Apparently my love language is installing @linux on the laptops of people I really care about.

  • LalSalaamComrade@lemmy.ml
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    9 months ago

    This brings back really bad memories…and this is why I refuse to help others when it comes to IT stuff. The last thing I wanted to read was what I used to do in the past to gain others approval, and how it never worked.

    I used to think that helping my other dumb grad mates with installing Linux made me look cool and I would be accepted. On the contrary, I looked like an idiot, now that I think of it. i became that weirdo support tech kid for the idiot professors, who could not tell the difference between Java and Javascript.

    I only help my “internet” friends now. At least they don’t treat you like shit.

    • NateSwift@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      It really depends on who is being helped and the motive for you “helping” them. I’ve had both really good and pretty bad experiences helping and trying to help people with various computer things. As with providing any kind of support, it’s important to get out of your own head and understand what the person your helping wants and needs

      • Vilian@lemmy.ca
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        9 months ago

        also don’t help to gain approval, help who already cares about you

      • TCB13@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        As with providing any kind of support, it’s important to get out of your own head and understand what the person your helping wants and needs

        Yes because someone that uses MS Word 6-8 hours a day certainly doesn’t want to use Linux and have compatibility issues while sharing documents with others who do the same.

        • NateSwift@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          Both of my parents heavily use O365 and I have to fight the urge to suggest linux every time they complain about automatic updates or weird microsoft integrations.

          Part of me really wants to try Fedora or Mint for them instead of the incoming windows 11 update, but it’s such a bad fit

          • d3Xt3r@lemmy.nzM
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            9 months ago

            If they don’t use advanced features like macros, they could just use the Web versions of the M365 apps - they work just fine under Linux.

    • TCB13@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      I used to think that helping my other dumb grad mates with installing Linux made me look cool and I would be accepted. On the contrary, I looked like an idiot, now that I think of it. i became that weirdo support tech kid for the idiot professors, who could not tell the difference between Java and Javascript.

      I guess the worst part is that people will eventually take advantage of you… and demand for more and more hours of your free support, hold whatever you installed against you like “after you did X… Y stopped working” etc. At the end of the day if you’re proving free support it must be easy, quick why wouldn’t they ask for more.

      In their heads your efforts / help doesn’t provide any value and if by any chance one day they are in a situation where you could bill them or someone for tech support they would rather call any other random tech support guy or company instead of calling you - after all they’re looking for a “professional” now :)