Most people envy the skills of a computer repair guy. Sometimes the knowledge level is high and others its simply common sense and others its a simple matter of stopping long enough to do this thing called reading. Some would have you believe its simply magic. That I have been trained by Merlin with mystical powers or a Jedi in the ways of the Force.
Working on a persons computer can be a very personal thing. You may need to go places they normally wouldnt want people to see. The secrets that you may be entrusted with simply because its the only way to solve the problem. Ive seen it all. Ive helped keep secrets safe. But, occassionally been responsible for the occasional grounding of a child. Its amazing what people keep on their computers. Evidence of a wife funneling money to where its not suppose to go. Nude pics that a husband took while cheating on his wife. Or a couple keeping an extensive library of their sexual adventures. Video collections that Jenna Jameson and her director would be envious of.
Anyway, a recent situatiuon has me wondering what course of action to take. Ive had this computer in for repair a few times. Usually the same thing, slow, freezing, etc, etc. It belongs to a teenage boy. After fighting with it for a couple hours i won the war and got it fixed up. Going through and removing the culprits led me to the kingpin. Isnt it obvious what that is? Surfin da porn of course.
Now, what does one do? Do i tell mom that she is paying me to keep fixing this thing because her son is doing......well.....teenager things in the digital age? Do i choose to not bust out the kid and just chalk it up to a "virus"? Wouldnt be too far from the truth. I have the option of going to dad which might soften the blow to the kid. The reality is well its fine if he wants to do that with his computer. The issue is whether mom and dad want to keep forking over the dough to fix it everytime his habit catches up with him. If they knew why then they may simply shift the burden of responsibility to the boy or embarrass the hell out of him. If you keep mucking it up then you pay to fix it.
This is what makes it fun to be a computer repair guy...
