Hi, Charlie.
It wasn't me asking for help
There are three ways to learn: from experience, from reading books, and
vicariously through others' experiences. May I suggest pointing yourself in
the other direction? It's far easier to roll downhill than uphill.
it's noticeable that where the MVPs in other groups try to address the
question
You are comparing rather different environments. The other newsgroups'
names don't start at the beginning of the alphabet, aren't placed as the top
menu item, nor do they have the word "Access" as part of their name, so
those newsgroups don't attract huge crowds of "lost souls." The MVP's in
the other newsgroups aren't playing traffic cops to the degree that the
Access experts here are.
On weekends and the wee hours of the morning, only about a third of the
questions posted in this newsgroup actually pose a question about Access in
the English language -- the intended audience of this newsgroup. If we
didn't make an effort to tell people that they are posting a question in a
forum that is unlikely to be able to answer their question correctly and
quickly, then the proportion of non-English, non-Access questions would be
even higher, because people would keep posting the same questions here
again, since their questions weren't answered the first time.
And when we address the off-topic questions by answering them instead of
redirecting the poster to a more appropriate newsgroup, we are encouraging
them to return the next time they have any computer-related question. You
don't know how often we get the "I know this is off-topic, but you guys know
so much and can probably give me the answer to this problem I've been
struggling with" posts. Yes. We can provide instructions how to create a
dual-boot computer where every partition boots up as the C:\ drive, or
replace an alternator, or give an emergency tracheotomy, or brew the best
beer, but people don't come here for that (except maybe the beer brewing).
They come to this forum to get their Access database problems solved and to
learn more about Access. Forcing people to climb over or to dig under
excessive debris to reach the treasures they seek will not encourage them to
hang around this neighborhood.
the MVPs here simply address posting ettiquette.
If one removes the traffic lights and traffic cops from a very busy
intersection, there are going to be collisions. That intersection will
become blocked. These traffic cops you are complaining about are keeping
the traffic flowing so that you and everybody else can have a quick road
trip to the desired destination: a free, correct answer that solves the
Access database problem.
You _have_ noticed that most Access questions are answered, haven't you?
The effort to redirect lost souls to other newsgroups doesn't come at the
expense of answering the Access questions.
if you read the group name as "Public Access" it is rather misleading
It's open to the public, as opposed to closed to the public, which the
private corporate Microsoft discussion groups happen to be. But since the
private discussion groups aren't available to us, one can't see and compare
the names to recognize that there's a differentiation which is being
identified by the word "Public" in the name.
Remember MS advise people to seek help in the newsgroups therefore one
must expect a certain amount of new user error.
We can tell them that they've mistakenly posted in the wrong newsgroup, or
we can ignore them. If we take the latter tactic, they'll usually post
their questions again. When that doesn't get answered, they notice that
other questions are getting replies, so they post a new question asking why
they are getting ignored. And then the flames begin.
Nobody asked for specific instructions did they?
From your posts it appears that you expected them to be given -- even
surprised when none were. You specifically wrote the following in your
first post:
"Apparently the people who have replied so far either haven't had the
problem, don't check updates via Access, or don't do updates."
In other words, "the people who have already replied don't know what they
are talking about, but I do." You have provided proof in your posts within
this thread on exactly how much you know about the subject, so I needn't say
more about your intended insult to make you feel any worse than you already
do.
However, a post can be posed as a question or a problem encountered, but the
replies will be geared towards helping the poster if possible. The poster
has a problem that giving specific, step-by-step instructions to overcome it
will turn a thread that started as a complaint into a solution.
Unfortunately, those step-by-step instructions won't likely come from an
Access database expert or a plumber or an exo-botanist. As Brendan Reynolds
pointed out, someone experienced in Office Update has seen the same problem
and is ready to provide that assistance over in the Office Update newsgroup.
in any case this particular question was intended (I thought) to be half
humorous
The poster got half-humorous answers in multiple languages, but everyone has
different tastes. If you didn't find my responses half-humorous, then don't
worry. I won't quit my day job.
although it is not impossible that one or two of us could have worked out
the answer.
Database questions are answered freely in this newsgroup. Non-database
questions are answered at the consultant's going rate. (PC Datasheet's
rates are reasonable. Just ask him!) So those who know how to fix the
problem don't offer that non-database information for free, and those who
offer the information for free are guessing how to fix the problem. The
poster would have a better chance of success at getting the problem quickly
solved for free by posting a question in the Office Update newsgroup.
Dontcha think?
Perhaps the ivory tower syndrome is worse than I thought
?
Don't go there. The rent is sky-high.
Which part of "I might try" did you misunderstand? It should be fairly
obvious that this was a rather fragile attempt at fitting in the "French"
au revoir comment.
Hell's teeth it seems like a few here need to take a vacation !
I'm reminded of my Grandpa's advice: "When you find yourself at the bottom
of a deep hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'." Perhaps we should
hand the shovel to Brendan and all of us head over to the nearest pub for a
pint.
HTH.
Gunny
