Would love to improve this group

[MIke]

Hi,
A few times I have read posts where the response was in the form of a
question that even I could understand why the question was asked.
Example: "did you do this"? "Did you do that"? Instead, How about,
"Try this", or "try that," "If no, try this"

Some responses were just not complete. I think we can judge from the
way a question is asked as to how much detail we can include in the
answer. If in doubt, assume the poster is a newbie!

Also, I would suggest that the respondent not answer a post unless
he/she is certain that the answer is correct. I have seen some
responses that were just plain wrong!

And recently I read a very sarcastic response..."read the manual,
#$$#&*(@&"! If we must answer that way,, the least we can do is
direct them to the area in the manual that has the answer, instead of
using nasty sarcasm. Who of us is perfect?

Of course I'm sure that everyone appreciate any help, but I think we
are frustrating somepeople if we don't do it right!

Mike

 

[Leythos]

Also, I would suggest that the respondent not answer a post unless
he/she is certain that the answer is correct. I have seen some
responses that were just plain wrong!

Mike, all good ideas, except that people that post answers do so because
they already think they are right, it's been that way for decades.

Since you're in a Microsoft group, where most visitors don't understand
Usenet let alone their computer, and still use Outlook Express like it's
email in here, you are not going to get very far.

This has been a problem since the 80's, and it's not going to change
anytime soon.

 

[ByTor]

Hi,
A few times I have read posts where the response was in the form of a
question that even I could understand why the question was asked.
Example: "did you do this"? "Did you do that"? Instead, How about,
"Try this", or "try that," "If no, try this"

Some responses were just not complete. I think we can judge from the
way a question is asked as to how much detail we can include in the
answer. If in doubt, assume the poster is a newbie!

Also, I would suggest that the respondent not answer a post unless
he/she is certain that the answer is correct. I have seen some
responses that were just plain wrong!

And recently I read a very sarcastic response..."read the manual,
#$$#&*(@&"! If we must answer that way,, the least we can do is
direct them to the area in the manual that has the answer, instead of
using nasty sarcasm. Who of us is perfect?

Of course I'm sure that everyone appreciate any help, but I think we
are frustrating somepeople if we don't do it right!

Mike

My suggestion, 15 people post the same solution in one single thread???
Why is that? I see & read every post in the thread, so a newsserver not
possibly posting all the threads is bullcrap..............Who tries to
outshine who in here????????? ;0)

Just my 25 cents & opinion........

 

[Guest]

Y ou got my VOTE Mike....

 

[Guest]

I don't use OE for this,I write one question or 2 at most,
at a time,and find my post after I think it's been answered.
The reason why ? No one ever showed me or told me how to do it.
But the way I do it works for me.

 

[Clark Griswold]

Mike,

Sometimes more info is need before an answer can be given. Remember
Socrates? If you want to see a great example of how not to post helpful
replies look up Miss Perspicacia Tick in Microsoft.puplic.office.misc. It is
almost like something crawled up her arse and won't come out.

 

[kurttrail]

Hi,
A few times I have read posts where the response was in the form of a
question that even I could understand why the question was asked.
Example: "did you do this"? "Did you do that"? Instead, How about,
"Try this", or "try that," "If no, try this"

Most of the time, I ask questions that are obvious and was information
that should have been given in stating the problem. It may be
frustrating, but it is a subtle way of showing people how to frame a
proper question and giving necessary info, when they post their next
question.

I go under the assumption, that once people find this place, they'll be
back again, and part of helping them, is helping them help themselves.

Some responses were just not complete. I think we can judge from the
way a question is asked as to how much detail we can include in the
answer. If in doubt, assume the poster is a newbie!

And enable their reliance on others to hand them every answer on a
silver platter? I sometimes give a link to a Google search using a word
or phrase contained in the post I'm responding to so that they can see
how easy it is to find the answer on their own.

Also, I would suggest that the respondent not answer a post unless
he/she is certain that the answer is correct. I have seen some
responses that were just plain wrong!

LOL! There goes half of Carey's cut and paste responses!

Seriously, that's where the peers come in, in this peer to peer support
group. Mistakes are made by everyone. I doubt there is one person here
that has given advise that wouldn't want to take back one of their
replies from time to time. None of us is perfect.

And recently I read a very sarcastic response..."read the manual,
#$$#&*(@&"! If we must answer that way,, the least we can do is
direct them to the area in the manual that has the answer, instead of
using nasty sarcasm. Who of us is perfect?

No one, I believe I just said that. ;-) And some people learn better
with a little negative reinforcement. RTFM is a perfectly acceptable
response to many of the questions asked, especially about things such as
BIOS settings, where almost every mobo has different ones.

Of course I'm sure that everyone appreciate any help, but I think we
are frustrating somepeople if we don't do it right!

Mike

Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day, but teach a man to fish, and
eat for a lifetime. And if you have ever gone fishing, you know what a
frustrating experience that really can be.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Clark Griswold]

Mike,

Sometimes more info is need before an answer can be given. Remember
Socrates? If you want to see a great example of how not to post helpful
replies look up Miss Perspicacia Tick in Microsoft.puplic.office.misc. It
is almost like something crawled up her arse and won't come out.

