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Tech Support to Parents
Why is it next to impossible to give tech support to your parents, even if you’re using remote viewing software? :) Love ‘em, but…
MikeQuinn: Hey, I am working on a project for a company called CentraStage they hope to make the remote support for parents a bit easier
about 22 hours ago
mgwolf13: My parents wait for our visit to cram 1 yr of tech support into our visit. I'm a gadget & sw geek and husband is microsoft.
about 22 hours ago
techcom: I rememeber years ago trying to coach my Grandma over the phone to use a mouse; she held it up to the screen!
about a day ago
electronicmusic: there is a biz model a parental tech support ….
about a day ago
sufferfest: cuz they do stupid shit. My dad trashed his entire applications folder. Why? He couldn't tell me…
about a day ago
kevinlcc: for my parents, it's not so much support as “Hi, we have a problem, please fix it while we watch tv.”
about a day ago
djbruce: because they just don't get it. i got my mom on google chat and that took 2 days.
about a day ago
DonRoberts: It's not impossible, but I find being Tech Support for my remote family members requires the patience of a saint…
about a day ago
The_Creeper: Same story here, so I tend to just fix whatever needs it for 'em instead of trying to talk them through it =P
about a day ago
stephenfisher: Oh man. I hear you. The problem is so many companies give realy bad support and we're often the better option.
about a day ago
PassTheBoll: Giving tech support to them period is impossible,actually.
about a day ago
whatmakesexpert: @CaliLewis @Pistachio @ijustine So, Tell us.. What Makes YOU an Expert? in 140 characters or less..
about a day ago
susiehk: Too true! RT: @chrispirillo: Why is it next to impossible to give tech support to your parents, even if you're using remote viewing software
about a day ago
RelevantMom: I hear a fair amount of sighing and colorful language when my husband has to perform this service.My que to head for the hills
about a day ago
Obscura: A few years back I suggested my parents go to the local small town computer store and hire a geek to come out and fix things.
about a day ago
EdibleApple: no kidding! I think parents in general are the only people who use a quintuple click when trying to open something
about a day ago
anthonyryan: HA! Been there far too much. Parents won't ever understand our generation apparently
about a day ago
alfredtwo: No kidding! Doing tech support for my Dad remotely has me looking to buy a plane ticket to do it in person.
about a day ago
rajtilak: I believe that parents are born technologically challanged. They don't acquire it, it's their birthright.
about a day ago
tamegoeswild: with you on that. I usually have to pop a few blood pressure pills afterwards.
about a day ago
IrrationalArt: do you know a mac app that works like Afloat (window transparency) only for non Cocoa applications?
about a day ago
simpso1ja: Funny you would say that. Just last night, I shut down remote desktop app and port on mom's machine. Local support only…
about a day ago
JasonLandals: It's even worse when my mom calls me at work for tech support. I work corporate IT and she gets the work version of her son…
about a day ago
charlyjl: the term Patience takes on new meaning when helping parents (and siblings) with tech problems.
about a day ago
chrispowell: that is why i am glad that my dad is a geek
about a day ago
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5 Comments
sonya salehnia
February 13th, 2009
at 12:53am
sometimes my dad makes me wonder how he ended up a computer science prof. when after 2 hours him and my mom (who has a masters in it also) couldnt figure out how to put songs onto an ipod and ended up calling me.
Julie
February 13th, 2009
at 1:15am
Thank you God, I now know I’m not alone, thank you, thank you… So many others share my pain…
gknee
February 13th, 2009
at 1:36am
My Dad thinks MSN is the internet and can only look at a site if I email him a link on hotmail. On the phone the other day he kept telling me there was only one picture on a site I was trying to show him. After about an hour I finally realized he didn’t know how to resize the window. ack!
Making blog posts even more worthless
February 14th, 2009
at 1:36pm
[...] about something to do with brain toniq. This was followed up with a post by Chris asking about tech support for parent to which he then had the pleasure of seeing 33 responses of which this idiot’s overblown avatar [...]
gord
February 26th, 2009
at 12:45pm
Give me a break!
All one has to do is look on here and Geeks Forum to see “how much you (don’t)know!
In my family, I’m the one that builds new computers for my kids, albeit they’re over 40 yrs old now.
I also have a Comp. repair business and there are more than a few people that I have worked for that I wished I could say, ” Pull out the plug, pack up the computer and take it back to the store. Tell them that you’re too dumb to have a computer!”
Most of the problems I see however are computers messed up in the home by kids who don’t know as much as they think they do and parents who let them try. The rest are just poor discipline on maintaining awareness for viruses, malware and bad links not being checked.
Oh well, it is fun being different. ;-)