Re: [Sheflug] Re: [SlugBug] Your PC fixed by volunteers at the Community Computer Cafe!

[Lesley Anne Binks <lesley.binks [at] xxxxxxxxx>]

Andy Davidson <andyd [at] lug.org.uk> wrote :

> Hi, Slugbug/Sheflug.
> 
> On 19 Nov 2004, at 12:37, Gareth Coleman wrote:
> 
> > We feel that fixing our neighbours computers for free is good because 
> > then
> > they can be better connected in our community
> 
> That's a very community spirited attempt, and your thoughts are well 
> intentioned.
> 
> But what you're doing is devaluing the work of commercial computer 
> repair people.  This is dangerous.  I'm sure it's not your intention to 
> take a means to earn away from local IT shops, but this is precisely 
> what you risk doing.
> 
> If people can't be allowed to make money out of IT, the industry will 
> collapse in on itself.  I don't like the idea that my pay might be cut 
> because my trades and unique skills that I have invested years learning 
> are being handed out on the street corner (as it were.)
> 
> 

The fact that you are a posting to a list dedicated to the use of a free operating system, complaining about others who are offering a free service is not without it's irony. 

On the basis of what you say, should I have been able to use BASIC and ticker tape all these years?   I worked hard back in 1975, writing my very first programs and all these changes... oh dearie me. Hard disks my goodness and these fandazzydobie 3.5 inch floppy drives, what on earth was wrong with the old 5.25 inch ones that would crease and destroy data. Anyone else remember the self build machine Tandy used to sell with flashing lights and switches for data input?  (The first computer I actually owned was an Acorn Atom with a domestic single track tape machine for program storage.)  These new fangled CD drives and as for those DVD Read Writers ... well...tut tut.

People still manage to make some form of income out of the IT industry, or so I have heard ;-> .  In the latter half of this year I have picked up two offers to do mod_perl stuff for no pay whatsoever and I have recently gained an opportunity to teach someone Java.  Time at the moment prevents me from pursuing the other offers as I am also busy working nights at a retail store near you so that you can go out and spend your money there after looking at shelves filled by my own fair hands.  Oh did I mention I have two degrees and about 30 years programming experience? 

And yes, like you I have to find money to pay my council tax, rent, electricity, phone and electricity bills etc etc so let's please dispense with the white European male attitude that women don't need to be economically viable, eh?

I have spoken with people working in customer service roles who actually have PhDs.  If you want to start talking about the time and money *you* have invested then there are no doubt a fair few of us that can turn around and show you what we have invested.  If all you've done is, relatively speaking, a few weeks on a hardware course then any student trapped in today's further education system can put a little more into that particular bucket than you can.

I don't see you as potentially losing a source of income a good reason for someone else not to offer a service.  I appreciate that it's a pain in the neck and causes more effort for you to stay economically viable, but that is the nature of the game called economic existence.  

What do you think all the software developers in the Western world should do about the "rising tide of the Indian subcontinent's software industry" especially web page production?

As other posters have pointed out, these people are offering a service that some people who might not be able to afford the services you offer.

However, the realistic exercising of the opportunities offered might also be difficult for some.  

1. I wouldn't be too keen on hauling a computer system across town on bus or tram to find this place so I think you can afford to sit on your laurels a little longer.

2. If I knew nothing much about computers I wouldn't be too keen on disconnecting everything to take the box down to this walk-in centre.  Many such people might find it far more easy to have you pop round and charge them for your services.

So you can do one of two things :

(a) sit on your laurels, don't worry about this 'competition' and let the money roll in.  ( Which I suspect it is not doing so otherwise you wouldn't be so worried about the free service being offered.)

(b) get involved with what's going on so that you have a finger on the pulse, if there is one, and can see where to jump to next.

It's your call.

HTH
Regards

Lesley






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