I mentioned that someone had challenged me about why I was doing Google's work for them for free, when I should be volunteering for a charity instead. This was my response:-
I'm agoraphobic, so I don't have a job which is why I'm happy to do work for Google because it exercises my mind, keeps me busy, makes me feel useful and I enjoy helping people, so when I do help someone I get a lovely feeling of satisfaction. So, it's pretty selfish of me, because I'm doing this for me, not for Google. It just happens that Google is the recipient of my time. Sure there are charities I could help, and believe me I've tried to find something that I can do from my home, but everyone wants you to go out, knocking on doors or helping in shops or go to their office - I'm agoraphobic, I can't do any of those things, so Google fulfils my needs - yes, MY needs.
I'm not a Top Contributor in the G+ community. I'm doing this because I happen to know some of the TC's and they're a great group of people. I am a TC in the Maps/Earth help forum, but things are quiet there at times and I've been looking for something else to occupy my mind, and G+ happens to be that place. I feel I've found a good place to hang out and enjoy a social life.
I can go weeks without talking to another human being in real life, outside of my immediate family, but by being active on line I talk to lots of people, some even become friends, some just want to argue, and if I'm feeling particularly delicate I'll ignore those rants and take a break. But if I feel "up to it" I'll respond, as I'm doing now, because I don't have to explain myself to anyone, but you made some assumptions about me that were incorrect and I feel like putting you right. I don't want to argue with you. It is what it is. Larry Page said many years ago that he didn't want customer support for Google, and these help forums are the result. It works for hundreds and thousands of people. I'm not going to stop trying to help people "for free" because some people aren't happy with the set-up. It's a perfect solution for me - I talk to people daily, I socialise, I have a laugh, I feel angry (good to have a range of emotions) and I feel useful, but most of all, I keep busy which stops me from falling into a well of depression that would engulf me if I didn't have this to keep me active and interested.
So, that's why I do Google's work for them, for free. I do it for me.
