Stifling altruism
Lending a helping hand just isn’t worth my time, some days. I’m like most “Good Time Charlies”, willing to provide my “professional” advice at the best price around (free), but after a while, my attitude gets a bit like old vinegar: stinky and foul tasting. In nicer terms, I find that the attitude of some users is stifling my altruism.
Yes, I fix computers. No, I don’t like to be paid for it (with the exception of my employer, who has a communion with the tax people that keeps everyone on the right side of the laws), so when someone asks for a quick bit of advice or fine-tuning, I’m affable. Once. Twice. The third time, I wish I hadn’t given my number.
Let’s see. I set up your machine, and within the month you return needing me to start over. Natural disasters, no problem. A big mean virus; I am completely on your side. But, when you “play” with the system folders, late at night, and then invoke the great god of power surge, my humour is less than zero.
Or, I warn you that the machine is old, feeble, really needs to be replaced (remember, I do this for a living, and I don’t run a business that would sell you the solution), but you insist, and then call me because things are doing exactly what I had warned… well, the advice might be cheap, but it isn’t cheap advice. Remember, only winter lasts forever.
Finally, when you find my phone number in the book, it’s because I believe that there are people out there trying to contact me. It doesn’t mean you, at suppertime, or late at night, or on a weekend just after dawn. Please, don’t call because you think I’m too polite to hang up. I am learning fast.
There, my spleen venting is over for now. But remember, I remember.
