I do computer technical support for a company where I am constantly required to face the users.

Years ago when I started doing this, I really enjoyed being around people. I liked to talk about this or that etc.

I thought that everyone around me was my friend.

Fast forward to 10 yrs later. I cringe when someone approaches me with a smile.

The first things that goes through my head are:

1) I am not your puppet or your toy.

2) I am not here to educate you on computers. This is what I went to school for, and what I am in debt for, so why should I teach you?

3) Don't ask me about your silly program. I didn't go to school for that. Would you ask an eye doctor about your stomach? No, then why would you expect me to know the answer, and further tell me "didn't you go to school for that?"

As you can see I am really irritated about people's attitude towards what they believe I should know, and the level of accomdation I should give them.

In this environment, a user is not procedurally permitted to address me directly concerning their issues. They must contact the helpdesk via phone and a ticket number is then assigned to me.

Lots of users seem to "forget" that, and try to task me with duty. I have been warned that I will be fired if I address a users issue without a ticket. I have been told to tell the users that if they insist on attempting to task me with duty without a ticket.

It is always fun to tell that to a user. I feel my face twitching with anger as I get to explain all the politics to the user and they just look at me like I am crazy.

I would have to say that alot of my anti-social thoughts stem from this:

In my experience, it is a GIVEN that if I have left an organization on good or bad terms (doesn't matter) that if I contact a former collegue or user, I will be ignored.

Experience is now a VERY POWERFUL factor in my life today. I feel irritated in being social with someone who comes across as personal and friendly only to find that they will invariably fall silent once you no longer work there.

Sorry for the rant, but I have identified this as something that I need to get over.

Please provide me with your thoughts.

Thank you.