RANT about Techs
- Thread starter TimJacobs
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Trenatos
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- Plattsmouth, NE
I don't mind helping people.
If someone comes here and says "Hey, I'm pretty decent with computers, build them etc. and want to become a full time tech" and then asks for advice, I don't mind helping them.
But then you have the ones either impersonating a real tech and then asking how to diagnose a network card and how to install firefox (Slight over exaggeration, but only by a hair.)
Or the ones giving advice regurgitated from google, only to ask in their next thread how to remove a 4 year old virus.
Those are the ones who gets to me.
There's my part of the ranting.
If someone comes here and says "Hey, I'm pretty decent with computers, build them etc. and want to become a full time tech" and then asks for advice, I don't mind helping them.
But then you have the ones either impersonating a real tech and then asking how to diagnose a network card and how to install firefox (Slight over exaggeration, but only by a hair.)
Or the ones giving advice regurgitated from google, only to ask in their next thread how to remove a 4 year old virus.
Those are the ones who gets to me.
There's my part of the ranting.
TimJacobs
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- Houston, TX
I don't mind helping people.
If someone comes here and says "Hey, I'm pretty decent with computers, build them etc. and want to become a full time tech" and then asks for advice, I don't mind helping them.
But then you have the ones either impersonating a real tech and then asking how to diagnose a network card and how to install firefox (Slight over exaggeration, but only by a hair.)
Or the ones giving advice regurgitated from google, only to ask in their next thread how to remove a 4 year old virus.
Those are the ones who gets to me.
There's my part of the ranting.
I agree......................
ATTech
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What's the point in having a vast database of knowledge, if nobody is bothering to search it?
NorCal Internet
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My biggest peeve, and it's not just in these forums, but other forums and e-mail lists I'm on, is when someone asks a question, you offer suggestions, but you never hear from the person again... You don't know if your suggestions solved the issue, or not, or if someone elses suggestion solved it...
They just disappear...
They just disappear...
Screwloose
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- Chattanooga, TN.
This does appear to come up every now and again. We cant all be at the same level of expertise and certainly it can be frustrating for the senior techs to keep answering the same questions or seeing what we would consider basic troubleshooting skills issues.
I try to not be judgmental ... but it can be hard. I can remember back to when I was just learning about OS's and hardware and would sit in my home office with manuals in my lap while I would troubleshoot by trial and error what was wrong with my PC ( Didnt have google back then lol ) so when folks ask a pretty basic question part of me wants to say "Go find the answer like I had to!"... I think you just have to remember this is a forum for all levels of techs and try to think back to where you were professionally when learning your skillset. Patience can go a long way.
I try to not be judgmental ... but it can be hard. I can remember back to when I was just learning about OS's and hardware and would sit in my home office with manuals in my lap while I would troubleshoot by trial and error what was wrong with my PC ( Didnt have google back then lol ) so when folks ask a pretty basic question part of me wants to say "Go find the answer like I had to!"... I think you just have to remember this is a forum for all levels of techs and try to think back to where you were professionally when learning your skillset. Patience can go a long way.
NeutronTech
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- Grayling, Michigan
My issue isn't with answering questions. Everyone here is at a different level and have different areas of interest. The problem lies with the lack of basic troubleshooting concepts. You don't have to know all the ins and outs of a computer to at least narrow down the issue. From there, you simply have to take that information over to Google and most of the time the answer is solved. I realize sometimes you have to read a LOT of sites and collect tid bits of information from each, then put them together yourself, but that's just what you have to do. In doing so, you will pick up other knowledge along the way and help your understanding of the problem. Research, research, research.
For someone to come in here and ask a question, without spending the time to troubleshoot and research, is abusing what this site is all about. We are not here to do your job for you, and I certainly don't expect anyone to do my job for me. I have asked a question or two on here in the past, sure it's a great place to get help after you have exhausted your own resources.
Sometimes I have to research a problem for hours, even days on a few occasions. That is simply part of being a technician. I have learned far more while researching then I ever will by asking questions. One thing that makes a tech a good tech, is the ability to find an answer to something he/she doesn't know. I don't know everything, no one does. I don't pretend to have the answers if I don't either, but I do know how to research. Sometimes research involves reading, watching, listening, and even EXPERIMENTING. Sure, it's a pain in the arse to load up a VM and try to replicate the issue and monitor what's going on, but you learn so much more in the process.
