Historically, the computer guy, like many other service professionals, has been undervalued and under appreciated. But beware, we computer folk hold a lot more of the cards then some may realize. For those people who tend to treat their computer guy like a second class citizen, here are the top 10 reasons why you may want to reconsider giving us a hard time (David Letterman style):
10. We can make fun of you without your knowledge using geek code like ID-Ten-T or PEBCAK.
9. We know where you live (and if we don’t we can get a rough estimate using your IP address!)
8. We probably know most of your passwords, whether you told them to us or not.
7. If we’re not available to fix your computer problem, we’re more than likely friends with someone who is.
6. On the same token, if you threaten us by saying you’ll go to another computer guy, that guy is probably our friend too.
5. We have the power to change the passwords to your entire city.
4. We may hold the only copy of the goverment’s intelligence data in our brain.
3. No one ever calls us to say that their computer is running great. We’re starved for good news!
2. If two different clients both have URGENT problems at the same time, we’ll help the nicer one first.
And the number one reason to be nice to your computer guy….
1. If you cross us, we’ll blog about you.
Forward this to all your tech friends for a good laugh, and forward to your non-tech friends for a good reality check!
Thanks to Bill Greenburg and Eric Hamm for their help with the list!
Don’t let this list stop at 10…what reasons can you think of for being nice to your computer guy?
hee hee…Chuck reference…
Also I do not get the geek code but that’s okay. I guess I’ll just have to forward this to my tech friends.
Renee, haha, I figured you’d catch that!
You can click on the codes and they will take you to the wikipedia definitions of the terms. They’re still kinda you-had-to-be-there type things, but I’m sure you’re tech friends will appreciate.
This is great, Matt! I especially love the picture. I can’t image that guy showing up at door.
This post is definitely worth a stumble.
Eric.
Haha, yeah Eric, that picture was a great find.
Thanks for the stumble and thanks for your help with the article!
I tried out the links, they do really work although I still don’t understand any of this computer stuff; but then that is why I might need to hire a computer guy!
Great top10 post Matt.
I couldn’t help but laugh at #8. Most people are unaware of all the ways that passwords can be obtained, some as easily as going in your browser options if you tell your browser to save them.
I also remember seeing on Stumble Upon a post about a software that can recognize different key strokes sounds and determine what is typed in using those sounds. Quite scary, then again, not exactly practical.
#2 is so true. Being a member of the opposite sex helps a lot in that matter too haha.
I agree with Eric, that picture is great!
Thanks Mathieu!
Yeah, it’s amazing how careless people can be with their passwords, the things that protect their financial and personal information!
That software sounds pretty freaky. I also heard about a device you can put in an adjacent room that can pick up the electro-magnetic pulses that each key of the keyboard gives off. Hard core spy stuff!
I love it! As a fellow “computer guy” I’m right there with you on this one.
I’ve stopped by your site a couple of times before, through comment links on other sites. I must say, you have a good thing going here. Keep up the good work!
Hey Jamie, I’m glad you liked it! And I appreciate the support. Good to hear fellow techies are able to relate! It’s a rough world out there for us nerds
Number 8 is great. I’ve had customers that I dealt with 2 or 3 years ago and when I go see them they will say “well don’t you remember our password?”….One, obviously they don’t change it. Two, not only do I not remember it off the top of my head but why would they want me to….
Yeah, it’s amazing (and kinda scary) how relaxed people are with their passwords. No surprise that identity theft is so high these days.
Great List, from a fellow Computer guy and blogger
Thanks Frugal! Welcome to Y.F.N.C.G.!
That’s the damn truth, my friend. I love #6 – stick together, son. I wrote a couple similar articles on eHow not too long ago. Let me know what you think if you get a chance:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4833223_computer-guys-good-side.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4831212_avoid-people-office.html
Again, great post.
Hey Dave,
Thanks for stopping by! Great articles, thanks for the links! I’ll probably include the first one in my next Computer Guy’s Corner link roundup!
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