[RESOLVED] Help...Lost ALL joy in computers

I'm wondering if I am all one when I say I have lost all joy of computers. I have been in this buisness for 6 years and in all that time I loved the challenge of working on computers I would wake up in the morning and look forward to what I could solve today but now I dread it to some degree.
Now when I'm working on a computer I just hope that the user will leave me the hell alone and not ask questions or anything. I'm getting tired of tracking down every little thing that caused the system to give an error. I get tired of explaining the difference between applications and user data. I'm tired of customers complaining that their NEW computer is not any faster than their old junk computer when they are on the internet. Oh, and there is always the people that want to know why their accounting software printed out junk when they forgot to switch from A to B on their printer switch box. And when you are working on a small network and they are asking why their network is so slow, but they refuse to upgrade to 100Mbps with a switch instead of a hub. I'm just tired of all this sh*t. And since I've gotten my MCSE, it seems that it is all getting worse! I'm thinking about getting into the AS/400 market or something or maybe since everbody is getting 2 or 3 computers for there home and trying to network them all together, they think that they know more than you do about computers & networking. Sometimes, I wish that I could just go back to the bench and work alone solving computer issues and not have to EVER see a end user. Windows sux and has not caused anything but a headace for me.
When I work on SUN workstations or HP/UX workstations, nobody EVER second guesses me...you know why? They don't know anything about X or such. All they know to do is just what they are supposed to do for there job. They don't know how to mount the cdrom much less install software that causes a problem. If it was harder for users to install software and the only applications that they could use were what they were supposed to use the world would be a better place.
I guess that I am just fed up with all the crap that comes with dealing with end users and if it wasn't for my pay I would get out of this buisness tomorrow!
If any of you other techs feel the same way let out a little steam here.

...I feel better now.

I'm just tired of RMAs. I still think computers are fun, but not as much as they use to be. I feel I have everything I ever wanted with computers. That is a CD burner, a force feedback joystick, 100s of CDs... what more can I want? There is nothing more for me to crusade for. I feel satisfied.

Some people just aren't equipped to deal with the public/customer on a regular basis. You have to understand that when you work in the field, you go out to HIS location to work on HIS equipment while charging an arm and an a leg. Sure, some of them are over bearing and can be a real pain. First off, I listen to what the customer has to say and then believe very little of what he has told me...then I perform my own tests/diagnostics and take it from there. And I still get a lot of satisfaction out my job by knowing that I solved the customer's problems and that he is happy...that is the primary goal here. The fact that the money is nice is just icing on the cake.
I'm sure a lot of companies need and are looking for bench techs...maybe its time for you to punch out.
Sorry if I offended anybody, but I see how some of these nimrods operate and it really p****s me off.
Just my two cents worth...
DonJ


[This message has been edited by DonJ (edited October 08, 2000).]

I understand where ya coming from. I use to work at a shop that was a nightmare, mainly because the boss made promises to the customers about when stuff would be done and never tell the techs, or schedule an on-site and not tell anyone or document it anywhere. I work a cozy desk/bench job now. I only have one "customer," the bossman. It is great. Now don't get me wrong, I like dealing with the customer, I do side work whenever I can. I don't mind telling the customer what I'm doing, most of the time they don't understand it no matter how watered down I try to explain it. Yeah, they second guess, but you just have to get to know the customer to learn how to change their opinion of the problem. Ya have to troubleshoot the customer, too.

Ya gotta take the good with the bad, if there's more bad, then hey, time to change where you work. Good luck with whatever you do, and I hope you enjoy wherever you end up. Yeah, its work, but it has to be fun too.

Tony

Tony had it right when he said you have to troubleshoot the customer too. My mantra is "this is a customer service job, not a technical job". I constantly remind my techs that we provide service to customers, and we also fix their computers. Two separate jobs. I sometimes think it would be easier to hire flight attendants and train them on computers than it would be to train a good techie how to deal with customers.

I think we have all felt the way you do at some point. I am only 22, and after 4 years of this work, I often feel like I could kill an end user. Unfortunatly, they are my bread and butter. If i lash out at them in anger, they will find someone else to fix there computer. There are a lot of people out there that can do what we do. We all feel like "Gods" sometimes, and feel like no one could ever replace us, but there is a whole generation of tech heads out there just waiting for your job, and mine. My best advise to you would be to make a switch in some way. There are a lot of jobs out there for a tech type person that involves very little end user work. Look into the big companies like best buy and such. They are alway's looking for A+ techs to work at there large service centers. From my understanding there is very little end user support. You get a machine, and a work order. You fix it, and move on. Someone else deals with the customer. Maby this is a move that would help put some joy back into your computer life!

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We may be through with the past, but the past is not through with us.