Let's blame the IT guy

I understand the reality that everything that goes wrong is the IT guy's fault; but I just 'realized' it today.

If a server goes down, a network switch dies, computers run slow, etc… it's my fault. Even if I've done all the preventative maintenance that I can… it's my fault. I know what I signed up for when I took this job. What I didn't sign up for is people blaming me because I don't do their job for them.

I was recently approached by a colleague who prefaced their question with 'I've been wanting to ask you a question for weeks but just haven't gotten around to it...' I assumed this implied 'My question isn't urgent but I would like to know the answer. The next time you have a few minutes would you please help me understand something?' I cordially said that I was currently swamped but would come to her office when I had a few minutes.

My assumption was incorrect. She sought me out every hour asking if I'd forgotten about her. As I would walk around the office people would ask me if she had found me yet and that she was looking for me. I soon learned that she had been under the gun for several weeks on a project and had just been pulled to the mat (so to speak). I was now the excuse as to why she couldn't get her work done. It was my fault that she couldn't turn the project in on time.

When she came to me again around 4:30 she told me what her issue was; she was unable to locate a file that she needed. I told her to tell me where the last known whereabouts were and I would find the file. Two days later I get an email with a file location. 30 seconds later I responded to her email with the new location of the file (thank you Windows Indexing Service).

I realize that I have control over a lot of systems at my workplace and am paid to keep them up and running. Sometimes things are out of my control and fall apart. But please, understand that I have a job to do just as you. If you need something from me I will do my best to fulfill your request in a timely manner. But don't put off your job, get with me right before it's crunch-time and expect me to do your job for you. Also, don't blame me if you don't do your job.