[lame-robot-hoax]

Eh, for my girlfriend’s grandparents? Sure, I’ll fix their WiFi problems to be hailed as a hero and to get brownie points, but also just because I care about them.

Some random schmuck who happens to be at a holiday party and hears that I work with computers? Probably gonna say something along the lines of yeah that’s not my area of expertise so I’m not sure. I work on data conversions, I’m not going to help you load music off iTunes onto your Android that you bought because Trump told you Apple = Bad. And I’m not being hypothetical, this happened to me during Thanksgiving.

[blackearl]

I've offered a trade, usually ending with no trade unfortunately. An distant acquaintance who was a car mechanic needed computer help, I offered if he would help me attach a fender (really not that difficult).

Too many people think "you like computers, so you must like fixing them". That might be true for some interesting or novel problem, but Joe Schmo's virus ridden computer is not an intriguing venture.

[lame-robot-hoax]

I agree. I mean, I’m fine fixing issues I run into when coding or other projects, or messing around with my setup and fixing pain points.

I’m not into solving problems that a middle schooler could solve. It’s not interesting, I’m not learning anything of use, I’m just spending my time on something worthless to me.

[climb_stealth]

Did he help attaching the fender in the end?

The last time I helped someone I got paid for it which made all the difference. I'm happy to sort out your computer problems if you pay me at least my dayjob equivalent for my time. I did an excellent job as well and no bad feelings whatsoever.

[blackearl]

Nope. I did it myself in a jiffy. I'll help out close friends or offer trades. I only really quote cash if I don't like/don't know the person, usually way beyond what someone could pay.

If I actually quoted my usually hourly rate it wouldn't matter because I have a senior position, so my rate is way higher than what someone would want to pay. People who aren't in tech have a weird view of IT, either undervaluing it or sometimes actually being angered by the rate.

I'm most empathetic to artists who are told they'll get "exposure", or that "it's just a drawing" or whatever. The average person has no idea what IT is like, but assume it's easy or fun. I'll never understand why some jobs get pigeonholed this way.