Comments on: My worst nightmare… http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/my-worst-nightmare/ Your daily IT cuppa Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:45:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The big IT worker’s bug bear http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/my-worst-nightmare/comment-page-1/#comment-6749 The big IT worker’s bug bear Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:45:13 +0000 http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/2007/09/20/my-worst-nightmare/#comment-6749 [...] the only one to have problems with friends and family wanting help with their computers. I’ve talked about this before and, whilst my own problem has been much reduced, plainly a lot of people in IT have problems [...] [...] the only one to have problems with friends and family wanting help with their computers. I’ve talked about this before and, whilst my own problem has been much reduced, plainly a lot of people in IT have problems [...]

]]> By: Jack Hughes http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/my-worst-nightmare/comment-page-1/#comment-5022 Jack Hughes Fri, 28 Sep 2007 08:14:01 +0000 http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/2007/09/20/my-worst-nightmare/#comment-5022 @Michael: Thanks for dropping by. The questionable sites issue is a huge problem. It can be a nightmare to remove a really nasty virus. Quite often the only option is a re-format. @Michael: Thanks for dropping by. The questionable sites issue is a huge problem. It can be a nightmare to remove a really nasty virus. Quite often the only option is a re-format.

]]> By: Michael http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/my-worst-nightmare/comment-page-1/#comment-5016 Michael Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:38:50 +0000 http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/2007/09/20/my-worst-nightmare/#comment-5016 I am not IT by profession. I can fix some things with a computer as long as I have enuff time to do it, as long as I am given complete leeway to do what I feel like I need to do to the computer. However, I find the biggest problem is that people won't follow my after-fix advice for keeping the computer fixed. They won't do Windows updates. They won't run virus scans. They won't stop going to questionable sites to download illegal copies of songs and software. I am not IT by profession. I can fix some things with a computer as long as I have enuff time to do it, as long as I am given complete leeway to do what I feel like I need to do to the computer. However, I find the biggest problem is that people won’t follow my after-fix advice for keeping the computer fixed. They won’t do Windows updates. They won’t run virus scans. They won’t stop going to questionable sites to download illegal copies of songs and software.

]]> By: Jack http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/my-worst-nightmare/comment-page-1/#comment-5003 Jack Sun, 23 Sep 2007 21:09:47 +0000 http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/2007/09/20/my-worst-nightmare/#comment-5003 @Jen: it was kinda funny the other day. I went round my sister's place and my brother-in-law comes in and says, in a tone that suggests he thought that I am personally responsible for all of the spam emails he gets, that I should set up something for him so he doesn't have to delete all of the emails himself. And I did precisely that. His ISP was already marking the spam as spam so I just had to do a Outlook Express filter on the email title. No big deal, but it would have been a lot nicer if he hadn't basically accused me of causing the problem in the first place. I'm glad my little rant has had some positive effect anyway :) @Jen: it was kinda funny the other day. I went round my sister’s place and my brother-in-law comes in and says, in a tone that suggests he thought that I am personally responsible for all of the spam emails he gets, that I should set up something for him so he doesn’t have to delete all of the emails himself. And I did precisely that. His ISP was already marking the spam as spam so I just had to do a Outlook Express filter on the email title. No big deal, but it would have been a lot nicer if he hadn’t basically accused me of causing the problem in the first place.

I’m glad my little rant has had some positive effect anyway :)

]]> By: Jen / domestika http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/my-worst-nightmare/comment-page-1/#comment-4999 Jen / domestika Sun, 23 Sep 2007 11:57:49 +0000 http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/2007/09/20/my-worst-nightmare/#comment-4999 Ah, it's the mystery of the scarey little electronic box. Everyone has one; very few have much of a clue what goes on inside the case... recipe for trouble! Jack, you've written a dandy (and justified) rant here -- caused me, for one, to take a closer look at how I treat my computer-whiz pals. They would no odubt thank you, if they knew... Ah, it’s the mystery of the scarey little electronic box. Everyone has one; very few have much of a clue what goes on inside the case… recipe for trouble! Jack, you’ve written a dandy (and justified) rant here — caused me, for one, to take a closer look at how I treat my computer-whiz pals. They would no odubt thank you, if they knew…

]]> By: Jack Hughes http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/my-worst-nightmare/comment-page-1/#comment-4998 Jack Hughes Sun, 23 Sep 2007 10:31:09 +0000 http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/2007/09/20/my-worst-nightmare/#comment-4998 @Jen: you're right. As Chris said, if we allow ourselves to be taken for a ride that's our fault. One of the problems with computers is that as soon as you show even the smallest amount of interest, you will then forever be the first port of call for any help they require however tangential to the computer it is. None IT people seem to have a bizaar concept that every IT person has an intimate acquaintance with Bill Gates. And ol' Bill sorts me out with every flavour of Windows & Office ever produced so I can troubleshoot anything on a Windows machine. It ain't so folks...we have to buy it just like you do. Another thing is, you'll get the blame whenever anything goes wrong. The hard disk needs formatting, so you say *repeatedly* that everything is going to be lost on the machine, so please tell me what you need saving. Of course, you then go ahead and they suddenly remember that their child's course work was on there that really has to be handed in tomorrow. They won't remember that they said it was ok to format the disk. Guess who'll get the blame?! There is something about PCs that brings out the worst in people...don't know what it is. @Jen: you’re right. As Chris said, if we allow ourselves to be taken for a ride that’s our fault.

