Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Why I do what I do

Recently, I successfully helped someone setup/troubleshoot a piece of high tech home electronic equipment (boy that should narrow it down huh? :p ). And it really gave me great satisfaction. More importantly, it gave me a reminder as to why I am doing this (apart from the warm fuzzy feeling I enjoy).

I think it is safe to say that I am reasonably well versed in a lot of tech (I dare say that I can put some of the 'certified' people to shame). I can delve into technicalities (lingo, et al) but at the same time, I can gear and present it in a way of why it should matter to you, the average consumer (aka normal humans - not the brainiacs who love to overly complicate things). I have written a great many articles, and I have particiapted in a great many web forum discussions. Where ever I go/live, I am widely referred to in times of techie need.

Why do you do this? Well simple really, if not me, then who else. I started out on this without knowing anything. I slowly searched and read the limited resources that I had. That paired with some kahunas to actually try and do something (at the risk of killing good hardware - haha I still remember the cold sweat I got from the 'trys') has allowed me to grow decently well. So I decided that I will help people out and teach them all I know if they wanted. Where there is a willing ear/eye, my knowledge will be. Now please don't get me wrong. I am no oracle. I do not know everything there is to know (which is the beauty of it really). I always say to people, if you have a question, then ask. One of two things will happen. 1) You will get an unbiased and qualified answer (I always back my statements - if not, talk is cheap). 2) I don't know the answer so I will seek it and we will both learn something new. Either way, you will learn something. The important thing that I make sure is that I will only comment/teach something that I know. I will never mislead the people who ask me (I take it very seriously).

Sure as of late, opinions are a dime a dozen, but it saddens (and out right angers me) that most of these are misleading. Tech advice is ever increasingly becoming diluted by people who manage to overclock by 10FSB are now suddenly 'die hard' overclockers. People who somehow managed to assemble their own PC are suddenly 'expert' builders. And the age old problem that people with thick wallets are suddenly tech experts due to the 'toys' that they have. I despise misleading information. If you want examples of people misleading others, feel free to go to Fry's Electronics and listen in on most of the staff there give advice to their customers (OMG). A great many times I felt the need to interrupt and correct the things spewed from Fry's Associates (and resisted - I don't barge in on people unsolicited). Now I am sure that there may be some who actually know what they are talking about, but if this rare breed does exist, they certainly have eluded me.

How do people gain knowledge/experience. Well one of three ways. 1) Actually doing it. 2) Learning about it. 3) Reading about it. #2 was a no go for me from the start so I had to settle with a lot of #3 and eventually #1s. So I hope to do my part on Earth and help people with #2. I know the feeling of hopeless abandon all too well (I have faced it and continue to face it). So hopefully I will be there to help assist you in any way possible in regards to all things PC/Tech.

Just don't ask me any software/programming stuff. LOL! Hardware/Devices only. :p

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