It should be the goal of every technician to continually educate yourself. It's an essential skill to apply various bits of information in relation to each other. New techs need to stop trying to learn "fixes" and start learning concepts of why, how, and where. Those basic fundamental concepts, along with knowing where to research, are the building blocks of what makes a tech.
Someone asking a question that could have been solved by basic research, or basic troubleshooting based on concepts, appears to me, as a technician who doesn't take real pride in his work.
I have no interest in helping an individual who is an EU just being to cheap to pay for a fix, or a tech who is looking for an easy ride with no pride in his/her work. However, if someone truly wants to learn, I will give them all the time in the world to teach them how to develop and recognize the basic concepts and fundamentals of troubleshooting.
I have too, became frustrated with things here and have stopped posting as much. An end user coming here to ask a question is simply against the rules. A member answering those end user questions is, in my opinion, violating the rules as well. I ignore the questions of end users, but I am highly disappointed in the members here who ignore the rules and answer their questions. We are supposed to be a community, and to me, that means not intentionally breaking the rules that have helped shape this community.
Okay, my rant is over
For someone to come in here and ask a question, without spending the time to troubleshoot and research, is abusing what this site is all about. We are not here to do your job for you, and I certainly don't expect anyone to do my job for me. I have asked a question or two on here in the past, sure it's a great place to get help after you have exhausted your own resources.
Sometimes I have to research a problem for hours, even days on a few occasions. That is simply part of being a technician. I have learned far more while researching then I ever will by asking questions. One thing that makes a tech a good tech, is the ability to find an answer to something he/she doesn't know. I don't know everything, no one does. I don't pretend to have the answers if I don't either, but I do know how to research. Sometimes research involves reading, watching, listening, and even EXPERIMENTING. Sure, it's a pain in the arse to load up a VM and try to replicate the issue and monitor what's going on, but you learn so much more in the process.
It should be the goal of every technician to continually educate yourself. It's an essential skill to apply various bits of information in relation to each other. New techs need to stop trying to learn "fixes" and start learning concepts of why, how, and where. Those basic fundamental concepts, along with knowing where to research, are the building blocks of what makes a tech.
Someone asking a question that could have been solved by basic research, or basic troubleshooting based on concepts, appears to me, as a technician who doesn't take real pride in his work.
I have no interest in helping an individual who is an EU just being to cheap to pay for a fix, or a tech who is looking for an easy ride with no pride in his/her work. However, if someone truly wants to learn, I will give them all the time in the world to teach them how to develop and recognize the basic concepts and fundamentals of troubleshooting.
I have too, became frustrated with things here and have stopped posting as much. An end user coming here to ask a question is simply against the rules. A member answering those end user questions is, in my opinion, violating the rules as well. I ignore the questions of end users, but I am highly disappointed in the members here who ignore the rules and answer their questions. We are supposed to be a community, and to me, that means not intentionally breaking the rules that have helped shape this community.
Okay, my rant is over
How to we know 100% that it is a EU, maybe that person is just a newbie tech. I believe if the person is a real tech he or she will stay and become a part of the community if it's just a EU they usually will post a question not understand our answers and off they go to another forum.
TimJacobs
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[CONTINUE RANT]
Ok,That is not a problem but, If it is a tech......... then there should be some diagnostics done to the PC right? Not something like:
I personally would like to see something like:Bad Example said:
Good Example said:
That is all I am saying...... Techs should have some type of Diagnostics to show.
If you haven't done anything then why are you asking for help. We can't be doing your job for you. We can assist you with it but we can't do it.
Do some basic diagnostics....... That's all I am saying.
I have had end users call me up saying: "I have a problem, I have tried this and that and this but still no go, can you come out here and fix it"
Most of my customers can do a better job of diagnosing a Computer Problem then some I have seen ask for assistance.
[RANT PAUSED]
ATTech
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- Sacramento Area, CA
Great, it'll be the next eHow...
AvidTech
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- Connecticut, USA
Maybe these guys think that googling is kind of like talking to a recording when calling your cable company, the answer is there but how long will it take to get it. Asking a question on a forum is like talking to a real person, hopefully getting an answer without the wait. Personally I google the heck out of my question just so I don't bother anyone, but thats me.
phaZed
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And me too... a forum is generally my last resort, a last ditch attempt to find an answer to something that I have failed to find.
I'm an electrician, and went to school for 5 years to become certified by the state. I learned over 300 formulas and equations while in school as well as the entire code-book section by section. Of course, in the "real-world" I never use these formulas, that's mostly the engineer's job. That being said, one of my teachers told me something that has stuck with me, and is true to many things in life. "You don't need to remember everything, you only need to remember where to find it again.. and how to use it."
