[p]Jonathon, it is a little confusing as to whom you are speaking in that last paragraph since you mostly address the post by tymberwyld, although you mention "the article", which I wrote. Regardless, I think you touched on a subject that needs to be discussed, and that is the level of politeness and professionalism in these discussion forums. I do not mind that there are several responses to my article that very much disagree with what I was suggesting because, as you pointed out, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. However, I am a bit shocked at some of the pointedly rude, insulting, and down-right unprofessional comments made by a few people.[/p]

[p]There is absolutely NO REASON whatsoever for anyone in these forums to be rude to someone else. We aren’t talking politics here, and even if we were it should still be polite. We are all database professionals trying to learn from one another and these forums -- as a means of information and idea exchange -- are a great way for people to learn. But it is a shame when people who are new to this learn that they most likely shouldn't ask questions or share a solution of theirs out of fear of being put-down for it. If someone is knowledgeable enough to know a better way to approach the problem, then it is quite easy to simply say: I would approach it in this way as it has these merits. For example, Joe Celko's first response to my article did just that. He stated that it should be a one-row table, or even a view, and that the CLR poses certain problems. Ok, fine. But I am really bothered by Joe's response to the post by tymberwyld in which he copies the code only to point out, line by line, how much he doesn't like it and also calls it a nightmare and some of the worst code he ever saw. Personally, whether anyone feels that way or not, it is simply not acceptable on any level for someone in these forums to speak to anyone else in that manner and tone. There is just no good reason for it.[/p]

[p]Joe, given how well-known you are from writing various books on the subject and being widely regarded as a SQL expert, I would really think that you could use your wonderful insight into these technical issues to more positively teach others better way of doing things; yelling at someone and calling them stupid actually discredits both you and our profession by making us look like the stereo-typical techies that are lacking certain social skills. And once such an attitude comes out in these forums it is all too easy for others -- especially the one being yelled at -- to respond in kind and hence what was a productive discussion turns into immature insults. If someone posts code that appears hideous in your knowledgeable opinion, then rant and rave all you want in your mind, but when writing an actual response please be courteous. You have a lot of knowledge to impart upon others and it is great that you share that with us, but it is hard to listen to even a correct answer when the format the answer is given in is so harsh; I am not even the person being yelled at in this instance and I still don't want to take seriously any part of your response to tymberwyld, no matter how correct you may be, simply due to the tone and insults.[/p]

[p]But, I am not singling out Joe since I have seen several posts in these forums that are also insulting and that just has no place here. We are supposed to be helping each other out, not competing for "I am better than you" points. By all of us being respectful of each other we will create a much stronger and more productive community. :)[/p]