How many of you are the tech gurus in your group of friends simply because you know how to Google their computer problems?

yruoc · 1 year

I'm an IT Sysadmin/entire IT department... forget all my certifications, all I do is use Google.

thewatershed · 1 year

Part of being a go-to tech person is knowing where to look for answers and having enough knowledge/experience to apply the answers.

Fyzzle · 1 year

I am a network admin and this is how I fix computers.

In IT it's not about knowing the solutions to everything, it's knowing how to find the solution to everything.

luthiz · 1 year

Group of friends? I have (almost) made a career out of googling people's computer problems!

fearsofgun · 1 year

Don't underestimate the skills you have acquired at "googling". It's not as cut and dry as you think, now that you are proficient at it. Sure you can type keywords into google and find the answer but how many trial and error sequences did you do to learn exactly what google will naturally spit back at you? And not to mention help forums.. Try navigating a search forum when you don't even know what the heck a forum is.

hollywoodbob · 1 year

I ended up as "the computer guy" because I have a innate understanding of how to do things. I, like most of us I'm sure, can pick up a gadget and quickly become a "power user", while others who have had said gadget for weeks still can't figure out how to do basic things.

Whenever asked how I'm able to do this I tell them "I must have rolled a 20 on machine empathy when I was building my character." Then I leave before they have the chance to ask me to explain.

Failureman · 1 year

My mom called me once because she couldn't get to her email. Hotmail seemed to be working just fine at the time, so I asked her what she normally does to get to her email. The steps ended up being:

She opens her browser which is the google homepage [I set this for her].
She types in "yahoo" into the search box.
On the yahoo homepage, she types "hotmail" into the search box.
She clicks on the hotmail link in yahoo search results and finally gets to her mail.

Yahoo had shuffled their search results that day so the top link was no longer hotmail but something else to do with windows live. And because yahoo search changed this, my mother had no idea how to access her email.

Unbelievable.

Veggie · 1 year

Well, my friend-group is made up of engineers, so no. But my gf and her mom... And it's not just fixing broken stuff, either.

"Can you install this for me?"

"Put in the disc and install it like you would anything else."

"I want you to do it. You're my computer person."

ಠ_ಠ

scruffy69 · 1 year

I am the tech guru because i know the phrase "reboot and call me if that doesn't work"

millerdoggy · 1 year

I'm re-installing the power supply board tonight in my friends' Philips plasma TV. A little googling showed that its blink code indicated a power problem, which is extremely common on that model TV. When I took it apart and showed them the two blown caps that I was going to have to replace, they looked at me like I had just invented a time machine before their eyes. They've always come to me for computer issues, but after this I'm sure that amongst their mostly non-technical circle of friends, my legend has grown.

linuxlass · 1 year

My 12yo son was complaining to me about this just the other day. His teacher even asked him to help out a random 8th grade student that was using the classroom computer. His main complaint was that the things people ask are so basic, why would they need help, and why would they be so impressed?

I told him that's the way it is; you never escape it.

Disgod · 1 year

Yes, but then the true nightmare is having to fix a computer that can't connect to the internet, and you don't have a second computer connected to google an answer for the problem.

infosnax · 1 year

I know next to nothing about computers, but yes, this is me. I kind of understand RAM, operating systems, and processors, but I couldn't explain them coherently. I have /r/geek, /r/math and /r/programming on my front page because I thought I would learn more about these things, but I only understand about 30% of what the hell you all talk about, and 0% of the jokes. I still have no idea why creating a GUI interface in visual basic is funny, because I don't really know what those things are.

I can't tell you how 95% of a computer works, but I know for sure that if you can NAME the part that is broken, some kind soul somewhere on the innernetz has described -- in detail simple enough for a dummy like me to understand -- how to fix it. In spite of all my ignorance, I still have friends and family that call me 'a computer guy,' because I know enough to search for tech support. I really thought that whoever invented Let Me Google That For You did so for me.

