IT 911
New York, NY
Male, 34
"What's wrong with my mouse?" "Why doesn't this website work?" "How do I turn this computer on?" As an IT guy for a healthcare company, I get these and all sorts of other brilliant questions all day. It never ceases to amaze me how smart people can become so technologically 'dumb' as soon as they set foot in the office. But I suppose that's what happens when they know one of us IT guys is there to hold their hands. Ask me anything... and when in doubt, reboot.
Well it usually starts out with "I have a dumb question" that is a sure tell sign it will be something ridiculous. With that being said they know it is dumb; but we have to entertain it anyway. After you answer them they normally admit "oh yeah thats how I do it at home" for whatever reason they seem to lose any knowledge of PC's when they arrive in the office. Sometimes they just make you get it working then run to a meeting or some other excuse when you try to explain so you dont have to repeat yourself each week when they run the same report all the time.
More of a story than question, About 5 years ago I was working at a customers location when a guy I have known for years ask me about an issue with his home laptop. I asked the normal questions, when did it start, did you load any software, did you open any funky email attachments? The standard trouble shooting skills every IT guy has in his belt. So at the end I asked him if he could just bring the laptop in so I can see it with my own eyes. So the weekend passes I go out of my way to stop by his office and when I see him he shows me a picture of his laptop!!! I looked at him and say "what am I suppose to do with this?" he looks at me and goes you said you wanted to see it. I dont have to explain anymore about this.
Depends on their position at the company. Upper management types just assume you will always help them right away and never ever say Thanks. (They think since you are in the office things just work perfectly with no issues EVER) They don't want to know how or why they just want it fixed yesterday. In the same breath they say "If you are here you must not be doing your job otherwise this would not be broken" They will also say this should never happen. Everything should just work all the time.......100% uptime. The regular people will say thanks and go out of their way to remember what you did or explained what the procedure is. So they don't go on the pay no mind list. Usually they do and only call when they get jammed up again. Or they get promoted and fall into the other category mentioned above.
Honestly, I will help the people who I see or talk to on a regular basis. If there is someone who say's hello to me everyday, or we have a work friendship, I will generally put those people first. For the people who ignore me on the elevator, but then are at my desk 3 hours later with a huge issue, I wont jump them to the front of my list. So the lessen is, be nice to the IT guy, ask how weekend was or how his kid is, etc. It makes a huge difference. Don't only talk to us when you need something, we are more than just the geek in the corner of the office or the creature who emerges from the server room.
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Are you instructed to "push" certain menu items that are at risk of going bad?In the corporate environment not so much, but when you do side jobs or help people out they have a tendency to stick around while you work on the PC. (you find out why soon enough) Then you stumble across the files and cookies that show some pretty crazy websites. The look on their face is priceless, they act as if they have no idea how it got there. We really dont care it is just funny when you bust them. Most of the time the wife has that look on her face of i cant wait for him to get home. Glad I am long gone by that time.
Yes they do, well most have the bad sites blocked at a very high level if the department has the funds to install the software/hardware to monitor. Bottom line is if you are part of a company network they are watching or can very easily find what you have been or not been doing. There is software that records all phones calls and all PC activity....... that you cannot deny once confronted.
The bad guys will always have the edge. The only reason the good guys write code or try to shut them down is because the hackers are so far ahead of the game. Just like any great rival, Tom and Jerry, spy vs spy, my bank account versus bills that are due.(I tend to have a bad spending habit and the money is not always there) Some one always prevails. Don't get me wrong there are some bright good guys but the only reason they are busy is because some bad guy found a loop hole. Think of it like Vegas, when they bust a conartist or someone that cheated the casino they hire them to run security. Why you may ask???? Because they are that damn good!!!!!
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