A Few Words Every Few Days

Ok, so as anyone can guess, I am a geek… So after people find this out I start to get calls about helping them fix computer issues, like so many other geeks. I don’t always help, or I some times just point them in their own direction. But every now and again the issue is so small, or so easy to fix once I know what it is I just take care of it. So I get a call about someone not being able to get wireless to work on this laptop they just got, so I have them tell me what they have tried and what keeps happening. It seems to be something easy to fix, I just need to know the model of the thing so I can see some specs. I find it add open the users guide, thinking this should help by showing me the laptops parts. Well after 16 pages of how to start windows, i am looking for something else. I find the right file and a picture, yeay me. So I have them look at the laptop in the right spot and see if they can find a light, no light. Have them flip the switch, light. Wow the wireless works. 15 minutes on the phone and they are happy… too happy… I was bord, had nothing going on, had to be were I was, and was just half assing it while they yacked away at me. All of a sudden they are so happy they just have to leave me a gift or something. Saying no to that was like saying stop that to the guy on a steam roller working on the street while your tring to sleep. Sure it could work, but mostly you just keep hearing the machine move. So what ever, right. It not a bad thing to have people feel like giving you something for your time, but gees a thankyou card would be enough here, not like a saved your life or fixed your only way to make money, I solved a problem that in person would have taken me 3 minutes and not 15. But no, it can’t just be a card, nope they have to give you money… Ok five dollars in the card, not needed, but ok, I can see that, but fifteen… Now if I made that kind of money doing my job, or they did doing theirs, then may be it would not bug me, but that is over an hour’s wage for them. Was telling you where the switch was really that helpful? I mean, really? Are you serous with this? Now informing them that they will have to put a railing on there deck that has a 12 foot drop, is your just ruining the view, not you saved me from getting hurt, here’s a card… I just don’t get it. I will take the money, the greedy fool that I am, but really?