this post was submitted on 29 Dec 2025
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Yeah I don't mean for free. I think that's implied by the "happy to pay (reasonably) for it" part of the comment.
The problem with tech support in general is that people want to have a trusted source. If you are successful in your endeavour, then you are that source. Therefore you will be called for everything. Absolutely everything.
Suddenly all people forget how to search online themselves or to actually look at the problem before reaching out. Not even a turn it off and on again mentality. You are now their source and will do everything for them.
Then it degrades from there. Problems become vague descriptions of "acting funny" and you spend far too much time trying to get accurate descriptions and scenarios to understand the problem before even being able to try to troubleshoot it.
All this jaded negativity is just me making a point that reasonable charges won't get you very far. You will need to charge more to cover the time (yours or help) and then you will be deemed too expensive and people won't call.
When I do free tech support for someone who I think could have solved it themselves I just make them solve it themselves by asking questions. "What information do you have?" "What have you tried?" "What does the error say?" "What do you think the error means? Is it giving a hint?" "When did you start having the problem?" "What can we eliminate?" "What did a search search suggest?" "What does the documentation say?"
"Did you try rebooting, reconnecting?"