This whole article has a really weird tone.

> She handed me her MacBook silently and the look on her face said it all. Fix my computer, geek, and hurry up about it.

> [...]

> Normally when someone spouts this rubbish I just nod and smile. This time I simply couldn't let it pass. 'Not really, most kids can't use computers.' (and neither can you - I didn't add.)

I wonder if she recognized the look on your face when you internally condescended to her about the network proxy which you have not adequately documented for end users?