<rant>
Yes, I realize that I’ve gotten grumpy lately. But when a post presents a TS’ project and we make a suggestion, when the TS returns with “but that’s not what I’ve done” or ignored our comments and laments “it still doesn’t work”... Well, it’s downright frustrating.
</rant>

 

A bit of Monty Python and the Holy Grail always makes me feel better.

 

But when a post presents a TS’ project and we make a suggestion, when the TS returns with “but that’s not what I’ve done” or ignored our comments and laments “it still doesn’t work”... Well, it’s downright frustrating.

There are all kinds of behaviors that are vexing. One that really burns my cork is when a person seeking advice/help simply WILL NOT make any effort whatsoever to find information on his own, such as through a simple and obvious Google search. The TS proceeds to ask question after question about matters he could easily educate himself about with little effort and without bothering others, and eventually earns a spot on my 'Ignore' list.

 

There are all kinds of behaviors that are vexing. One that really burns my cork is when a person seeking advice/help simply WILL NOT make any effort whatsoever to find information on his own, such as through a simple and obvious Google search. The TS proceeds to ask question after question about matters he could easily educate himself about with little effort and without bothering others, and eventually earns a spot on my 'Ignore' list.

Agreed, and I have sometimes used less "sophisticated" and less appropriate words, than vexing in such situations. But, in my sharper moments, I can relatively quickly identify someone yearning for the attention, interaction, spoon-feeding and validation more than a sincere search for knowledge or even a simple answer.

Edited: I should have said that I have gotten better at identification

 

The ones that burn me are the ones with almost no information, like "My lamp isn't working. What's wrong?". No model, no context, no addressing the obvious questions such as "Is it plugged in?". I can't imagine how they even get through life with so little attention to what another person might think. Do they really expect to get an answer from such a poorly formed question?

About 1 in 20 goes the other way and writes a life story and thesis before asking a single question.

Both types don't seem to respect the time of other people that 'have' to read their crap.

 

The ones that burn me are the ones with almost no information, like "My lamp isn't working. What's wrong?". No model, no context, no addressing the obvious questions such as "Is it plugged in?". I can't imagine how they even get through life with so little attention to what another person might think. Do they really expect to get an answer from such a poorly formed question?

About 1 in 20 goes the other way and writes a life story and thesis before asking a single question.

Both types don't seem to respect the time of other people that 'have' to read their crap.

Worse than those for me are the ones who simply do not come back. You are simply left to wonder what, if anything, was resolved. It is the antithesis of sharing.

I am not saying that the big deal is that it's disrespectful of my time, because this annoys me even if I have not even contributed to a solution. It is disrespectful of the whole process.

If you ask for help with a problem, the rule should be that you are obligated to come back and tell people what happened - not just for the satisfaction of the successful efforts of others to help you but because you are, in kind, helping others by reporting the experience.

Many do come back and give the result and I am always happy to see that, even if it is, I threw the thing out and bought a new one, or it turns out I didn't have it plugged in or even, I don't know enough yet to fix this or even, I haven't done anything at all because I had to do blah blah blah, but I will let you know if I ever get around to it again.....and thanks for your help. To not do this is supremely selfish in my view.

 

Agreed, and I have sometimes used less "sophisticated" and less appropriate words, than vexing in such situations.

One thing I like about this site is that it gives me a chance to exercise and develop my once very limited ability to be diplomatic toward idjits. I avoid using the language that naturally pops into mind, lest I earn myself a lifetime ban.

But, in my sharper moments, I can relatively quickly identify someone yearning for the attention, interaction, spoon-feeding and validation more than a sincere search for knowledge or even a simple answer.

Yes, that's another type which quickly wears out its welcome: the emotionally needy who post only to get human contact, without any real or lasting interest in the questions they pose. RK (and his 29+ aliases he used after first being banned) was the poster child for that group. Closely related are the Timid Timmys who are afraid to connect two wires together without the blessing of at least a half-dozen AACers.

Opposite the Timid Timmys, of course, are the potential Darwin Award candidates who play with electricity completely oblivious to Alexander Pope's admonition about fools rushing in where angels fear to tread...

 

One thing I like about this site is that it gives me a chance to exercise and develop my once very limited ability to be diplomatic toward idjits.

In other words, this place is helping you build your character? ...

 

In other words, this place is helping you build your character? ...

Alas, if only that were so; my character remains the same, and only my outward behavior changes. Idjits are still idjits.

 

Alas, if only that were so; my character remains the same, and only my outward behavior changes. Idjits are still idjits.

Oh my God it is contagious

 

Oh my God it is contagious

... and there's an epidemic going on, alright....

 

My Grumpness today was children aka people with "Heads Down Displays" who cannot seem to walk in a straight line in the hallways at the Uni. Freaking H(*& I try to pass on one side then I'm cut off on the other by people held up by the same person behind me. Even though I'm 62 this year, I can still keep a fast pase.

kv

 

A bit of Monty Python and the Holy Grail always makes me feel better.

Great flick!

"So if she weighs as much as a duck she is made of wood and therefore is a witch!"

Heh! Heh! Sounds like MN cop logic!

 

Stuff happens, I make it a point to call inexperienced people beginners instead of noobs as an attempt to show respect with folks who are probably insecure to begin with. I won' say some of the stuff me and my brother did when we were beginning in electronics, it was against CoC, Lets just say I covered for him from my Dad more than once, we both deserved to have our butts whipped.
I was a real I thought I knew it all when I was starting out. In other words, dumb as a brick.

When I saw the title of this thread my first thought was, "You called?".

 

As a 'tron chaser that also voluntarily runs into burning buildings. My biggest frustration are the ones that keep moving forward with blatantly dangerous projects after about 30 of us say "Stop, don't, you're going to kill yourself." That's when I want to put on my Willy Wonka hat....