April 14, 2002

• I know, but I have a good excuse. But rather than bore everyone with that, consider this:

  
  

  At what point does helping become a crutch? Where do you draw the line? As an example, how about this situation; some of what I do is network consulting, and specializing now in wireless consulting of the same. A customer is having problems with his wireless network, but HE'S the network administrator. The only reason he's in touch with me is for help with a product my company sells. But, and here's the kicker, in order to *convince* him that the problem does not lie in our hardware, I basically have to do his troubleshooting job for him. Now, me personally, this stuff is great fun. I don't mind it at all...like a puppy with chew toy. But from the company's perspective, this is money spent doing the customer's job for them...in many different circles this is something they would have to pay for, and it ain't cheap.

  
  

  Or, perhaps something a bit more personal. A friend needs help in several different ways. Let's say it's a life crisis that has taken their job from them and split up the family. Now the emotional help is one thing...friends do that for one another (you always gotta have someone to bitch to...them's the rules), but when that gets to writing resume's, helping pay the bills because they no longer have a checking account and they give you the money to pay them, getting them a car and helping them keep it running because they know NOTHING about vehicles...you get the idea. It can become a way of life after a while, and in some cases, you don't even notice it happening until you look up one day and *your* bills are late, *your* car needs work, and *your* resume is moldy.

  
  

  In other words, when does help become crutch become patsy? I kind of answered my own question in the last of that previous paragraph, but does it have to go that far before it can be described as 'too far' or 'too much'?

  • 3:58 am
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