Answering questions on CP

[Nagy Vilmos]

Put them into production,they'll sell like hot cakes!

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Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett

[vbmike]

Thanks to all. Not worried about being "watched" so much, just worried about being wrong. I am sure I will outgrow this feeling though....thanks for your replies. Mike vbmike

[Albert Holguin]

Sometimes you have to know when to just call it a day with someone. IMO, pointing someone in the right direction without telling them exactly how to do it should be good enough. Then it should be up to OP to look up the necessary information to fill in the blanks. If someone is not willing to work for it, then why continue to help them.

[Dr Walt Fair PE]

Nah, we're all wrong sometimes, except Luc and JSOP, so don't worry too much about it. If you're wrong, someone will point it out, then just be graceful, admit it, and correct your mistake.

CQ de W5ALT

Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software

[PIEBALDconsult]

Unearned down-votes are better than earned ones. :-D

[PIEBALDconsult]

For a moment there I thought you were refering to the recent posts in the C# forum as I was in a similar situation last night. :doh: Got a link?

[Gary R Wheeler]

John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

When it detects a retard, the light dims noticeably (aka "dim bulb")

When I use it, the LED gets sucked into the coax cable of my broadband connection, never to be seen again...

Software Zen: delete this;

modified on Monday, August 8, 2011 4:59 PM

[Roger Wright]

From my teaching (and learning) experience, everyone learns in his/her own unique way. As a teacher, most students were easy, but to reach a few I had first to discover the student's "way" and change my approach accordingly. A very few were unreachable, due to a lack of attention, or a deep deficiency in fundamentals. Those you just have to walk away from and suggest a refresher on the basics before proceeding. In the forums I see a lot of very good, technically correct, and sufficiently detailed answers that totally baffle to querent. The reasons are several - the OP lacks the background to understand the answer, the phrasing of the answer fails to connect with the OP's learning style, or the OP lacks sufficient motivation to actually try to understand and try out the examples given. For the first, if you're feeling particularly helpful, you can take the time to review the concepts, then step-by-step lead the OP to the answer. For the second, you can try rephrasing your answer in the hope that saying a thing in a different way will trigger an "Aha!" moment for the OP. For the third, there is nothing you can do but walk away. The hard part is determining which case applies. Sometimes it's best, if you want to be exceptionally polite, to simply respond, "I'm sorry, I don't seem to be the one who can help you with this. Perhaps someone else will be able to help." Most of the time, though, it's better just to walk away from it. :)

Will Rogers never met me.

[vbmike]

Thanks for your comments to be sure...also in reference to your signature thing about will rogers, there was a comedian a few years ago said this: I had someone say "glad to meet you" and I replied "just give it a minute!". I always thought that was funny!... vbmike

[vbmike]

link? it was my replying in the web development forum. user was having difficulty centering an image. I never did respond to his query about keeping a player going... vbmike

[BillWoodruff]

Hi, Well, I think there are several options to consider, and absolutely nothing wrong with just 'walking away,' when you really feel it's futile. But, you might also consider: 1. in your own experience, when you have experienced a teacher, or mentor, who was able to effectively assist you, when you were 'stumped:' what do you now realize, with hindsight (ahh, glorious hindsight) was of value in what they said, or how they behaved ? 2. your leaving a good answer, even if the OP doesn't get it, is, imho, a service to CP, and to other folks who may come along and look at that question. And, you never know, some time later your answer may well lead to an "aha" moment for the OP (who will probably not bother to log-in and vote you up). Also, there's the chance you may benefit from another CP member's response to your answer. In an "ideal" world, such "good answers," that happened to be not grokkable by the OP, would somehow "stand out" to others ... but I don't have a clue on how that could be implemented. Some discussion forums have moderators per forum who have the patience and 'love' to continually monitor the 'flow' and point people to resources in the forum, but that consumes ... resources. And, from the 'what's in it for me' point-of-view, you might consider that some CP users, like myself, when they see someone posting frequent answers, is more motivated to read their articles, and study their code. 3. there's absolutely nothing wrong, imho, in telling the OP you know doesn't get it that they don't get it, and then, if you can, giving them a pointer to some resource they can use to get to that place where they will get it. It's a wonderful fact that CP is full of great examples of algorithms, solutions, tips, tutorials, software components ready to be used, fantastic push-the-envelope explorations. And, some people can really use a pointer to a good book. 4. nothing you or I can do can 'make a difference' to someone who is motivated by the 'gimme-the-code-frenzy' syndrome, or someone in the 'help-rejecting-complainer' role (specialists in infectious guilt). So, relax, enjoy yourself, be assured that there are people around that appreciate the fact you gave any answer. Perhaps you can cultivate that state of inner resilience, and non-attachment to the immediate fruits of your actions, that a Buddhist might call 'upheka,' and which perhaps can be described by Yogi Berra's (yes, the baseball player) wonderful statement: "It's deja-vu all over again" :) best, Bill

[Mycroft Holmes]

Sometimes it is the way you explain it, I've seem where 2 people say basically the same thing with different words and the OP suddenly clicks on one version and the thread continues down that path. As for being wrong, it happens, be graceful, admit the error and make sure the OP knows your answer is wrong.

Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH

[Peter Mulholland]

Gary R. Wheeler wrote:

When I do it

Really? You're admitting to being that bad at "it"? :-D

Pete

[BobJanova]

Thanks for joining the answering crowd! The more of us do that, the better a resource it becomes for everyone. Some of the questioners on here are really not trying – those you can walk away from without even giving them the five minutes to type up an answer, if you're not feeling charitable. (The questions that are basically 'solve this problem for me' and when someone posts something helpful they respond 'but please sir solve this problem for me'.) Even if it's an intelligent question and the questioner seems to be trying to understand, if I've tried twice with different approaches I will walk away and let someone else answer it. My answer will at least hopefully help other people who might have the same question, and it might help other people answer it in a way that the questioner will understand. And if you do make a mistake, make sure that you go back and edit the solution (or post, if it's in a forum not in Q&A) when it's pointed out to you, so that people referring to it in future have the correct version.

[Gary R Wheeler]

Wording corrected. Better now?

Software Zen: delete this;