Forgot to add: I agree. Do your *research* before replying.

 

[kurttrail]

Mike, all good ideas, except that people that post answers do so
because they already think they are right, it's been that way for
decades.

No, you're wrong, I'm right!

Since you're in a Microsoft group, where most visitors don't
understand Usenet let alone their computer, and still use Outlook
Express like it's email in here, you are not going to get very far.

This has been a problem since the 80's, and it's not going to change
anytime soon.

STFU! LOL!

Yep, this is still the USENET, and it is in that fine tradition, that
you get all kinds of answers, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly!

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[kurttrail]

I don't use OE for this,I write one question or 2 at most,
at a time,and find my post after I think it's been answered.
The reason why ? No one ever showed me or told me how to do it.
But the way I do it works for me.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Malke]

My suggestion, 15 people post the same solution in one single
thread??? Why is that? I see & read every post in the thread, so a
newsserver not possibly posting all the threads is
bullcrap..............Who tries to
outshine who in here????????? ;0)

Just my 25 cents & opinion........

You misunderstand how Usenet works. Posts propagate at different speeds
to news servers all over the world. There are time differences and
different ways of dealing with posts. Those of us who have broadband
may read all the posts at once; others with dialup or different posting
styles may download the headers and then pick through the ones that
interest them to answer. It is quite common that someone in another
country from me (I'm in the US) in a completely different time zone
could be reading the same question, answer it when I do, and because of
the differences in time zones and news server propagation we might not
see that the question was already answered.

As for the responders asking questions (which I do), this is how one
troubleshoots. Many posters in this group are not particularly
technically savvy and may also not be very articulate in writing.
Remember, we are providing free tech support about computers that we
can't see, often from information provided that is scanty. Asking
questions about the situation helps narrow down the problem areas.
Writing paragraphs of tech support for a problem that is basically
undefined is a waste of time. Hence the request for more definitions of
the situation so that focused answers can be given.

As for any sarcasm or unpleasantness, well this is Usenet. The MS groups
tend to be far more polite and pleasant than many others. If you doubt
me, take a stroll over to some of the alt.* groups.

Malke

 

[kurttrail]

My suggestion, 15 people post the same solution in one single
thread??? Why is that?

Usually because the answer is easy, and they haven't downloaded the
other responses yet.

I see & read every post in the thread, so a
newsserver not possibly posting all the threads is
bullcrap..............Who tries to outshine who in here????????? ;0)

And you have to understand that some people have large block sender
filters.

Just my 25 cents & opinion........

More like 2 cents worth! But yes, some are competing to get as many
answers out as they can. Some people covet the MVP status.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[kurttrail]

Y ou got my VOTE Mike....

Ah! A variation on the "me too" post.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[kurttrail]

Mike,

Sometimes more info is need before an answer can be given. Remember
Socrates? If you want to see a great example of how not to post
helpful replies look up Miss Perspicacia Tick in
Microsoft.puplic.office.misc. It is almost like something crawled up
her arse and won't come out.

LOL! Please, I trying to forget that c-word.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Miss Perspicacia Tick]

Ah! A variation on the "me too" post.

It's termed 'AOLling' (for obvious reasons)... ;o)

 

[ByTor]

More like 2 cents worth!

Do I understand this as sarcasm??

 

[ByTor]

You misunderstand how Usenet works.

Don't think so. But thanks for the education...... ;0)

 

[BoboTWG]

Mistakes are made by everyone. I doubt there is one person here

that has given advise that wouldn't want to take back one of their
replies from time to time.
Yep


Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day, but teach a man to fish, and
eat for a lifetime. And if you have ever gone fishing, you know what a
frustrating experience that really can be.

Yes, but the beer makes it worth it.

Aaron

 

[kurttrail]

Do I understand this as sarcasm??

You can understand it any way you like.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Don Dunlap]

Hi,
A few times I have read posts where the response was in the form of a
question that even I could understand why the question was asked.
Example: "did you do this"? "Did you do that"? Instead, How about,
"Try this", or "try that," "If no, try this"

Some responses were just not complete. I think we can judge from the
way a question is asked as to how much detail we can include in the
answer. If in doubt, assume the poster is a newbie!

Also, I would suggest that the respondent not answer a post unless
he/she is certain that the answer is correct. I have seen some
responses that were just plain wrong!

And recently I read a very sarcastic response..."read the manual,
#$$#&*(@&"! If we must answer that way,, the least we can do is
direct them to the area in the manual that has the answer, instead of
using nasty sarcasm. Who of us is perfect?

Of course I'm sure that everyone appreciate any help, but I think we
are frustrating somepeople if we don't do it right!

Mike

You have to understand that about 25 percent of the people on Usenet are
only here in order to trash and denigrate others. They do it because it is
an anonymous environment and they don't have to answer to anyone for their
stupidity. They live for it and do it in an attempt to appear superior to
others, when in fact they are only showing their inferiority. You can't
change this type of individual, so trying will only frustrate you.

Don Dunlap