Are you tech support for your friends/family?

[DizzleMcSizzle]

i once had a woman come up and ask me in the pub about downloading films "because i look" techie. i do have alot of family asking me about computers. my cousin is constantly on about his 360 to me wanting to know little tricks and tips and how to set things up, dont mind sorting peoples tech so long as they appreciate it.

 

[Jumplion]

Eh, my dad is the computer techie if my family. I tend to learn off of him, though I don't learn the hardcore coding and stuff.

However he does go on business trips around the world somtimes when when his company installs a new factory there, and he goes over there to teach them how to work on the equipment and such.

When he comes back home after those trips, he usually spends alot of time on the phone explaining what the hell the ESC key is to someone across the world.

One time, a person from Singapore (yes, Singapore) called and the conversation went as thus;

Dad: "Alright, now you see the ESC key?"
Singapore: "Yes"
Dad: "Alright, now click it."
Singapore" "Okay, it's gone now."
Dad: "Okay, no don't touch anything."
Singapore: "Oops."
Dad: "Oops?"
Singapore: "Uh..."
Dad: "What do you mean 'Oops'? What the hell did you do."
Singapore: "I don't know!"
Dad: "Alright, just don't touch anything again."
Singapore: "Oops."
Dad: "What? What do you mean 'Oops'?!?!"

It's a hugeg inside joke with my dad, whenever either of us don't know what to do, we just say "oops" and then we proceed to yell "What do you mean 'Oops'?!?!"

Good times.

 

[sneakypenguin]

Oh God am I my family's tech guy, they're almost Amish. But they still barely trust anything I say (ex: they refused for the longest time to get Firefox because it had nothing to do with Microsoft). Going home is terrible, I have to deal with dial-up.

Wow so there is more than just me that suffers though that. I DLed FF to my dads comp and got blamed for "messing it up". I swear they are so affraid to do anything on a computer other than use IE and microsoft word.

 

[DeleteMe1112311]

Yes, my dad works for microsoft but I'm the one who does all the repairs, installations, and keeps the internet working. I'm happy to say I've trained my brother not wake me up about it and instead try to do it himself when the internet goes out but I'm the one who has to set up all of the computers (we have at least 6) and keeps them running and virus free. --To be fair my brother is fairly good about keeping his computer safe from viruses but I'd prefer a trained monkey to maintain the hardware.

 

[sneakypenguin]

Oh God am I my family's tech guy, they're almost Amish. But they still barely trust anything I say (ex: they refused for the longest time to get Firefox because it had nothing to do with Microsoft). Going home is terrible, I have to deal with dial-up.

Wow so there is more than just me that suffers though that. I DLed FF to my dads comp and got blamed for "messing it up". I swear they are so affraid to do anything on a computer other than use IE and microsoft word.

My family put anti-virus on their computer that make it painfully slow, so slow it wasn't worth using, but they kept it on because 'security is better then speed.'

Yeah i've had to deal with my fair share of norton and the like, I hate it, if i could have 2 hours with their comp it would run like a top, but as it sits its ram is maxed out by hordes of programs and addons eating up chunks of it. I kid you not the whole monitor is filled with program icons and the task bar is filled with junk programs running, I should take a screenshot it's pretty scary looking.

O well at least they finally got DSL. Slowly making progress, now if we could just get one of them newfangled digital converter boxes we might get more than 3 channels lol.

 

[Syntax Error]

Nuke, your story would probably fit in "The Customer is Always Wrong" Thread. Anyway, your dilemma is one that is faced by any and all TSR's: The voices in your head are stupid. Which is probably why I won't work as such (in normal circumstances anyway), because I have a short fuse.

As for the topic: Yes, yes I am a tech support ***** of my family.

 

[Chrinik]

Yes i am...end of story, you dont wanna hear that.

Atleast they know how to use the internet...to some extend.

 

[Railgun88]

All the time. For hardware and software. And everytime I have to do it it's something that takes me a long ass time. For instance my mom got a shitty*cough* hp. It's nothin but trouble, the hard drive has crashed 3 times in one year. And she keeps getting the same one! I've told her to get another brand but she won't listen. And oh yeah my family are techtards. So are most of my friends.

 

[Spleenbag]

Luckily, my dad's whole job revolves around computers, so I'm not his ***** there, and my mom can do everything she needs to do (emails, web, getting stuff off web, etc.) and is the house Photoshop guru to boot (specifically with restoring old pictures).

I have to help my friend down the street every now and then though; his knowledge of computers extends to "Turn it on, log in, play WoW/use internet. Don't press Alt+F4." but luckily, he only needs the internet and WoW to stay happy.

 

[Railgun88]

One time i got head for setting up a chicks computer and internet. and yes she was attractive and i am the TECH ***** in my family and group of friends.

High five!
anyway, I am normally the one who has to fix the computer or internet modem in my family. What I don't like about it is that my parents blame me for everything that goes wrong with it...

Same

 

[Stryc9]

Yes, when it's family I don't get paid for it, when it's friends we come up with some arrangement, when it's other people I get paid by the hour. I've made as much as $300 US in just a couple of days because this Mexican guy I worked at another job with once keeps sending me his stuff along with just about his entire family's stuff, unfortunately I fix their stuff so good that I only get their business once a year or so even though I can just about set my watch by when he's gonna call.

 

[Goldbling]

Yes. but it's annoying that I dont have the money to fix anyhthing (of my own that is ) but usually it is something wrong with my moms gay laptop, I told her not to order the damn thing off that infomercial

 

[Starke]

I used to be. But, anymore, I refuse. I stopped providing tech support years ago, and my family just kinda wandered off to deal with their tech problems on their own.

 

[Goldbling]

I bet mine is a shorter fuse, and also when someone need something built... they turn and look at me again

 

[Horticulture]

My folks taught me how to use a computer, fortunately they've remained capable in their old age. I tend to keep on top of tech news so I'm 'consulted' for purchases.

 

[Skizle]

Have you tried switching it off and on again?

are you sure its plugged it?

yes and i cant stand it. i had a PC repaier class and all of a sudden my family thinks i know everything about computers. i think its kind of the reason i stopped persuing an interest in a tech. degree.

 

[Handofpwn]

Anytime my mom has a problem with her laptop, she comes to me. She then proceeds to yell at me when i go off topic a bit to teach her something she needs to know before I can teach her what she *wants* to know. That and no matter how many times i show her how to reset the router, she just does not seem to get it.

 

[Kais86]

Sigh...yeah.