Friends & Family
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Many of us are unfortunately called upon by friends and family for computer advice and/or maintenance. I've spent many, many hours diagnosing and rebuilding my friends and families computers. Most of the time its totally free. If I'm lucky they'll buy me a six pack or give me a $20 gift certificate - it's rare though. Anybody find any "nice" or creative ways of declining these "opportunities"?
I find that messing up really bad once or twice gets the word out that you are not the guy for fixing computer. I also use the line that I'm a software guy. I only work on them when all of the hardware is correct. That gets me out of a few things. But generally speaking, messing up good seems to take care of most of the traffic ;P Hogan
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I have used the NCC statement a couple of times now, my relatives usualy balk but when I say I could lose my job they quickly change their tune.
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Many of us are unfortunately called upon by friends and family for computer advice and/or maintenance. I've spent many, many hours diagnosing and rebuilding my friends and families computers. Most of the time its totally free. If I'm lucky they'll buy me a six pack or give me a $20 gift certificate - it's rare though. Anybody find any "nice" or creative ways of declining these "opportunities"?
I have started to use the "I am not familiar with that form of technology". I have had frequent success with this line. However, if they really didn't download the pr0n files from Warez that blew up their computer, then I usually help them out. It's the right thing to do, IMHO. :)
"the meat from that butcher is just the dogs danglies, absolutely amazing cuts of beef." - DaveAuld (2011)
"No, that is just the earthly manifestation of the Great God Retardon." - Nagy Vilmos (2011) "It is the celestial scrotum of good luck!" - Nagy Vilmos (2011) "But you probably have the smoothest scrotum of any grown man" - Pete O'Hanlon (2012) -
Many of us are unfortunately called upon by friends and family for computer advice and/or maintenance. I've spent many, many hours diagnosing and rebuilding my friends and families computers. Most of the time its totally free. If I'm lucky they'll buy me a six pack or give me a $20 gift certificate - it's rare though. Anybody find any "nice" or creative ways of declining these "opportunities"?
"Funny, last time I had to do this for someone, they had a load of dodgy pr0n on their machine". That should do it...
Sort of a cross between Lawrence of Arabia and Dilbert.[^]
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A Dead ringer for Kate Winslett[^] -
"Funny, last time I had to do this for someone, they had a load of dodgy pr0n on their machine". That should do it...
Sort of a cross between Lawrence of Arabia and Dilbert.[^]
-Or-
A Dead ringer for Kate Winslett[^]A few years ago my missus bought home the laptop of a friend of her's whose ex boyfriend had changed the passwords as an act of spite when they split up. I got it working and when giving it back said I couldn't believe the photos of her that had been on it. She went bright, bright red, so although I hadn't looked, let alone found anything, I certainly now know that some exist.
Every man can tell how many goats or sheep he possesses, but not how many friends.
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A few years ago my missus bought home the laptop of a friend of her's whose ex boyfriend had changed the passwords as an act of spite when they split up. I got it working and when giving it back said I couldn't believe the photos of her that had been on it. She went bright, bright red, so although I hadn't looked, let alone found anything, I certainly now know that some exist.
Every man can tell how many goats or sheep he possesses, but not how many friends.
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MehGerbil wrote:
Perhaps you could modify this strategy and you could switch to Apple (if your family owns PCs)
We actually switched to Apple several years ago. They keep bringing me these crappy PC's to fix.
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Big Daddy Farang wrote:
or other barter
An eye for an eye ; a tooth for a tooth ; a hard drive for a hard drive. :cool:
PIEBALDconsult wrote:
a hard drive for a hard drive
Hey, we're talking about family here... X| :laugh:
------------------------------------- Do not do what has already been done. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.. but it ROCKS absolutely, too.
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Many of us are unfortunately called upon by friends and family for computer advice and/or maintenance. I've spent many, many hours diagnosing and rebuilding my friends and families computers. Most of the time its totally free. If I'm lucky they'll buy me a six pack or give me a $20 gift certificate - it's rare though. Anybody find any "nice" or creative ways of declining these "opportunities"?
I've found telling stories that include the phrase 'and then it went up in flames' works pretty well at discouraging requests. Short the few friends who know I'm pulling people's leg when I do it, I don't get asked for help from much of anyone anymore. Also works wonders at work. So long as you're not help desk staff.
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Many of us are unfortunately called upon by friends and family for computer advice and/or maintenance. I've spent many, many hours diagnosing and rebuilding my friends and families computers. Most of the time its totally free. If I'm lucky they'll buy me a six pack or give me a $20 gift certificate - it's rare though. Anybody find any "nice" or creative ways of declining these "opportunities"?
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Many of us are unfortunately called upon by friends and family for computer advice and/or maintenance. I've spent many, many hours diagnosing and rebuilding my friends and families computers. Most of the time its totally free. If I'm lucky they'll buy me a six pack or give me a $20 gift certificate - it's rare though. Anybody find any "nice" or creative ways of declining these "opportunities"?
My niece told my wife that Uncle Nueman is like Chandler on Friends. We really don't know what he does. It is a perception I foster. So aside from my parents, who I never turn down, I don't get asked for help that much. However, lately it is my wife that "volunteers" me. She dragged me to her friend's house one Sunday afternoon a couple of weeks back to set up her wireless router. Only took me a half an hour. Yesterday my wife tells me to open this package. Inside was a gift basket of treats from her friend. Nice to know some people appreciate you. :cool:
What me worry?
