# General Questions, or, My Computer Won't Work

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-questions-or-my-computer-wont-work/25350>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [July 12, 2000, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-questions-or-my-computer-wont-work/25350 "2000-07-12T20:40:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-questions-or-my-computer-wont-work/25350/1 "2000-07-12T20:40:23Z")

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Why are there so many people posting basic computer questions to GQ? I’m a techie and I really don’t want to encounter questions when I come here, although I might wake up in a masochistic mood one day and start a _Ask the Computer Geek_ thread in MPSIMS.

But, anyway, why? Don’t the TM’s computers come with warrantees and support? Or are they just lazy?

I’m trying really hard to keep this post out of the Pit…

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**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-questions-or-my-computer-wont-work/25350/2 "2000-07-12T20:57:34Z")

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I currently see exactly one thread out of fifty that is a question that a manual or tech support could answer.

I worked in tech support for a while. Knowing some of the morons I’ve worked with, and some of the morons that I’ve talked to one the phone for other companies tech support, I’d trust the input of posters here over most of those people.  
Here’s an idea. Don’t read those threads. You can usually tell from the subject line what it’s going to be about.

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**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-questions-or-my-computer-wont-work/25350/3 "2000-07-12T21:32:57Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Montfort \*  
> **But, anyway, why? Don’t the TM’s computers come with warrantees and support? Or are they just lazy?**

Not everyone is a techie.

No, some computers don’t come with warrantees and support.

My computer was put together piece by piece by my brother-in-law. I have no idea where the parts come from, and of course there is no manual. This computer was a gift, otherwise we wouldn’t have one. My brother-in-law lives about 200 miles from here, and since he has his own life, he’s not available 24/7. Basically he gives lousy custom service. Next time someone gives me a gift, I will demand better support! 😛

A freind of mine got his computer from a local store here in San Francisco. The store had been around for years. About two months after he got his computer the store went out of buisness. His warrantees were useless, and there was no anwser on the help line.

Speaking for myself, yes I’m lazy, but the TM’s as a whole are not. 😃