I think your problem is shared by all working with computers. I have often discussed this very issue with a friend, what he does (he is a unix admin) is to tell the users that he is not very in to Windows (although he is), and that their guess is as good as his.
I am, however, into windows as well as unix, so when people ask me, i generally speak to them in BOFH style, an example:
User: "How do i make a boot disc for windows 98?"
Me : "Well, if you want to make a boot disc, you have to consider what you will be using it for, if i will be used to install windows98, you will have to setuo some dos drivers for the cdrom/dvd, as dos does not natively support the full IDE specification. This is because MSDOS, as i imagine you will choose for your boot disc?, is really based on the old IBM dos, which was invented way before such drives were even thought of. Now; to make your boot disc bootable, you will have to install the basic boot-up files, command.com etc. but you will also have to format the disc in the right format................" (go on and on and on like this)...
This has two effects on people;
1.) They realise, that they might as well ask someone else, as they understand as much of what you just said, as they would, had you said it in Japaneese.
2.) When they ask someone else, who then gives them a much shorter answer, they will be pestering them instead.
This way, you get to keep both your relationship with theese people, and as a tasy sidedish, get to appear as a "Guru" type (if you like being perceived as one)
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HUZZAH !
Actually, with the aid of this new tech., i read the story yesterday.
I think your problem is shared by all working with computers. I have often discussed this very issue with a friend, what he does (he is a unix admin) is to tell the users that he is not very in to Windows (although he is), and that their guess is as good as his. I am, however, into windows as well as unix, so when people ask me, i generally speak to them in BOFH style, an example: User: "How do i make a boot disc for windows 98?" Me : "Well, if you want to make a boot disc, you have to consider what you will be using it for, if i will be used to install windows98, you will have to setuo some dos drivers for the cdrom/dvd, as dos does not natively support the full IDE specification. This is because MSDOS, as i imagine you will choose for your boot disc?, is really based on the old IBM dos, which was invented way before such drives were even thought of. Now; to make your boot disc bootable, you will have to install the basic boot-up files, command.com etc. but you will also have to format the disc in the right format................" (go on and on and on like this)... This has two effects on people; 1.) They realise, that they might as well ask someone else, as they understand as much of what you just said, as they would, had you said it in Japaneese. 2.) When they ask someone else, who then gives them a much shorter answer, they will be pestering them instead. This way, you get to keep both your relationship with theese people, and as a tasy sidedish, get to appear as a "Guru" type (if you like being perceived as one)