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Tips for being the family holiday sysadmin

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Re: Tips for being the family holiday sysadmin

#21

Post by lame-robot-hoax »

bvelica wrote: post #6
sevencolors wrote: post #3

For those who don't mind being a hero. And getting an extra slice of pie https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/in-which-i-fix-my-girlfr...

Yeah, i had that period in my life, then i got older and realized that peace and quite is golden...

Eh, for my girlfriend’s grandparents? Sure, I’ll fix their WiFi problems to be hailed as a hero and to get brownie points, but also just because I care about them.

Some random schmuck who happens to be at a holiday party and hears that I work with computers? Probably gonna say something along the lines of yeah that’s not my area of expertise so I’m not sure. I work on data conversions, I’m not going to help you load music off iTunes onto your Android that you bought because Trump told you Apple = Bad. And I’m not being hypothetical, this happened to me during Thanksgiving.

Re: Tips for being the family holiday sysadmin

#22

Post by lotsofpulp »

snypox wrote: post #19
darishante wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, this -- the reason, why my answer to tech support outside of job is a firm "no". No to friends, no to family, no to anyone. I don't want to deal with panicked requests starting "you did something to fix my computer, now it ate my grant application, deadline is tomorrow, help!" And I don't deal with sudden stress particularly well.

Interesting approach. I don’t like to take the blame either, but I’d never tell my mom and dad to screw themselves. I usually fix whatever is up with their laptops, fortunately they don’t call me up too often. I usually try to go for long term solutions and explain everything carefully.

It’s a much better use of my time to just buy my parents iOS devices and point them to the Apple store if something goes wrong. Fighting malware and people’s propensity to click on sketchy links is too taxing.

Re: Tips for being the family holiday sysadmin

#24

Post by sevencolors »

scrooched_moose wrote: post #18
sevencolors wrote: post #3

For those who don't mind being a hero. And getting an extra slice of pie https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/in-which-i-fix-my-girlfr...

The biggest problem with that story is rural Iowa is almost exclusively Mediacom, who are even worse than Comcast.

This fictional story twas written in the year of 2012

Re: Tips for being the family holiday sysadmin

#25

Post by blackearl »

lame-robot-hoax wrote: post #21
bvelica wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, i had that period in my life, then i got older and realized that peace and quite is golden...

Eh, for my girlfriend’s grandparents? Sure, I’ll fix their WiFi problems to be hailed as a hero and to get brownie points, but also just because I care about them. Some random schmuck who happens to be at a holiday party and hears that I work with computers? Probably gonna say something along the lines of yeah that’s not my area of expertise so I’m not sure. I work on data conversions, I’m not going to help you load…

I've offered a trade, usually ending with no trade unfortunately. An distant acquaintance who was a car mechanic needed computer help, I offered if he would help me attach a fender (really not that difficult).

Too many people think "you like computers, so you must like fixing them". That might be true for some interesting or novel problem, but Joe Schmo's virus ridden computer is not an intriguing venture.

Re: Tips for being the family holiday sysadmin

#26

Post by lame-robot-hoax »

blackearl wrote: post #25
lame-robot-hoax wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Eh, for my girlfriend’s grandparents? Sure, I’ll fix their WiFi problems to be hailed as a hero and to get brownie points, but also just because I care about them. Some random schmuck who happens to be at a holiday party and hears that I work with computers? Probably gonna say something along the lines of yeah that’s not my area of expertise so I’m not sure. I work on data conversions, I’m not going to help you load…

I've offered a trade, usually ending with no trade unfortunately. An distant acquaintance who was a car mechanic needed computer help, I offered if he would help me attach a fender (really not that difficult). Too many people think "you like computers, so you must like fixing them". That might be true for some interesting or novel problem, but Joe Schmo's virus ridden computer is not an intriguing venture.

I agree. I mean, I’m fine fixing issues I run into when coding or other projects, or messing around with my setup and fixing pain points.

I’m not into solving problems that a middle schooler could solve. It’s not interesting, I’m not learning anything of use, I’m just spending my time on something worthless to me.

Re: Tips for being the family holiday sysadmin

#27

Post by scrooched_moose »

sevencolors wrote: post #24
scrooched_moose wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The biggest problem with that story is rural Iowa is almost exclusively Mediacom, who are even worse than Comcast.

This fictional story twas written in the year of 2012

Yeah, but it's always been like that. Comcast has never had a presence in Iowa that I'm aware of. It's been Mediacom since cable internet was available.

Re: Tips for being the family holiday sysadmin

#28

Post by climb_stealth »

blackearl wrote: post #25
lame-robot-hoax wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Eh, for my girlfriend’s grandparents? Sure, I’ll fix their WiFi problems to be hailed as a hero and to get brownie points, but also just because I care about them. Some random schmuck who happens to be at a holiday party and hears that I work with computers? Probably gonna say something along the lines of yeah that’s not my area of expertise so I’m not sure. I work on data conversions, I’m not going to help you load…

I've offered a trade, usually ending with no trade unfortunately. An distant acquaintance who was a car mechanic needed computer help, I offered if he would help me attach a fender (really not that difficult). Too many people think "you like computers, so you must like fixing them". That might be true for some interesting or novel problem, but Joe Schmo's virus ridden computer is not an intriguing venture.

Did he help attaching the fender in the end?

The last time I helped someone I got paid for it which made all the difference. I'm happy to sort out your computer problems if you pay me at least my dayjob equivalent for my time. I did an excellent job as well and no bad feelings whatsoever.

Re: Tips for being the family holiday sysadmin

#29

Post by blackearl »

climb_stealth wrote: post #28
blackearl wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've offered a trade, usually ending with no trade unfortunately. An distant acquaintance who was a car mechanic needed computer help, I offered if he would help me attach a fender (really not that difficult). Too many people think "you like computers, so you must like fixing them". That might be true for some interesting or novel problem, but Joe Schmo's virus ridden computer is not an intriguing venture.

Did he help attaching the fender in the end? The last time I helped someone I got paid for it which made all the difference. I'm happy to sort out your computer problems if you pay me at least my dayjob equivalent for my time. I did an excellent job as well and no bad feelings whatsoever.

Nope. I did it myself in a jiffy. I'll help out close friends or offer trades. I only really quote cash if I don't like/don't know the person, usually way beyond what someone could pay.

If I actually quoted my usually hourly rate it wouldn't matter because I have a senior position, so my rate is way higher than what someone would want to pay. People who aren't in tech have a weird view of IT, either undervaluing it or sometimes actually being angered by the rate.

I'm most empathetic to artists who are told they'll get "exposure", or that "it's just a drawing" or whatever. The average person has no idea what IT is like, but assume it's easy or fun. I'll never understand why some jobs get pigeonholed this way.

Re: Tips for being the family holiday sysadmin

#30

Post by blackearl »

atarian wrote: post #14

One of the best investments I ever made was replacing my parents' ailing Windows machines with Mac Minis. I no longer come home to a laundry list of issues that I need to fix.

Easy to do if your parents haven't had desk jobs most of their lives. While my parents don't love Windows, they know it well enough to get by. I can imagine the calls I'd get if they switched to Apple. "There's no right click on this mouse" "The icons won't stop bouncing around" "Ctrl + _ isn't working"
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