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On Tue, May 10, 2011 at 4:23 PM, Sherwood McGowan <sherwood.mcgo...@gmail.com> wrote: > I'll keep this brief because I don't want to come across like any more of an > a$$ than I absolutely have to, especially since I know I've blown my stack > before..... > > Gentlemen (and Ladies, if you're out there), > > If someone gives you advice on this list, and ESPECIALLY if they give you > advice offlist, have the courtesy to (AT THE LEAST) to let them know when/if > you get your question answered or your problem solved. > > As many people point out, on community supported mailing lists and forums > around the world, these user lists are comprised of people who are giving > their time freely to help others learn about the software the list is about. > Sometimes those lists are about software that is quite useful in a > commercial setting, perhaps even very much in demand, like Asterisk. Now, > you should always appreciate when you get assistance from people on user > lists, but when you're asking for help on a list like this one, (where I'd > say 80% of the participants on the list are professionals who earn their > living by selling their knowledge of how to install, configure, and maintain > a server application like Asterisk) it would be extremely appreciated if you > show some courtesy to the individual(s) who assisted you for free. I've had > several individuals contact me offlist (without being given permission > first, which is first and foremost bad form) and ask for my assistance with > configuring a feature, troubleshooting an issue, and once I got an email > that said something along the lines of: > "I saw a post on the list where you said you could accomplish > insertNiftyFeatureThatDidNotPreviouslyExistHere.... Tell me how to do it" > I'm sure many of you have been the recipient of more than your fair share of > emails offlist asking for help, and I'm sure a great number of you try to > offer assistance. What is bothering me is the fact there seems to be a new > trend forming, wherein I don't get a repsonse from the person I tried to > help, even when I can feel confident in saying that I know I gave them the > piece of information they needed in order to answer their question and > accomplish the goal of making Asterisk perform the way they wanted..... > > Has anyone else noticed this trend? > > Those of you who are making the requests, is there a reason why you don't > feel the need to be courteous and at least say, "Hey that advice worked, > everything's working now"? > > Next time you ask for help, especially when it's offlist (and even MORE SO > when you're contacting someone you weren't invited to contact offlist), I > want you to remember that the person you're contacting usually gets paid for > their time as an Asterisk professional, and that they're helping you for > free. Hell, if you want to get down to brass tacks about it, thatr person > who is taking the time to try and help you is increasing his or her own > professional competition...... > > > that's all...nothing super rude, but I had to get that one out there.... I > get annoyed when I answer about 12-13 questions (all in separate emails, > mind you) from someone, and then I never get even find out if I was > successful in helping them > -- > Sherwood McGowan > Telecommunications and VOIP Consultant > > > -- > _____________________________________________________________________ > -- Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com -- > New to Asterisk? Join us for a live introductory webinar every Thurs: > http://www.asterisk.org/hello > > asterisk-users mailing list > To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: > http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users > -- _____________________________________________________________________ -- Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com -- New to Asterisk? Join us for a live introductory webinar every Thurs: http://www.asterisk.org/hello asterisk-users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users