Community archive

Ask something
Discussion Locked

It does a heart good.......

0 helpful
2 replies

by j_stevens

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

to know how many others offer a helping hand for FREE, to co-workers and friends. Whoever said "What goes around, comes around" has a handle on the real truth about "knowledge"....it's nice to have and it's great for earning potential, but it's limited to my particular interest...with so many other "particular interests" out there that I know nothing about, it serves me well to be a little generous with what I have. How would you feel if your new dog went through your house like a Tasmanian Devil, and your good friend/co-worker, who raises canines, wouldn't even give you a tip without payment?? You never know when a former freebee might become a worthwhile "trade".

phrannie

2 replies

by mjd420nova

I also find it very heartening that a place exists where free advice and assistance are
but for the asking. However.... take it all
as FREE, meaning few have anything to offer
without wanting something in return... you
scratch my back I'll scratch yours..
I come for help because with the vast cross
section of the IT world available, I feel
no question is too simple or too hard.
Often it is just the many approaches presented
that will give me the help i need. Like
stepping back from a problem to review the
whole scene. Often I've been asked to look at a problem and find the fault right off.

by jdclyde

If you are hoping to get anything back in exchange this isn't really free advice. It is INVESTED advice and you hope someday that investment will pay off.

On a personal level, It all depends on WHO needs the advice and how indepth the problem will be. If this is someone who wouldn't give me the time of day except for when they need something, then it is "sorry charlie!".

Others I will help out, but I live by the motto of "remember the ones that remember you". If they do me wrong, the free well of support will have run dry.

If they do me good, I will be twice as likely to help them out the next time.

A problem with giving away "free" support. Many techs like to show noobies just how grand they are and brag how easy something was or state that it was "no problem". This all undermines the value of YOUR skills. It WAS a problem or that user would have done it themselves! You worked to gain skills to make it now problem to you, and now you are not showing the proper respect to yourself for what it took to get to where you are now.

In the least, make up a reciept showing what was done, with billable hours and your fair billing price. At the end just put "paid in full" and don't charge them. This still lets them know what the value of that service would have been had they taken it in for repair.

This discussion is closed to new replies.