passing student who is somewhat knowledgeable about PCs.
The problem is, nobody is a problem solver anymore. If something goes awry nobody wants to figure out why it is, or attempt to fix it. I mean a little bit of google-ing can go a hell of a long way to fixing any sort of software issue you are having. Also READING THE FUCKING MANUAL HELPS.
After working for the geek squad for about a year and a half, I've come to the point where I don't care about taking someone's money for fixing their computer, I don't care if they lost the pictures they took 14 years ago, I don't care if you want to talk to my manager. I mean I'll charge someone 50 dollars to run 4 command lines to fix their computer. They can whine, they can complain, but I now have your money.
I like to think of it like this:
A store has inventory that they sell for a certain price. I also have inventory that I sell for a certain price, that inventory is my time, my patience, and my problem solving ability. So now, anybody other than my parents who need tech support know, and are willing, to pay for my services.