05caniffa · 1 year

Obligatory

Anthaneezy · 1 year

google is basically an electronic repository of shared knowledge. no one should feel bad that they have to google anything. its using the right tool for the right job. except google is the swiss army knife with friggin lasers.

matthewfl · 1 year

I have literally sent back via txt, "google it", and gotten back the reply "thx it worked"

tyebud · 1 year

Google + logmein pro = profit.

tsumnia · 1 year

My grandpa wrote a book a few years ago and sells it on Amazon. A couples years back someone wrote a bad review of the book. Not knowing anything about computers except that I was tech-savvy, he asked me to hack Amazon to delete the review. Needless to say I declined and said that even if it wasn't illegal I didn't know how to do it. I shit you not, but I am positive my grandpa lost a lot of respect for me... because I wouldn't commit a crime for him.

[deleted] · 1 year

I've been working in web design, computer programming, QA automation and electronics for 16 years. I always say I'm not any more talented or smarter at these jobs than the average person, I just seem to have a higher than average tolerance for reading the manual. I basically get paid to look up answers to things. The spread of knowledge online has definitely made that easier. It's been nice watching that pool of answers expand over the years.

soothslayer · 1 year

Let me Google that for you.

Sabresfan747 · 1 year

"Have you tried turning it off and on again?"

lordnecro · 1 year

Yup. I find that a lot of tech places dont even bother Google the problem too.

-Father had an IBM Thinkpad and the screen was black. Repair store said they would have to replace the screen (it was out of warranty). I Googled the problem, then bought a new backlight from ebay for 20$ - fixed.

-Friend had a Macbook and the keyboard/mouse wasnt working correctly. Store said it would cost a ton to fix it. I opened it and taped the loose wire.

-Friend had an iPod that stopped working. Opened it and reconnected a wire that had come loose.

-My headphones stopped worked. Opened the volume up/down box, and a wire had come loose.

-Friends dog got sand/water on their camera at the beach. It just gave an error when it was turned on. Opened it, cleaned the sand out, and voila it worked.

-etc.

Between Google and opening to check for loose wires, I have fixed tons of hardware problems. People call me really tech savvy, but I feel like anyone could really do it if they were willing to try.

weezer3989 · 1 year

Well to go with the ability to google you need to have the background knowledge, skill and comfort with computers to apply the answers you find and to even know if the results you get is relevant. There's a level of tech "common sense" nessecary to troubleshoot any problem even if you have the directions in front of you that your average person doesn't have.

xenucide · 1 year

I'm the tech guru for my office because of this.

It's a small office.

ctoyeiv · 1 year

I'm considered a guru in a few circles because I find almost anything other people can not. I accredit it all to being a word smith and knowing how to manipulate language to produce the results I desire.

updn · 1 year

This lady at work kept asking me computer questions and then she asked me if I could recommend any books that would help her gain computer knowledge. I told her that really, I just googled everything I wanted to know. Now she does too, and I am proud!

deathbyshotgun · 1 year

I work in the kitchen of a restaurant, so at work I'm essentially the only one who can fix any sort of problem with computers. For some reason cooks are (mostly) not very in tune with technology.

I've had several cooks actually bring their computers in, usually ancient PC's, so that I can take a look at them. Most of them are infested with viruses and malware to the point of being unusable. Their browsers usually have 3+ unnecessary toolbars, and they all use IE 6.

This one older cook brought in his PC about a year back. He was running windows ME, had fucking bonzi buddy on his computer, and apparently was still using dial-up at home. Also, the problem turned out to be a worn-out ball mouse that looked about 15 years old.

StretchinAZ · 1 year

~looks around nervously ~

Raises Hand

f3rn4ndrum5 · 1 year

to know the answer is not as important as to know how to find it...

aparadja · 1 year

I think it is even more important to be able to read the instructions on screen.

For some reason, many non-technical people go into blind panic mode when a dialog window pops up. Simple text like "Welcome to the installation of Microsoft Office 2007. Please close all other applications and click 'Next'" suddenly means nothing to them, and they are powerless before this mystical techno babble grey window thingy with two buttons and this rectangle AGAIN and I don't know what they say why is this what, OK I clicked on something, but now it says something else.

matt_rudo · 1 year

It is more than the fact the I can google something, it is the fact that if my first solution does not work I can approach it from a different angle to get the correct answer. This applies to may other facets of life besides computers.

I am often amazed when people give up on something after trying once one thing or nothing at all.

djeron · 1 year

Absolutely. But, knowing what to google is pretty important to getting the correct answer.

