Wax Elastic: What do I do? Oh, I do computers too.

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June 11, 2004

What do I do? Oh, I do computers too.

Working in design, with web pages, or in programming usually falls under the penumbra of "working in the internet" or "on the web." Any one of those specific jobs has it's own standard title, but not all three together. Some say Web Producer, others say Web Developer...I'm fine with all these descriptions, and I use them when I describe what I do, based on who's my audience.

When you meet new people often the conversation steers to vocations when I will have to pull one of those titles out of my ass and hand it over. Inevitably there is someone who says, "Oh, I do computers too!"

I currently have a neighbor who does computers. The job "doing computers" is a specialized position with some clear cut responsibilities and duties that largely get carried out when the employee is in the presence of "web guy" or another "computer doer."

Duties include:

Describing what type of computer you have including the hard drive size.
Emphasizing that you own more than one computer. Doing computers is a complicated business.
Discussing the hardware you just installed and any problems that you had installing it.
Not actually using the computer for producing anything computer related.

Must have 20 years experience cornering people and discussing technology.

Please include salary requirements with resume.

Posted by davidissimo :: Permalink :: Comments [4] ::

I rarely wind up talking about computer doings with other computer doers, usually it's someone who's son/brother/nephew/parole officer that does computers, or better yet works with the Internet.

Aside from people working retail, who doesn't work with the Internet these days? I know this computer thing still has a long ways to go before businesses start using them, but I've actually seen a business card with an email address! Not in real life, but they showed it on TV. Imagine that!

I think most of these people who do computers are just playing Counter-Strike and tell their mother/sister/aunt/parolee that they do computers to keep up appearances. If they said they were alpaca farmers, they'd probably have to know something about alpacas, whereas saying computers is boring enough that no one would ask any follow up questions.

Posted by: George Hotelling at June 11, 2004 10:03 AM

I have to disagree with you. I've been privy to lunchtime conversations between you and other computer doers and the conversation is very computer heavy. Your discussions always come to hard drive space and power supplies and the speed of your computers. I seem to recall one amazing conversation about you having 64MB RAM.

Also, the computer doers that I come across are usually older and hold (or not) down other jobs, doing computers in their spare time. I don't even think Counter-Strike is in their vocabulary. However, I'm pretty sure parole officer is.

Posted by: Davidissimo at June 11, 2004 10:27 AM

Has that guy cornered you again? Sometimes in those situations, I like to say "I do farm animals." Or, if I really want to get rid of them, I say "I'm a psychiatrist."

Posted by: jb at June 11, 2004 12:37 PM

you should try telling people you're a "consultant". if fact, mr gonzalez-weinstock, i remember quite well the rolling of your eyes and the knowing grin at the "Smooth Obturators" game i met you at when I told you i was a "consultant". your exact words were, i recall, "oh yeah... me too!" all readers who know david can insert the requisite sarcasm.

Posted by: ken at June 12, 2004 10:06 PM

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