Are the posted questions getting worse?

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Are the posted questions getting worse?

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The Dixie Flatline SSC Guru Points: 53353 More actions · Answer 1

Just a thought here... but it suddenly dawned on me that any time he posts, it might not hurt to post the set of links Gail compiled as background for anyone who wants to jump in and help him. If anyone decides to try, they would at least know what they are getting in to.

__________________________________________________

Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain. -- Friedrich Schiller
Stop, children, what's that sound? Everybody look what's going down. -- Stephen Stills

Jack Corbett SSC Guru Points: 184388 More actions · Answer 2

Bob Hovious (4/2/2009)

Just a thought here... but it suddenly dawned on me that any time he posts, it might not hurt to post the set of links Gail compiled as background for anyone who wants to jump in and help him. If anyone decides to try, they would at least know what they are getting in to.

Bob,

I'm not sure I'd go that far because maybe, yeah it is a big maybe at this point, the right person will get to him and he'll turn it around. I also think that might turn some folks off from SSC and I don't think any of want that. As much as we vent about some of the questions, the majority of the time the people we help do get it.

Jack Corbett
Consultant - Straight Path Solutions
Check out these links on how to get faster and more accurate answers:
Forum Etiquette: How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help
Need an Answer? Actually, No ... You Need a Question

Ramesh Saive SSC-Insane Points: 24275 More actions · Answer 3

GilaMonster (4/2/2009)

Ramesh (4/2/2009)

Anyways, I still think that he deserves a little more help and that too if he shows his willingness to learn and try things on his own.

We've tried to help him, repeatedly. He shows no interest in learning or thinking for himself and the way he posts indicates he just wants us to give him the answer.

http://qa.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic661280-338-1.aspx

http://qa.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic651715-338-1.aspx

http://qa.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic658811-338-1.aspx

http://qa.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic651904-338-1.aspx

http://qa.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic650434-338-1.aspx

http://qa.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic648912-338-1.aspx

etc. There are several more

Well, till now, that's very true that he just wants answers from us without even trying a thing on his own. I did read his posts and they did say he's doing nothing but just asking.

--Ramesh

Ramesh Saive SSC-Insane Points: 24275 More actions · Answer 4

Bob Hovious (4/2/2009)

Gail's right, Ramesh.

I applaud your attitude, but you will eventually find it is wasted on this particular person. I started out with the same intent towards helping him, giving him the benefit of the doubt, and spending a LOT of time on his issues. Eventually, I realized he wasn't interested in learning, just in getting free code.

I tried, politely, to get him to give us more complete information to work with, and suggested that he get a good introductory SQL book and do his homework. He doesn't even have the courtesy to respond to such suggestions. Now I won't even look at his posts.

But if he finds someone willing to do his work for him, he will flatter them and praise them as THE great expert on SQL. If you want him as your best friend, just give him what he wants. But don't take my word for it. Read through the links Gail posted and see the pattern for yourself.

Bob,

I too realized that he's indeed not in a mood for learning:-D, that's why I stopped responding to his posts and pointed him to follow the articles on Jack's signature...

I know you people started helping him well before I started, so you know his history better than me.

--Ramesh

The Dixie Flatline SSC Guru Points: 53353 More actions · Answer 5

Jack, I'm not suggesting at all that anyone should say DON'T HELP THIS PERSON by posting those links. If I was going that route, I would just suggest that he be banned, but he has a right to ask for help like anyone else. I will heartily applaud anyone who succeeds in teaching him to fish.

However, I think well-intentioned volunteers have a right to some background information as well. If someone is jumping in thinking "No one has approached this person reasonably, I can fix this.", aren't they entitled to know that a lot of patient people have struggled for months to bring him around?

__________________________________________________

Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain. -- Friedrich Schiller
Stop, children, what's that sound? Everybody look what's going down. -- Stephen Stills

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004494 More actions · Answer 6

I agree with Jack. That's not right. It's easy for people to get a poster's history if they want to.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

GSquared SSC Guru Points: 260824 More actions · Answer 7

Gotta go with Jack and Gail on this one. How would you feel if you had to carry around an iPod with recordings of every social gaffe you've ever made, and present it to people at parties and such before they spoke to you? How about if you had to list everything you've ever had difficulty with on your resume?

