What Dad does

Dear Noodle,

It’s time for me to explain what I do for a living. I’m an IT guy, computer guy, web developer, tech guy, gadget guy and whatever other terms are invented for describing a person who works with and fixes technology for a living. Truth is I’ve been doing it for a long time and I like to think I’m fairly good at it.

I do have some complaints about it though. They’re not the complaints you’d think. They’re not about the people I help with their technology. That’s my job, to make it easier for people to deal with their tech. It’s my job to learn it, know it and be able to fix it. My complaints (maybe more of a rant) are about other tech people and the stances they take to what they use.

I get really annoyed at how protective people are about what they use. It used to be Apple vs Windows. People choose sides and would publicly put down the other. Now it seems to be Apple vs Android. (I do find it ironic though that one side of both of those “battles” is the same company) Same choosing of sides and the same putting down of the other. Drives me crazy. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying what you have, but getting obsessive about it enough to the point where you feel the need to put down someone else is not.

I grew up a Windows guy, but as I get older I find myself drawn to Apple products (I’m writing this post from our iPad). Maybe because they seem to be easier to use. Or maybe because I don’t have to tinker with it. Windows is great if you like to tinker. Android falls along those same lines. There’s lots of people that will appeal to. I figure that after 20 years of tinkering on PCs I’ve earned the right to not tinker on my personal stuff if I don’t want to. I shouldn’t be ridiculed for that anymore than I should ridicule someone else for prefering Android (like one of your Uncles).

I’m really curious to see what you’ll be using when you’re old enough to read and understand all this. Chances are it’ll be cool and it’ll be something you’ll like tinkering with. When I’m an old man ranting about how things are too complicated, just remind me of this post and that I used to be a tinkering Windows guy.

Love Dad.