Painless
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+1
You need to wade through a lot of adverts and reguritated rubbish but eventually you will find a pearl.
Using Google to search this forum is the best place to start and avoid the above. Maybe the syntax should be on a sticky because noobies may not know how to restrict their search.
John
K007
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THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KINDNESS !!!!
May the Lord praise you for your philanthropic tendencies towards the unworthy!
Edit...
in fact, why should I be polite? I will not.
My advice to you personally:
Spend a few bucks and get your first passport,
come here over the Pond and you may learn a thing or two... (if your brain wasn't irreversibly washed).
No apologies please, as they will not be accepted (ever).
Last edited:
Xander
Banned
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- Niagara region, Ontario
You do know that EU means "End Users", not those in the "European Union", right?THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KINDNESS !!!!Originally Posted by PC Medics
<BEGIN RANT>
OK, well I have no problem helping other techs out, hell even EU's.
May the Lord praise you for your philanthropic tendencies towards the unworthy!
Edit...
in fact, why should I be polite? I will not.
My advice to you personally:
Spend a few bucks and get your first passport,
come here over the Pond and you may learn a thing or two... (if your brain wasn't irreversibly washed).
No apologies please, as they will not be accepted (ever).
The crow... how does it taste?
buzzcut
Active Member
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- Sudbury, ON Canada
I will be honest. I’ve joined Technibble to learn; how to start, and grow my business.
Most of my posts would have been like info for; insurance, onsite or shop, what tools will I need, SEO, start up costs, etc. I’ve never needed to post these because it was all in front of me through a little searching. I gathered the info, analyzed it and took a little from everyone to make it work for my own business.
As for technical questions (I personally like finding the solution myself it is more gratifying) most answers can be found in the forum, search engines or manufacturers KB.
I read all posts as some are helpful and I take notes from them.
I do however agree that many posts are repetitive and some make me think like dude this is your own business why ask. (IMO)
I would gladly pay for membership here, maybe that would weed out the EU. ( I mean end users)
Most of my posts would have been like info for; insurance, onsite or shop, what tools will I need, SEO, start up costs, etc. I’ve never needed to post these because it was all in front of me through a little searching. I gathered the info, analyzed it and took a little from everyone to make it work for my own business.
As for technical questions (I personally like finding the solution myself it is more gratifying) most answers can be found in the forum, search engines or manufacturers KB.
I read all posts as some are helpful and I take notes from them.
I do however agree that many posts are repetitive and some make me think like dude this is your own business why ask. (IMO)
I would gladly pay for membership here, maybe that would weed out the EU. ( I mean end users)
vdub12
New Member
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Most of my posts are not technical in nature.
This is a forum for professional technicians so most of us should know our stuff. I personally use this form mostly for growing my buisness, not fixing computers. I obviously already know how to do that. I spent a while getting ****** that EU's where coming here to try and get free technical help. Its kind of rude. We do this as a buisness. Its like calling a plummer and asking them how to do something because you can't afford there service. This is how I feed my family, don't ask me how to fix your computer, pay me to do it. However, now I just ignore it. I purposely don't reply because I am not going to hold an EU's hand and teach them how to do my job. If they want to learn then thats fine but ask someone else. Its like a guy walking up and kicking your car and then asking for a ride. Its rude.
When I do help its because i know the person I am helping is also a professional and when I ask for help I go though my own process before I ask. We can't all be super techs all the time and sometimes need help. However, I have gotten sick of the "change the BIOS battery posts". Its a waste of our time.
This is a forum for professional technicians so most of us should know our stuff. I personally use this form mostly for growing my buisness, not fixing computers. I obviously already know how to do that. I spent a while getting ****** that EU's where coming here to try and get free technical help. Its kind of rude. We do this as a buisness. Its like calling a plummer and asking them how to do something because you can't afford there service. This is how I feed my family, don't ask me how to fix your computer, pay me to do it. However, now I just ignore it. I purposely don't reply because I am not going to hold an EU's hand and teach them how to do my job. If they want to learn then thats fine but ask someone else. Its like a guy walking up and kicking your car and then asking for a ride. Its rude.
When I do help its because i know the person I am helping is also a professional and when I ask for help I go though my own process before I ask. We can't all be super techs all the time and sometimes need help. However, I have gotten sick of the "change the BIOS battery posts". Its a waste of our time.
