IT Professionals

Why It Sucks To Be The Computer Guy

Posted by on May 23, 2007 | 18 Comments

After watching Diggnation yesterday, I came to realize why I burnt out on PC repair. It’s wild, but the link they were talking about hit the nail right on the head for me personally, as it is so true. It was almost creepy to read the previously linked description as its accuracy is so close, it gave me chills. While not so much agreeing with number one in the list, or even number two for that matter, points three through ten are pretty much spot on.

I cannot tell you how many times I go to some unnamed appointment, only to have my past as a “repair guy” come up to prep things for the onslaught of coming repair questions – it’s really annoying. What’s comical is even after retiring from repair world, I still have people asking me repair questions. Yeah, it’s wild.

Now, I am happy to help via Just Ask Matt, as I can queue the questions and I am able to help my fellow geeks, rather than people who take the advice for granted. Have any of you ever experienced this? Are you finding that you are on the receiving end of the kind of circumstances described in the link above? If so, hit the comments and vent to the rest of us about your woes.

[tags]pc repair, computers, undervalued, questions, frustration[/tags]

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/scribblepinch/ Robert Glen Fogarty

    Hah! I understand completely! I could write an article about how it sucks to be the editor guy for as many times as I get asked about the use of proper English when I really just want to be having a good time not thinking about such things.

    Hey, if I’m not “on the clock,” then people can damned well go look up the answers themselves! Good thing I’m not a doctor, eh?

  • http://www.watton.info Julian Horn

    Not just for the computer guy – but for me the TV/VCR guy too!

    I repaired TVs VCR, Satellite Units, Microwaves, etc. etc. in fact almost anything in the house with electronics in it from the ’70′s to the Millennium and I recognise (almost) every item.

    But I would add as my Number 1:
    You are expected to be God. Every repair you perform should be free of charge (indeed you should consider paying the customer for the privelege of experimenting on their equipment) , and the WHOLE of the equipment guaranteed never, ever, ever to have any further trouble of any kind at all for the next 10 years. Even when the TV is the thing you repaired, if the VCR fails within 6 months . . . well it must be something you did.

    Many is the time I wish I could have parked my soldering iron in places soldering irons shouldn’t go :-)

  • Tom

    Hey All
    This Shaun fellow has stolen my life ;-) ! Matt, when you stated that it gave you chills I thought, “yeah right”, then I followed the damn link and found myself in the twilight zone. I am currently taking courses in engineering so that I can “move on” from many years of computer support of all kinds.

  • Don Finley

    Yes, I hear ya Matt!! I am a computer tech and my friends are always asking me computer questions. When some of my friends don’t know what I do for a living and they ask me – I just have the greatest urgh to say – “Uhh…. I am a garbage man….

  • Rob

    I’ve been the “computer guy” in almost every job I’ve had. Even if I wasn’t officially the computer guy, I was the “computer guy”. I think you know what I mean. When I was teaching school, I was the computer guy…OK I taught a Computer Lit class too. I worked in other jobs and was the most knowledgeable so I was the “expert” No real official training…I was the person who had answers. Now that I am a real live official type “Computer Guy” (notice the capital “C”), there is no real difference. Yes, no difference.

    I’ve been it IT for seven years. No…not alot compared to you or most of your readers. I get the things you are talking about. Questions from friends and strangers, co-workers and the bosses. I give the same answer. “I don’t do work on the side” I work with computers all day. I have no desire to go home and work on another person’s. There is the occational good friend or my wife’s friend. OK…I’ll do that. But to me work is work. After that it stays at the office.

    I also consider my limited knowledge a gift. I use it as I see fit. I have learned to balance the useful knowledge I have with my life. I guess what I am saying is….I Love My Job.

  • Geoff

    I used to be PC Support but I am now a Network Engineer. In my experience, even in my current position, most of these rules relate. The biggest concept I relate to is that your work is “invisible”. Even when designing a new network project, like VoIP, I’ve run into the attitude that if it works, nobody notices, and if it doesn’t, then you’re incompetent. I think it’s too hard for the layman to grasp the complexity of something like a computer, or VoIP, or a network, so they just accept that it’s magical and you’re a wizard, and it’s your life’s work to keep the magic coming. Most times, you can’t even get your own boss out of that “magical” thought pattern, so you end up feeling severely under-appreciated most of the time.

  • Jason

    Just imagine doing pc support at a small town school district. Everyone in the town knows what you do for the school district and so everywhere you go in public you get asked computer questions.

  • http://www.justcallmatt.net/ Matt Wilkinson

    Hey Bob, Matt… it’s the “other” Matt.

    Like Matt H said — the TechAmok guy nails it. I cannot go anywhere, even my late mother’s memorial service, and not get queried about PC problems.

    At times, I feel like it’s job security, that I should be lucky to have this kind of recognition. But a lot of the time, I feel hounded. So much so, that I want to become a landscaper or massage therapist.