One of the problems with computers is that as soon as you show even the smallest amount of interest, you will then forever be the first port of call for any help they require however tangential to the computer it is.

None IT people seem to have a bizaar concept that every IT person has an intimate acquaintance with Bill Gates. And ol’ Bill sorts me out with every flavour of Windows & Office ever produced so I can troubleshoot anything on a Windows machine. It ain’t so folks…we have to buy it just like you do.

Another thing is, you’ll get the blame whenever anything goes wrong. The hard disk needs formatting, so you say *repeatedly* that everything is going to be lost on the machine, so please tell me what you need saving. Of course, you then go ahead and they suddenly remember that their child’s course work was on there that really has to be handed in tomorrow. They won’t remember that they said it was ok to format the disk. Guess who’ll get the blame?!

There is something about PCs that brings out the worst in people…don’t know what it is.

]]> By: Jen / domestika http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/my-worst-nightmare/comment-page-1/#comment-4994 Jen / domestika Sun, 23 Sep 2007 02:17:57 +0000 http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/2007/09/20/my-worst-nightmare/#comment-4994 Not an IT'er, here, but it does come up in many other professions (and in private life, too) -- any where that a valued skill exists, no doubt. I approach the 'favours' thing the same way as lending money to someone, not sure if you'll get it back. Think of it as a gift:- Am I happy to do this job for this person with no hope of seeing a return on the time/expertise invested? If yes, I do the favour. If not, I'm too busy to do it in the timeframe that they need it done -- or else I'm quoting my rates. And a fairly diplomatic way to do the latter, I've found, is to say something like, "Let me save you some money on this, if I can. It would probably cost x-amount less if you {went somewhere else for help / did it another way / didn't bother / etc.}, because I'd have to charge for {short notice / retail price on supplies / whatever)..." With a sweet smile. :) Not an IT’er, here, but it does come up in many other professions (and in private life, too) — any where that a valued skill exists, no doubt. I approach the ‘favours’ thing the same way as lending money to someone, not sure if you’ll get it back.

Think of it as a gift:- Am I happy to do this job for this person with no hope of seeing a return on the time/expertise invested?

If yes, I do the favour.

If not, I’m too busy to do it in the timeframe that they need it done — or else I’m quoting my rates.

And a fairly diplomatic way to do the latter, I’ve found, is to say something like, “Let me save you some money on this, if I can. It would probably cost x-amount less if you {went somewhere else for help / did it another way / didn’t bother / etc.}, because I’d have to charge for {short notice / retail price on supplies / whatever)…”

With a sweet smile. :)

]]> By: TONY http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/my-worst-nightmare/comment-page-1/#comment-4991 TONY Sat, 22 Sep 2007 00:12:51 +0000 http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/2007/09/20/my-worst-nightmare/#comment-4991 I was also a auto electrician in my past life and I never tell anybody I know anything about cars either. These days I tell people if I didn't sell them their machine take it back to the place of purchase. I was also a auto electrician in my past life and I never tell anybody I know anything about cars either. These days I tell people if I didn’t sell them their machine take it back to the place of purchase.

]]> By: Philip http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/my-worst-nightmare/comment-page-1/#comment-4986 Philip Fri, 21 Sep 2007 18:48:16 +0000 http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/2007/09/20/my-worst-nightmare/#comment-4986 @Ciger Jack "I’m sorry but if I can’t get my hands on it and you don’t know how to describe the problem we’re going to have a problem." Ha! Try troubleshooting while in a text medium! I would always have friends IM'ing me or sending me private messages in game asking me some computer related question -- "Yeah, something happened and popped up a window. Then things fell down. I totally know what's wrong: how do I fix it?" Oh yeah, those are the fun ones. @Ciger Jack
“I’m sorry but if I can’t get my hands on it and you don’t know how to describe the problem we’re going to have a problem.”

Ha! Try troubleshooting while in a text medium! I would always have friends IM’ing me or sending me private messages in game asking me some computer related question — “Yeah, something happened and popped up a window. Then things fell down. I totally know what’s wrong: how do I fix it?” Oh yeah, those are the fun ones.

]]> By: Cigar Jack http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/my-worst-nightmare/comment-page-1/#comment-4985 Cigar Jack Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:49:37 +0000 http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/2007/09/20/my-worst-nightmare/#comment-4985 Fortunately I'm a pretty big guy so no one has threatened to kick my butt if I don't fix their computer. :) Fortunately I’m a pretty big guy so no one has threatened to kick my butt if I don’t fix their computer. :)

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