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Comment by auston | Hacker News Reader

I usually just roll with "Im a computer programmer". That seems to work.

Recently I've tried not to say any variant of programming or development or engineering on anything (web, mobile, desktop), nor that I've majored in computer science from the moment I started college. What inevitably happens if I do say so is family and friends of family end up asking me to work on their website|fix their computers|help them with something barely tech-related like their car's satellite radio, and usually for too little money. I never understood why, since I never ask for favors from them, but shrug.

I'd be glad to help some of them out when I have the time and interest, but there is no way in hell I want to churn out a full out custom inventory system for their business for $200. And yes, someone has actually asked me for that at that price before. My jaw just dropped.

The crux of your reason is half of why "I reboot servers." The other half is because I really don't expect to have an interesting conversation about it and don't want to explain it to people.

Maybe my family and in-laws aren't cool enough to ask for a web application, but my current description has been geeky enough to fend everyone off. I guess the time is coming when I should be concerned about that and move on to something niche-sounding.

> I never understood why, since I never ask for favors from them, but shrug.

This happens to practically everyone - Doesn't matter if you're a Doctor, Laywer, Mechanic, Banker...

Oh I'm fully aware people do do this all the time and it happens to pretty much anyone with any kind of job. I'm wondering why people believe their relatives would be willing to do a favor in the first place purely based on relation and even sometimes with the assumption they wouldn't mind doing it at a discounted rate because of that. I'm sure anyone who's spent enough time with family talking about what they do have encountered that before.

My Mom's computer was acting up recently. She called me thinking I'd help her. I told her how rude it was to just call me up expecting instant support. Then I sent her my rate card, a simple NDA, and a standard short-term contract. Really man, I'm with you, some people have such nerve!

aww I'm not that mean ;) my parents are entitled to all the free support they want from me, and the same goes to close friends. however, a third cousin twice removed that I didn't even know existed until recently shouldn't expect the same :p

You're missing out on some quality WTF moments though if you refuse tech support to family. I once spent 45 minutes on the phone with my sister trying to fix her internet. She finally wondered aloud, "Does it matter if the phone plug doesn't fit perfectly?" "You mean the ethernet cable?" "That's not the same thing a phone wire?" "There's you're problem."

Can you imagine asking for help from someone invited over for dinner who's occupation turned out to be plumbing?

"Oh, you're a plumber? Say, just the other day I dumped this leviathan that almost shattered my shitter, and clogged it good, too. Nobody's dared use it since. Would you mind grabbing that bull by the horns after dessert?"

I have however said - "hey - we're doing an extension - want to come round, drink some beers and give us a hand"

NOTE: If you're asking for help, always offer beer

Exactly. I always just say "I work in web development". That about sums it up.

"Oh, you make webpages!"

Cool. You must know HTML then.

I'm saddened by how real this thread got to me.

Yeah, my cousin taught me HTML too, it's not that hard.

I do cross-platform development -- I use frontpage AND dreamweaver.

I love you guys.

And you listen to both kinds of music, country AND western?

(country and western are like metal and hardcore.. might sound the same, but have different roots and cultures, and have experienced a great cross-pollination.)

The joke is on the word "both", not on the "country and western". Pour one out for Jake and Elwood.

I thought the joke was on the word "music"..

HAHAHAHAHAHAH oh!

Then I say "Also CSS, Javascript, C#, VB, ASP.Net, Classic asp, SQL, Java, C, Objective-C, and Flash."

I can't even use that excuse as I've got this Psychology/Pre-med background. I decided not to go the med school route right before taking the MCATs, so for me, it's usally, "So what medical school are you going to?"

I try to explain that I'm doing something I am much more passionate about but most people (other than my parents, thankfully) can't seem to understand that logic. Living in a "brown" community doesn't help either, where every other parent is a doctor.

> Living in a "brown" community doesn't help either, where every other parent is a doctor.

Am I the only one that read this 3 times trying to understand its meaning?

No, I'm with you. But that guy really is screwed @ the family table!

Dumping med school? Man, that's like me quitting teaching college. People thought (still think, probably) that I'm nuts. Occasionally I think they may be right...

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