I say, keep trying to help. Heck, keep trying to comprehend (I can't understand half of what this guy wants, if not more). If we get through to him, we get through. At least he's not being rude. Kind of sycophantic and incomprehensible, but not rude. We gave what's-his-name a few hundred posts of chances on that stupid Rant thread, despite actual abuse and insults.

I'd rather just give up on him than make him carry around a sign, a bell, and chant, "outcast, leper, unclean", on each of his threads.

- Gus "GSquared", RSVP, OODA, MAP, NMVP, FAQ, SAT, SQL, DNA, RNA, UOI, IOU, AM, PM, AD, BC, BCE, USA, UN, CF, ROFL, LOL, ETC
Property of The Thread

"Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everyone agrees it's old enough to know better." - Anon

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 728159 More actions · Answer 8

Bob Hovious (4/2/2009)

...aren't they entitled to know that a lot of patient people have struggled for months to bring him around?

Yep, you do, but how would you surface this? A wall of shame? A list that is like the bad check list at the local grocer?

It's cumbersome to find someone's history. The JS links annoy me since I don't want to navigate from the page, so I don't often use it.

THE THREAD actually clues me in more than anything else. Maybe we need a thread that just lists the troublesome posters?

I have a bit of a rant coming out on this as an editorial next week.

Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/way0utwest
Forum Etiquette: How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help
My Blog: www.voiceofthedba.com

GSquared SSC Guru Points: 260824 More actions · Answer 9

This is the kind that gives me hope:

http://qa.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic688912-149-1.aspx

This is the kind that drives me to The Thread:

http://qa.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic688302-338-1.aspx

I keep going on the second type because of the first type.

- Gus "GSquared", RSVP, OODA, MAP, NMVP, FAQ, SAT, SQL, DNA, RNA, UOI, IOU, AM, PM, AD, BC, BCE, USA, UN, CF, ROFL, LOL, ETC
Property of The Thread

"Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everyone agrees it's old enough to know better." - Anon

David Burrows SSC Guru Points: 65111 More actions · Answer 10

David Burrows

SSC Guru

Points: 65111

April 2, 2009 at 9:36 am

#970838

I keep going on the second type because of the first type.

I know what you mean :hehe:

I posted a brief answer on the second just for the hell of it :w00t:

I await a good flaming now :Whistling:

Far away is close at hand in the images of elsewhere.
Anon.

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004494 More actions · Answer 11

David Burrows (4/2/2009)

I posted a brief answer on the second just for the hell of it :w00t:

I await a good flaming now :Whistling:

Likewise.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

The Dixie Flatline SSC Guru Points: 53353 More actions · Answer 12

The Dixie Flatline

SSC Guru

Points: 53353

April 2, 2009 at 1:59 pm

#971071

Hey Gus, are we having fun yet with Mr. MulticolumnSort?

__________________________________________________

Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain. -- Friedrich Schiller
Stop, children, what's that sound? Everybody look what's going down. -- Stephen Stills

David Burrows SSC Guru Points: 65111 More actions · Answer 13

David Burrows

SSC Guru

Points: 65111

April 2, 2009 at 2:02 pm

#971080

Bob Hovious (4/2/2009)

Hey Gus, are we having fun yet with Mr. MulticolumnSort?

Dunno about fun, but maybe we should post a few impossible and useless solutions, may be keep them entertained 😀

Far away is close at hand in the images of elsewhere.
Anon.

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004494 More actions · Answer 14

Perhaps Latin would work better here. Or maybe Gaelic. I'm even contemplating trying Adronato.

http://qa.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic688319-146-1.aspx

Any suggestions on making 'last entries from previous error log' clearer?

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

Kit G SSCrazy Points: 2888 More actions · Answer 15

GilaMonster (4/2/2009)

Perhaps Latin would work better here. Or maybe Gaelic. I'm even contemplating trying Adronato.

http://qa.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic688319-146-1.aspx

Any suggestions on making 'last entries from previous error log' clearer?

I dunno, perhaps the fine application of my dad's "Student Intelligence Imparter" would help?

My dad taught at a university and was given by someone (I never knew who) a 4-foot section of a four-by-four with one end shaped into the handle of a baseball bat. He kept it posted on the wall of his office as a joke.

-- Kit