    I wish I could pull it off like Bruce Wayne does it Batman… have one “public” identity… then change into “IT Man” with a mask and cape, swoop in, fix the PC, then rapel down the side of the high-rise and back into obscurity. OK, Bruce Wayne’s character wasn’t obscure, and my place isn’t exactly stately Wayne Manor. But to be able to walk into a social setting and not get drilled about Vista, anti-virus programs, and such. It would be nice…

  • Larry in Houston

    Every point in this post resonates with me. I have been “The Computer Guy” for just over 16 years now, and I can tell you, the questions are tough to tolerate at times, but they happen to many different professionals. The other points are what make this post so accurate. You have a hundred different things at once, and prioritizing any one of them upsets 99 other people. Almost everyone is inconsiderate in their dealings with IT people, and it really jades you after a while. It’s unfortunate. I am still in IT, but I went back to school (part-time) a couple years ago, and plan to change careers soon. This post verbalizes what I’ve felt for many years.

  • Brian

    Yes, I couldn’t agree more. I think it’s natural for people to try and get something for free. I’m guessing most of the “fix it” people get bombarded. I was a mechanic previously and it was the same things. People calling asking about some noise in their car or if it’s best to do this, blah, blah blah.

    I also get a kick out of reading some message boards, blogs, etc. in which the person asking for assistance is rude and pushy. It makes me want to give them the wrong advice. I really love it when so called “friends” with whom I haven’t spoken in awhile call. I think maybe they want to get together. Na! They just want their PC fixed!
    I could go on forever ranting about this. :-)

    Not that I’m bitter or anything. I have learned over the years to just keep repeating “I just don’t know if I can find the time, I just don’t know if I can find the time….”. That usually guilt trips them into offering something…..booze….just offering something is good!

  • Philip

    I hate to have to say this but most of these points hold true for anybody in most service industries. Get over it! It comes with the territory. I have been a mechanic for over 25 years. I get the same questions etc… The only difference is that the questions, comments, complaints, or whatever are about their vehicles. My father is in the appliance repair business and take a guess as to what he gets grilled about.
    One point left out is that many times you are the cleanup guy. You get to fix everything that was messed up by those that came before you. Because many came before you, the customer immediately thinks that you are there to take advantage of him or her also.
    The reality is that you are there to make it work correctly and you are charging them a fee to do this. Don’t expect them to kiss you as they hand you a check. You are getting your thank you and it deposits nicely into the bank.
    As for the constant questions, try wearing a tee shirt like my son wears to non work events (and some work events). It says” No I Will Not Fix Your Computer!”. You also have the right to politely decline answering computer questions when not on the job.

    Philip

  • http://www.pewtertech.com/ Shawn

    OMG!! If we don’t teach our children some kind of manners, they grow into people that aren’t aware of their rude and unwelcome behavior, such as expressed in the aforementioned post(s).

    It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have everyone read about a “specialists” tribulations with the general population.

    I have asked a “Washing Machine Person” a few questions; however, he was in my home on my payroll…

  • http://www.lifereboot.com Shaun

    You’ve linked to an article on TechAmok, but that article is actually an unauthorized republication of my original article on LifeReboot.com. Please help me out and update your link. Thank you!

  • http://www.matthartley.com Matt Hartley

    Shaun: Would be happy to change the link back – can you provide me with some links?

  • pcwiz…

    I bring money up right away, “sorry, I get $35 an hour to diagnose and fix computer problems’ why, that’s expensive ‘well, my company pays me $55 an hour to deal with their computer problems, $35 is the personal rate.’ so, I’ll be happy to make an appointment to look at your machine and give you an estimate – before I start…that usually stops the constant tech questions… but, not the product recommendation questions, those I defer to the sales material or salesman, “I don’t sell computer hardware” is that answer… yes, some people get upset, but that’s not my problem…sorry…I went to school in the evening, on my own time to gain knowledge, I expect to be compensated for it to be transfered to you… Like the guy said in his top 10 reasons, “your computer problem is NOT automatically my problem”

    I’ve found recently, the computer technology is now outrunning my knowledge, and it may be time to either upgrade my knowledge, or leave the field, a sad day indeed…I do enjoy computers…

    Cheers! :D
    pcwiz…

  • http://www.jeremiahkellogg.com/ Jeremy

    I agree with these 10 reasons as well. I am known as the “computer guy” to all my friends, and get asked computer questions all the time, expected to give a lengthy answer to their technical problems for free. Even when I am off the clock, I feel like I am still working, like computer work never ends…

    I think I’ve found the correct original link that Shawn was referring to. The link is actually at the bottom of the post:

    http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/10-reasons-it-doesnt-pay-to-be-the-computer-guy/

  • Michael

    I have been in the computer business for over 35 years., plse GOd bless
    Wheres The money
    Can any one help with a real online buzz nesssss.
    Thank you.
    fordodell@gmail.com

  • Melchor

    Sir,
    my computer always asks what OS to choose during the boout up process. How can I skip it and just let the computer choose the right OS for start-up. Thank you.