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I got over this pretty much instantly but I still need to rant about it.
About 2 weeks ago, I met a customer who used to work for Big Computer Company and was now retired with a consulting biz. He was a Mac person exclusively, I'm a PC person with a few certs he doesn't have...he had an idea that the two of us could partner up.
I'm still not completely sure about it all especially the taxes part (got mildly hosed by a 1099 employer recently and don't want to go through that again) but if there's a way I can work directly with the clients he can't (which is what it sounds like he's willing to do)...we exchange LinkedIn profiles. I send a connection request that night, which goes ignored. Then I call him at his request and we talk shop for a while and set up a time to meet for coffee.
He emails me twice in the interim: "Do you live alone?" and "How late can I call you?" He wanted me to help him build a PC, so I assume those questions have something to do with that. I replied that I lived with my mom, and I prefer to do client computer builds at their residence.
My reply to the "how late can I call you" question is basically that my work schedule is very erratic and while I do have a cell phone it's easier for me to reply to text messages rather than calls unless there is a time set up in advance...which is the truth.
So on Sunday I show up at the local not-Starbucks at the appointed hour (noon) and wait. And wait. A call goes unanswered. I'm able to hang around until 1PM on the offchance that "noon" was misheard as "one" and then I have to leave.
He never had any intention of meeting with me, as I found out from a fairly rambling, vitriolic email timestamped later that day (about 5PM).
The whole thing had a condescending "this is how things work in the real world" tone (spoken as if I ignored his emails which I did not), among the verbiage was this gem:
"When I asked you 'how late can I call you' I was referring to discussing a computer build. I wanted to know if you live alone because I wanted to know if I would be able to bring parts over" [an odd request in itself, all builds I have done are at the client's house to cut down on assorted problems; and I answered both questions truthfully] "If you are thinking that I want anything more than a platonic relationship with you, that is unacceptable."
What the FUCK, dude?! You said it, not me. You're twice my age, and I'm highly offended that you would even IMPLY that I'm like that.
*insert enraged wolf pic here*
Okay, I won't ever contact you again and you've sworn to avoid me. Fine by me. I don't need that kind of bullshit.
The more I think about this, the more I feel I dodged a landmine with this guy. From the first phone conversation it seemed a bit off...somehow too many things in common even for two computer nerds and there was something else I just can't put my paw on. Either way, any kind of employment/business partner situation would have ended badly.
About 2 weeks ago, I met a customer who used to work for Big Computer Company and was now retired with a consulting biz. He was a Mac person exclusively, I'm a PC person with a few certs he doesn't have...he had an idea that the two of us could partner up.
I'm still not completely sure about it all especially the taxes part (got mildly hosed by a 1099 employer recently and don't want to go through that again) but if there's a way I can work directly with the clients he can't (which is what it sounds like he's willing to do)...we exchange LinkedIn profiles. I send a connection request that night, which goes ignored. Then I call him at his request and we talk shop for a while and set up a time to meet for coffee.
He emails me twice in the interim: "Do you live alone?" and "How late can I call you?" He wanted me to help him build a PC, so I assume those questions have something to do with that. I replied that I lived with my mom, and I prefer to do client computer builds at their residence.
My reply to the "how late can I call you" question is basically that my work schedule is very erratic and while I do have a cell phone it's easier for me to reply to text messages rather than calls unless there is a time set up in advance...which is the truth.
So on Sunday I show up at the local not-Starbucks at the appointed hour (noon) and wait. And wait. A call goes unanswered. I'm able to hang around until 1PM on the offchance that "noon" was misheard as "one" and then I have to leave.
He never had any intention of meeting with me, as I found out from a fairly rambling, vitriolic email timestamped later that day (about 5PM).
The whole thing had a condescending "this is how things work in the real world" tone (spoken as if I ignored his emails which I did not), among the verbiage was this gem:
"When I asked you 'how late can I call you' I was referring to discussing a computer build. I wanted to know if you live alone because I wanted to know if I would be able to bring parts over" [an odd request in itself, all builds I have done are at the client's house to cut down on assorted problems; and I answered both questions truthfully] "If you are thinking that I want anything more than a platonic relationship with you, that is unacceptable."
What the FUCK, dude?! You said it, not me. You're twice my age, and I'm highly offended that you would even IMPLY that I'm like that.
*insert enraged wolf pic here*
Okay, I won't ever contact you again and you've sworn to avoid me. Fine by me. I don't need that kind of bullshit.
The more I think about this, the more I feel I dodged a landmine with this guy. From the first phone conversation it seemed a bit off...somehow too many things in common even for two computer nerds and there was something else I just can't put my paw on. Either way, any kind of employment/business partner situation would have ended badly.
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