> On Sep 4, 2023, at 12:36 AM, Brian Westerman <brian_wester...@syzygyinc.com> > wrote: > > I think even the ones that abuse the list the most still provide assistance > from time to time that is very useful. I completely understand that > oftentimes they want the person to RTFM, which makes a lot of sense because > you also don't want the list to become a primary school. The "new guys" need > to learn how to use the manuals and I think the "old guys" are trying to, in > their own way, help them to see that using the manuals and figuring stuff out > is a good thing. Where it becomes an issue is when the newbie honestly can't > figure it out and may have truly tried to find the solution on their own. > > It might be helpful for them, in fact everyone, to disclose what you have > already tried or read about, that way everyone will see that they are trying > and won't just kiss them off as using the list instead of manuals (and the > internet) as opposed to using it in conjunction with attempting to learn. > > Sometimes they may have actually read the solution, but just don't see it as > such, and by disclosing what they have tried so far will allow people to let > them know where they missed something. I think that no one likes to think > that the guy asking the question is not even really trying to work the > problem. But without disclosing the path they are currently on, we have no > way to know otherwise. > > Just a thought. > > Brian > > -
> Brian: I had a situation years ago. We were looking for a entry level systems programmer. I came up with a simple request to write an assembler program in as short of statements as possible. I handed it to the third interviewee and asked for the answer the next day as I wanted to get to know the guy a little before hiring him. This was in the 1990’s (early) IIRC. I was new to IBM-MAIN and was getting to know the contributors. When I got home that evening I looked at the email for the list and was surprised when I saw the candidate that I had handed the quick quiz to. He asked the question I had a posed and wanted someone to help him out. The next day he dropped off the answer to the question with a very short (well written) answer. I looked at him and asked who on IBM-MAIN helped him out. He was surprised that I was on IBM-Main as well. He said no one, but I pushed back a little and he said finally a couple of people on here had helped him out a little. I thanked him and as he left I threw “his” answer in the trash can. I finally after about 15 interviews hired a person, who worked out well and I was happy to see him get promoted almost on a yearly basis. I ended up leaving the company as they want to move to Florida to get cheap labor. I hated to leave as the company up until I left had excellent education offerings and 4 weeks every year of vacation and other great benefits. Ed ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