My friends might try google, but they have a tendency to put in the wrong information and if they do put in the correct information they struggle to filter through the results. The dozens of answers that might turn up on an internet forum can be pretty overwhelming even for those who aren't immediately chased off by the snark.

HomieMun · 1 year

I do not fix other people's computers. Having a brother who does tech work I've learned to always shift duties to someone else, since he will always try to shift it to me.

That and everyone wants macs which I abstain from.

NWLierly · 1 year

Everyone who fixes computers does this, except for one really busy Quant who writes everything you read about how to fix computers.

I advise you to suggest a reputable tech in your area. Your computer is a lot like plumbing, you can make it work; but really fixing it is a whole other thing. Cleaning, backing up, and reinstalling an operating system is lots of work. Windows doesn't make the process any easier by being a rats nest of a tunnels and urine soaked code. Again, frequent your local computer repair shop, they could be good people. Ask the tech what forum for malware removal he frequents, you can judge a guy by his tools for the most part.

Mercifool · 1 year

Google has taught me more than my parents and teachers combined.

jujuM · 1 year

My mother pimps me out to her friends as a tech expert.

carlospc · 1 year

All of my friends are geeks. They come to me when they can't find their answers in Google :P

[deleted] · 1 year

shhhh! ill lose my job if people find out about this!

[deleted] · 1 year

I use Google for the more advanced things like beep codes, error messages, stuff of that sort. However you cant expect a mechanic to know what's wrong with a car simply by saying "It won't start". If it's an electrical thing they still have to look at diagrams of the wiring for starters and the sort.

Like others have said it's one thing to get the knowledge, it's another to know HOW to apply it. I can READ how to do open heart surgery but if you need a triple bypass, you're better off with a doctor then someone who plays a medic only in TF2.

matts2 · 1 year

What is this "google" thing? It sound helpful.

Frijid · 1 year

This has become the top-scoring Geek Link of all time on Reddit. Grats, guy.

flyinpiranha · 1 year

Google going down would put 90% of IT out of business.

c53x12 · 1 year

There's an old story or joke that goes something like: A guy is having car trouble, so he takes it to a mechanic. The mechanic looks it over, then takes out a hammer, and gives the engine a hard whack. The car starts up and runs perfectly. The mechanic then hands the guy a bill for $250. "$250 to hit it with a hammer?!?" the guy protests. "Hitting it with the hammer costs $1," says the mechanic. "Knowing where to hit costs $249."

So knowing about Google and knowing what to google for are two different things.

alloydwhitlock · 1 year

Didn't see this posted yet, but it reminded me of XKCD 627

rjsmith2007 · 1 year

Depending on who it is, it's pretty annoying.

achiebaba · 1 year

thats how i fix everything, including appliances

CraigTorso · 1 year

I'm my friends tech guru in part because of my ability to ask the right question of google, but that's because my tinkering and curious nature means I've probably broken and had to fix my computer so many times I can feel in my waters what's wrong with a computer enough of the time for it to give an impression to a layperson of me having some kind of psychic link.

doronbc · 1 year

its the same reason people post simple questions to reddit. they think research is a huge daunting task. hell, even a lot of arbitrary questions can be answered with some work. everyone has the exact same resources at their hands(the internet), but a lot people these days like to crowdsource their research

bakuretsu · 1 year

Although there is absolutely a certain necessary amount of domain knowledge one must possess in order to be an effective "tech guru," in my experience it is precisely the ability to research, test, and problem solve that separates the effective programmer or systems engineer from someone who's just good at memorizing things.

I have a buddy who desperately wants to work in a computer-related field, and he has a ton of experience with technology and almost a photographic memory... But he can't problem solve. And that's why he'll probably not get a great job in it.

Meanwhile, most of the folks I've hired out of college to be web developers at my office had practically no experience but could demonstrate their ability to learn, adapt, and figure out solutions to problems in creative ways.

So yes, I am the tech guru in my family because I can Google. I can also understand and apply the results of said research.

vivala · 1 year

story of my life

youngmoneee · 1 year

unplug, 1..2...3....4....5.....6......7.......8, plug in. That'll be 20 bucks mom.

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