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Is it just me, or when you become "the tech guy", family and friends become extremely entitled to your help? (self.casualconversation)

submitted 6 days ago by weeeeum to c/[email protected]

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I wish I never told anyone I worked or studied tech. Especially older family and friends, because their requests for help are relentless.

A lot of friends are chill with it, and I don't mind doing a little bit of help, but sometimes people are who are OFFENDED when you don't want to help. In the same way a contractor friend won't remodel your home for free, I am not going to fix every single issue you have with your computer for free. I'm happy to give advice, but i'm not going to work for hours without pay to fix everything.

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[–] Leeks 4 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

"please will you stop what you're doing and come fix my x"

This actually happens quite frequently. It’s rare to leave a family party without a follow up appointment to look at a persons tech.

Thing is, 100% of the time people will understand if you say "I don't really know very much about that particular thing I'm sorry."

“Yeah but you know tech so you must just be sand bagging”

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

My point is, you just have to navigate these interactions as you would any social encounter.

If someone asks me to stop whatever I'm doing and go and do whatever thing for them I would politely decline and explain why I'm unavailable.

It's kind of preposterous to suggest that someone who is asking you for free help would tell you you're "sand bagging" when you told them you're unable to. I don't really have friends or family like that. If I did it would be the same approach though - just having an open and honest conversation about why I can't help.