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Comment by katz | Hacker News Reader

The worst thing is that everyone expects you to help them with their IT problems. Over the phone.

Its worst with relatives, I just can't say "no" to my dad. Anybody else i can either tell to call me later(if he is my friend), or to get lost(depending on my mood, I may say this politely).

That is the thing! My dad paid for college so I can't just tell him no, I will not help.

My dad is a reader - if there is a problem he will read everything on the screen over the telephone - even if it takes an hour. It is absolute torture to help him (or my mother). But then again, an hour of IT- waterboarding is a small price to pay for someone who changed your diapers.

Get logmein. It's free and will save you hours of potential tech support headaches :).

I just bought a notebook computer to give to my mom in Florida at the end of the month. She's 74 and she wants to keep up with the kids and grandkids on the internet, although she has no idea what that means. My mom thinks cell phones are the epitome of hi-tech. The last time she used a keyboard it was an electric typewriter and the year was 1990.

I'm thinking about changing my number.

I've found the best answer to that is "I only do theoretical Computer Science."

If you do it while other computer scientists are in hearing range the look on their face will be worth it.

I refuse to help people with their computers unless I can remote control them. Even then it's only for close enough friends and family.

Programmer != Technitian :(

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