An observation regading this newsgroup

[Joe Dolsak]

I am new to XP, but not new to computing. I have been reading the backlog of
posts in this newsgroup to learn as much as possible about the types of
issues that crop up, and the stock solutions. I stated reading with about
6000 unread posts, and have been hacking away day by day to around 2400.
Lots of knowledge, lots of questions - mostly answered.

I've noticed a generally negative tone in responses to some of the questions
that are posted, especially when the poster seems to have language
difficulties, or a real lack of computing experience. It seems like some of
the regular "gurus" are tired of figuring out what the question is, or that
they can't believe just how dumb the poster is.

I spend a lot of time helping coworkers sort out their concepts about what
they are doing with their computers. Once their concepts are straight, they
have very few software related issues. But if their concepts are flawed,
they can't begin to understand how to approach a solution, or even know what
their problem really is.

It results in "stupid sounding" questions that require patience and
follow-up to sort out. The Knowledge Base and newsgroups that Microsoft
provide take some practice to use properly, so a person who is having basic
concept issues may not use them quite the way they are intended until they
have more experience.

A harsh response is more likely to result in having them give up trying to
ask, abandon learning to use their computer, and blame "bad software" or
"uncaring Microsoft" for their problems. The downright bitter attitudes
sometimes expressed by posters are a product of frustration with tracking
down help. It certainly defeats the purpose and the spirit of this type of
newsgroup.

That being said, I appreciate the gentle approaches taken by some of the
more proliferate 'MVP's and regular posters. My thanks to all for the great
experience imparted here on a daily basis.

Just two cents worth,
No replies required or desired.
Joe Dolsak

"Fred" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 12 May 2003 15:03:19 -0700, "Ken Blake"
> > wrote:
>
> >> He may be talking about Office XP SBE, Standard, Pro and not
> >Windows
> >> XP.
> >
> >
> >Maybe, but if he is, and he posts his question in a newsgroup
> >with "windowsxp" as part of his name (especially without
> >clarifying that he means Office XP), he's making even a bigger
> >mistake.
>
> Keep in mind that the majority of non-computer professionals have no
> idea that Office XP and Windows XP are different products. One must
> not look at the world through their own eyes if one wants to advise
> others.

[DJ]

On Wed, 28 May 2003 13:53:29 -0400, "Joe Dolsak" >
wrote:

>I've noticed a generally negative tone in responses to some of the questions
>that are posted, especially when the poster seems to have language
>difficulties, or a real lack of computing experience. It seems like some of
>the regular "gurus" are tired of figuring out what the question is, or that
>they can't believe just how dumb the poster is.
snip
>That being said, I appreciate the gentle approaches taken by some of the
>more proliferate 'MVP's and regular posters. My thanks to all for the great
>experience imparted here on a daily basis.

I agree with you completely. That is why I tend to jump on people who
are here to "assist others" by telling them how stupid their question
is. The KB, technet, and MSDN are all exceeding difficult to use,
even for advanced users. Some queries return the intended answer
first, while other queries return nothing, even when you search on the
KB number! Until Microsoft figures out how to write a good searching
algorithm (hint - The Art of Computer Programming by Knuth...) I fear
new users (and some advanced ones) will continue to be frustrated by
the lack of good help available at MS. Then when they are attacked by
people here, it only gets worse.

[Khemyst]

THANK YOU!

After getting "smacked upside the head" on my first few questions I left
here, (being told I was stupid and careless and whatnot),
I appreciate your candor and your reponse!

Reminds me of what my mother always told me-
"If you can't say anything nice- don't say anything at all."

I'm all for these guys creating a "lets ridicule the XP newbies" newsgroup
where they can all go and make fun of those who willingly want to be made
fun of. It they have to get their intertainment in this way then they can
do it in an area where there are appropriate disclaimers


"If I knew what I was doing, it wouldn't be called Research"....
There are some things that are so serious that you have to laugh at
hem. -Niels Bohr
Never memorize anything you can look up. - Albert Einstein



"Joe Dolsak" > wrote in message
...
> I am new to XP, but not new to computing. I have been reading the backlog
of
> posts in this newsgroup to learn as much as possible about the types of
> issues that crop up, and the stock solutions. I stated reading with about
> 6000 unread posts, and have been hacking away day by day to around 2400.
> Lots of knowledge, lots of questions - mostly answered.
>
> I've noticed a generally negative tone in responses to some of the
questions
> that are posted, especially when the poster seems to have language
> difficulties, or a real lack of computing experience. It seems like some
of
> the regular "gurus" are tired of figuring out what the question is, or
that
> they can't believe just how dumb the poster is.
>
> I spend a lot of time helping coworkers sort out their concepts about what
> they are doing with their computers. Once their concepts are straight,
they
> have very few software related issues. But if their concepts are flawed,
> they can't begin to understand how to approach a solution, or even know
what
> their problem really is.
>
> It results in "stupid sounding" questions that require patience and
> follow-up to sort out. The Knowledge Base and newsgroups that Microsoft
> provide take some practice to use properly, so a person who is having
basic
> concept issues may not use them quite the way they are intended until they
> have more experience.
>
> A harsh response is more likely to result in having them give up trying to
> ask, abandon learning to use their computer, and blame "bad software" or
> "uncaring Microsoft" for their problems. The downright bitter attitudes
> sometimes expressed by posters are a product of frustration with tracking
> down help. It certainly defeats the purpose and the spirit of this type
of
> newsgroup.
>
> That being said, I appreciate the gentle approaches taken by some of the
> more proliferate 'MVP's and regular posters. My thanks to all for the
great
> experience imparted here on a daily basis.
>
> Just two cents worth,
> No replies required or desired.
> Joe Dolsak
>
> "Fred" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On Mon, 12 May 2003 15:03:19 -0700, "Ken Blake"
> > > wrote:
> >
> > >> He may be talking about Office XP SBE, Standard, Pro and not
> > >Windows
> > >> XP.
> > >
> > >
> > >Maybe, but if he is, and he posts his question in a newsgroup
> > >with "windowsxp" as part of his name (especially without
> > >clarifying that he means Office XP), he's making even a bigger
> > >mistake.
> >
> > Keep in mind that the majority of non-computer professionals have no
> > idea that Office XP and Windows XP are different products. One must
> > not look at the world through their own eyes if one wants to advise
> > others.
>
>