Q: Why did you start this Blog again?

Q: Why did you start this BLOG again?

A: In our society it is considered polite conversation to ask one’s Profession, such as “What do you do for a living?”  Over time, I have developed a multi-staged answer.

Dialogs go something like this:

50% of the time …
Them: “What do you do for a living?”
Me:   “I work in Information Technology.”

Them: “What’s that?”
Me:   “Computers.”

Them: *eyes glaze over as a natural defense of being instantly bored* “Oh.”

—

40% of the time …
Them: “What do you do for a living?”
Me:   “I work in Information Technology.”

Them: “… Computers, right?”
Me:   “Yep!”

Them: *eyes glaze over as a natural defense of being instantly bored* “Oh.”

—

09% of the time …
Them: “What do you do for a living?”
Me:   “I work in Information Technology.”

Them: *eyes glaze over as a natural defense of being instantly bored* “Oh, that computer crap.”

(This type of reaction still amazes me.  Mental check: Yes, we really are in the twenty first century, it really is 2008.  I have come to the conclusion that anyone that responds to me like this has just missed out from a technological perspective, regardless of their age.  I realize that not everyone has a technical job, or works with a computer with whatever it is they do for a living, BUT we cannot NOT interact with computers in America today.  Computers of one form or another are everywhere.  Cell phones, ATMs, electric watches, calculators, GPS units … the list goes on…) 

—

0.9999% of the time …
Them: “What do you do for a living?”
Me:   “I work in Information Technology.”

Them: Something to the effect of “Are you a Server Admin?”
Me:   “I am a Database Administrator.”

(This type of response occurs when I have run into another person that is in IT, or I am at a technological event like COMDEX, browsing Technology books in a store, etc.)
—

0.0001% of the time … (Reserved for Family and Friends)
Them: “What do you do for a living?”
Me:   “I work in Information Technology.”

Them: “Oh really? My computer has been acting kind of weird lately …”
Me:   *fights the urge to glaze over eyes* “I will be happy to take a look at it, but I cannot guarantee that I can fix it.”

(I don’t know how this kind of myth or stereotype has evolved, but apparently anyone in IT is a desktop expert, at least according to this segment of the population.  What the general population does not realize or care to know is that as time goes on IT is getting more and more specialized as technologies continue to evolve and expand.  In my opinion, this type of situation can be equal to having a Podiatrist check you for an ear infection; yes the person is a Doctor, but not his or her specialty.  I am the kind of person that realizes that the person I am talking to does not know anyone that has troubleshooting or computer repair skills, and they just want their computer to operate smoothly.  I honestly don’t mind looking at someone else’s machine, but I am *very* careful to stop if there is a serious issue with the machine.  I will always backup any data that I can or take a System Restore if working on a PC with WindowsXP.)

 

This online journal aka BLOG answers the question: “What do you do for a living?”  It has just occurred to me that I now need to print business cards that give a little blurb about what I do, and a URL link to this site.  (I have no idea how when or where I developed the ability give myself more work, but I am *REALLY* good at it.)

— Key