Being able to work with computers is the new magic

[Tieno]

I'm basically the IT guy at work and i work at a small organisation not in IT so i'm pretty much the only one who knows how to work it. Almost everything i do is considered magic, it's pretty fun though cause i get a lot of positive feedback. Still, it's kinda sad how for the majority of people it's not really working with, but against computers, such a struggle!

[Brehvolution]

Willful ignorance is great for my wallet.

[Joe Molotov]

I had to help a guy install Java yesterday. Let's review the steps on how to install Java.

Website: "You need Java, click here to get it."

You: *click*

Website: "Java has been installed!"

[Madrun Badrun]

I dream of the day when the average person knows how to write a bash script.

[bork]

A friend of the family is payng me monthly to basically check and see if three computers they have need updating.  I am going to try expanding this to some of his associates and was also given permission to advertise in the assisted living apartment complex my Grandfather is in.  Might be able to make a nice little chunk of money every month for doing next to nothing.

[Great Rumbler]

A friend of the family is payng me monthly to basically check and see if three computers they have need updating.

[bork]

A friend of the family is payng me monthly to basically check and see if three computers they have need updating.

Yup, a month back he asked me to take a look at a PC they use at work.  It was LOADED with viruses and was so bad I couldn't even reinstall Windows for him (hardware issues too).  Ended up convincing him to buy a Mac instead.  Then he wanted me to look at his home PC.  It was slow as hell, because it was filled with crap and some shitty anti-virus program.  I went and cleaned it up, uninstalled a lot of crap (AOL was on there.  AOL!!) and got it running nice and smoothly.  Ended up doing the same for two more computers at their business.  I've pretty much got everything running smoothly, so I don't know what the hell I'm going to need to do other than to check and see if they have downloaded any updates that might need to be installed, LOL.

[Diunx]

A friend of mine keep telling me to help him install a pirated version of Starcraft 2, its like people forgot how to read instructions, smh.

[Phoenix Dark]

I ask BlueTsunami computer questions all the time

But yea, irl I'm The Computer God. Just last weekend I had to set my dad's laptop up for wireless. I think he took the wireless connector card out of it or something, but instead of asking I just bought a usb adapter. Now he has internet access again and is happy.

Then he asks "is there a place I can watch football games on saturdays and sundays?" I showed him where to watch Sunday Night Football since it's on NBC's website, but there's no way in hell I'm showing him justin.tv or ustream or the other sites. I know that will end in me having to clean up his computer again from viruses

[lennedsay]

Having an IT guy in the family makes me feel like I've lost any touch I've had. Like I've become slightly computer illiterate, but I think it's laziness. But at work or to my family I'm like a computer god, and I really have learned a lot from him.

I still know nothing in comparison.

[cool breeze]

I hide my knowledge of computers so the mortals don't think me a witch.  Sometimes it is hard.  Yesterday my professor was struggling for ten minutes on the computer as the class sat quietly.  As soon as one kid started to talk, I jumped in and explained what to do, ending with "...or something" to avoid suspicion.  The nice thing is that when you messed up a computer assignment, you can pretend like it was the computer that fucked up.

[Bildi]

I just made the painful move to a new work computer and as such from Office 2003 to Office 2007.   And I did it without any IT support.

Guess you IT guys aren't THAT useful, Tieno.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

I had to move to a new computer because my old one got a trojan.  The IT guys fixed it.

[close]

[Phoenix Dark]

I hide my knowledge of computers so the mortals don't think me a witch.  Sometimes it is hard.  Yesterday my professor was struggling for ten minutes on the computer as the class sat quietly.  As soon as one kid started to talk, I jumped in and explained what to do, ending with "...or something" to avoid suspicion.  The nice thing is that when you messed up a computer assignment, you can pretend like it was the computer that fucked up.

Yup, I do that too. I notice if you know where the Start button is you start getting ridiculous compliments. Best way to diffuse the situation is to make the person feel smart as well.

her: i unplugged it and plugged it back in but it didn't work
me: that's a good idea, lets see if it works now
*works*
her: omg thank you so much
me: no way i would have fixed it without your suggestion