"She only wants me to be her personal computer 'fixer'..for free. Not. I can't live on free. "
I'm laughing only because this has to be a common place thing.
I'm an old fart ... been around for a while.
Started out in life as a farmer's son. Later became a grocer. Then became a computer guy. (Control Data Institute, Dallas, Tx, graduating class of 1967.) But underwent a career diversion caused by a little war in a very green place, very far away from where I was born. I was retrained to be a boat mechanic, and to be proficient in the use of a couple dozen different weapons. Later on, I became a marine engine and power plant technician (and much later a degreed engineer in the same), a hydraulics specialist, a cryogenics specialist, and a heating, ventilation and air conditioning specialist. (I remained in the military for 23 years) Then the Navy started using PLC's and general purpose desk top computers. And they remembered I had a 2 year degree (from way back when) in digital systems. So I got selected to help them develop systems using those things.
Net result is that I have a number of licenses and certifications that I've maintained to this day. In IT related areas; and I'm a licensed electrician, licensed heating and air conditioning guy, licensed plumber, used to be a gasoline and diesel engine specialist, etc.
I love my family and friends. But one does get tired of repeated requests such as, "Oh, Osiyo knows about that stuff. He'll be glad to help yah out."
It sometimes seems as if EVERYBODY wants a freebie. Worse, too many won't listen when I tell them, "Do NOT do that !", or "Okay, remember to do this, that, and the other and it'll keep you out of trouble."
Nope, they just want to do what they want to do, and good, old Osiyo will fix it if things go bad.
I surely don't mind helping others out. But I do have a life of my own. And with some people, yah just have to come to the conclusion that they're USING you and have no concern about how much effort, time, and trouble your aid is costing you.
So sometimes, to teach em a little lesson, I do purposely make my help cost em a significant financial penalty.
Oh, for friends and family, I won't charge em for my time. But if they call for my help a bit more often than I think reasonable, and especially if they don't take advice given ... then I have been known to declare something broken or non-repairable, etc. When in fact I might have been able to fix it. And then went out and bought the replacement part/software, or whatever at FULL, regular, retail price. And charged the person for it.
Even tho, in fact, I might have been able to fix whatever, or could have bought replacement at a steep discount. (I'm a trades person, with accounts at several major commercial retailers. Most stuff I buy, if I wish to buy using my regular account, I can purchase for 25% to 35% of listed retail pricing as listed in their catalog.)
Not to mention, like many who hang around these forums, I'm well aware of how to get my hands on things like FREE copies of software or OS's, that don't phone home and check in.
But when teaching a lesson. Nope, no breaks, I make sure the person pays the full going rates. If they are REALLY pissing me off I buy whatever from the most expensive place I can find.
Usually works, they get the idea. Some don't however. For them, I toe the line and just tell em " I can't help yah. Don't know what's wrong. You're gonna actually have to hire someone." Saying that even if I do know how to fix their problem. But I'm durned tired of doing so.
