Back about 20 years ago or so, I was helping a friend with a computer. A customer of his drops by and, noticing the computer, said he wanted to get one. My friend says “Doc is the one to help you”. I wish he never said that. While I could have politely refused, I did commit to help.
The guy did not know anything about computers. I arranged to purchase the computer, printer, modem, monitor, etc, and invoice him for it. I also arranged a time to install and setup.
I arrived at his home at the appointed time (he ran his business out of his home). The front yard should have been my first signal. Very unkempt, with trash, glass, etc.
No one answered, although it was 10am, on a weekday. And, there appeared to be a number of cars associated with the house.
I left, went down the road, got a cold drink, and came back at 10:30. This time, he answered the door, looking like he had one very long night, and was not bathed. I was invited in.
When I tell you that there was a narrow path through the garbage and trash in the home, to get to where the computer was to be set up, believe me – it was the worst I had ever experienced personally. Had the rather large ashtray been the only thing over-flowing would have been a blessing.
I observe a small kid, a boy about three years old, walking around with a disposable diaper that needed changing. A woman comes down from the second floor, with some other guy. The two guys and woman got into a heated discussion about who would sleep with whom that evening. Most women that I have met pay some attention to grooming. This one did not. With nails as nasty as mine are after I pull a transmission or replace a valve cover, she did not seem to mind. You could even observe dirt rings around her neck.
The kid grabbed my [glass] drink bottle, opened the front door, and tossed it on the sidewalk. Now, there is more broken glass.
The kid started looking in the kitchen for something to eat. He pulls down the oven door, and climbs onto the top of the range, and from there to the cabinets. No cheerios, or anything else was to be found. Thinking to myself, what if the oven or burners had been on?
The kid rummages through the trash can, and finds a chicken bone, which he begins gnawing on.
Ok, you get the picture.
I hooked up the computer, presented my invoice, which the guy could not read as he was illiterate, and left. I never got paid, and did not really care.
Now, in a previous thread, it was suggested that as long as it is not hurting you, why do you care?
I know what I did, and did not do. What would you have done?
Doc
The guy did not know anything about computers. I arranged to purchase the computer, printer, modem, monitor, etc, and invoice him for it. I also arranged a time to install and setup.
I arrived at his home at the appointed time (he ran his business out of his home). The front yard should have been my first signal. Very unkempt, with trash, glass, etc.
No one answered, although it was 10am, on a weekday. And, there appeared to be a number of cars associated with the house.
I left, went down the road, got a cold drink, and came back at 10:30. This time, he answered the door, looking like he had one very long night, and was not bathed. I was invited in.
When I tell you that there was a narrow path through the garbage and trash in the home, to get to where the computer was to be set up, believe me – it was the worst I had ever experienced personally. Had the rather large ashtray been the only thing over-flowing would have been a blessing.
I observe a small kid, a boy about three years old, walking around with a disposable diaper that needed changing. A woman comes down from the second floor, with some other guy. The two guys and woman got into a heated discussion about who would sleep with whom that evening. Most women that I have met pay some attention to grooming. This one did not. With nails as nasty as mine are after I pull a transmission or replace a valve cover, she did not seem to mind. You could even observe dirt rings around her neck.
The kid grabbed my [glass] drink bottle, opened the front door, and tossed it on the sidewalk. Now, there is more broken glass.
The kid started looking in the kitchen for something to eat. He pulls down the oven door, and climbs onto the top of the range, and from there to the cabinets. No cheerios, or anything else was to be found. Thinking to myself, what if the oven or burners had been on?
The kid rummages through the trash can, and finds a chicken bone, which he begins gnawing on.
Ok, you get the picture.
I hooked up the computer, presented my invoice, which the guy could not read as he was illiterate, and left. I never got paid, and did not really care.
Now, in a previous thread, it was suggested that as long as it is not hurting you, why do you care?
I know what I did, and did not do. What would you have done?
Doc
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We could use a little more live and let live around here.
