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A therapist friend of mine has an issue with her email program. I'm well aware that she could have confidential info (patient stuffs) saved in there. To diagnose the problem I don't necessarily need to sit down in front of her computer, but I do need to know some basic info. What version of what program, was she doing anything else when the problem happens, any errors, etc. I do not need to know anything about the contents of the mailbox, as it's clear that is irrelevant.
"It's Eudora on a Mac."
...yes, I know you use Eudora on a Mac. That doesn't tell me about the actual problem.
"I don't want people looking at my emails."
I didn't say I would need to read your emails (you know I would never do that anyway). I need to know what's wrong.
"It doesn't work."
What doesn't work?
"I don't want people reading my emails."
I understand you could have confidential stuff on there. I need to know what's wrong so I can determine if it is fixable by a verbal walkthrough, or if I have to make a house call.
"Can't you fix it without me telling you that stuff?" (translation: I have no idea what you are asking, but I'm too paranoid to let you sit down at my computer to get what you need)
Great googly moogly. If you don't want anyone else using your computer, how come you've let other "techs" try to fix this problem (only result was things got screwed up more)?
I know you want me to do "strategic volunteering". My landlord will not let me apply volunteer hours toward the rent and I do have other expenses and need to eat. So far this society has not hit on a truly workable bartering economy, so I need to charge cash money for anything even remotely complex. It's a hell of a lot less than what "the other guy" (who from what I can see got his A+ from a cereal box) charges and I happen to know you are Not Poor. You're not "saving money" by paying the cheap guy to do re-fixes many times.
"It's Eudora on a Mac."
...yes, I know you use Eudora on a Mac. That doesn't tell me about the actual problem.
"I don't want people looking at my emails."
I didn't say I would need to read your emails (you know I would never do that anyway). I need to know what's wrong.
"It doesn't work."
What doesn't work?"I don't want people reading my emails."
I understand you could have confidential stuff on there. I need to know what's wrong so I can determine if it is fixable by a verbal walkthrough, or if I have to make a house call.
"Can't you fix it without me telling you that stuff?" (translation: I have no idea what you are asking, but I'm too paranoid to let you sit down at my computer to get what you need)
Great googly moogly. If you don't want anyone else using your computer, how come you've let other "techs" try to fix this problem (only result was things got screwed up more)?
I know you want me to do "strategic volunteering". My landlord will not let me apply volunteer hours toward the rent and I do have other expenses and need to eat. So far this society has not hit on a truly workable bartering economy, so I need to charge cash money for anything even remotely complex. It's a hell of a lot less than what "the other guy" (who from what I can see got his A+ from a cereal box) charges and I happen to know you are Not Poor. You're not "saving money" by paying the cheap guy to do re-fixes many times.
True dat. She's been suggesting I apply to companies that are either bankrupt, soon to be bankrupt, or known to be shedding jobs faster than a snakeskin. The most infamous of such was when she suggested I apply to Circuit City when it was already common knowledge they were going under 
(I think the rationale for that one was that there wouldn't be a lot of competition....erm, yeah, but...)
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