Should I charge money?
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About 2 to 4 times a month I get a request for help directly in my email that has come from someone that has picked up my details from one of the message boards here on CodeProject. I feel that adds an obligation to answer which I don't like. I feel that I should be able to answer posts as I choose. So, I was thinking on the train this morning that if someone wants a response out of the way of prying eyes (perhaps it is a project that must be kept confidential, perhaps they have an ego to protect) and off the forums that I should charge a fee. What do you think? If you think I should, what do you recon a fair and reasonable fee should be?
Vogon Building and Loan advise that your planet is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on any mortgage secured upon it. Please remember that the force of gravity can go up as well as down.
That depends. A question where there is a "I don't want to ask this publicly because evil people could use it in a criminal way if they thought of it" should be answered privatly. (assuming you are reasonably satisfied they have a good use for it, and there really are evil uses) If they prove they have looked for an answer, and it isn't answered elsewhere, I'd answer it, if I was clearly an expert worth asking. (that is if you asked about thumbnails in kdesktop where I've done some work and few others have I'd answer your question if it was intelligent) In all other cases, if I was feeling nice I'd respond with the following link: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html Read it. A very harsh answer, but everyone should read it, and apply it to life. When I'm not feeling nice I hit delete. I'm not a consultant setup to bill people. If I ran a computer help buisness I'd respond with my rates, and ask some proof they will pay. It isn't worth my time to learn how to bill the few people who ask me for help.
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That depends. A question where there is a "I don't want to ask this publicly because evil people could use it in a criminal way if they thought of it" should be answered privatly. (assuming you are reasonably satisfied they have a good use for it, and there really are evil uses) If they prove they have looked for an answer, and it isn't answered elsewhere, I'd answer it, if I was clearly an expert worth asking. (that is if you asked about thumbnails in kdesktop where I've done some work and few others have I'd answer your question if it was intelligent) In all other cases, if I was feeling nice I'd respond with the following link: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html Read it. A very harsh answer, but everyone should read it, and apply it to life. When I'm not feeling nice I hit delete. I'm not a consultant setup to bill people. If I ran a computer help buisness I'd respond with my rates, and ask some proof they will pay. It isn't worth my time to learn how to bill the few people who ask me for help.
I've read that already. I used to have that link in my signature - then I started listening to the new episodes of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy on Radio 4 and the final line on one of the shows was what my signature is today.
Vogon Building and Loan advise that your planet is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on any mortgage secured upon it. Please remember that the force of gravity can go up as well as down.