246

Is it just me, or when you become "the tech guy", family and friends become extremely entitled to your help? (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 days ago by weeeeum@lemmy.world to c/casualconversation@lemm.ee

120 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I wish I never told anyone I worked or studied tech. Especially older family and friends, because their requests for help are relentless.

A lot of friends are chill with it, and I don't mind doing a little bit of help, but sometimes people are who are OFFENDED when you don't want to help. In the same way a contractor friend won't remodel your home for free, I am not going to fix every single issue you have with your computer for free. I'm happy to give advice, but i'm not going to work for hours without pay to fix everything.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org 85 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

My father in law was a proctologist - and also a man I didn't really enjoy spending any time with. One day during one of those strained compulsory family dinners - not sure which, maybe Thanksgiving - he turned to me and said with this false jovial air:

"Hey, you're a computer guy. I have this problem with my Windows laptop. Could you take a look?" and proceeded to unpack his laptop, which he had brought along, clearly to have me fix it.

So I got up, started undoing my fly and said "Sure! Hey, I have piles. Could you take a look?"

He got up and left without a word, and never came back. His wife kept visiting though, thankfully. She was lovely. But I got rid of him for good that day. But I did have to face the music with my wife 🙂