Closing Out Replies
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Closing Out Replies
I've been posting on the Internet for nearly 17 years, from back in the days of Usenet, GOPHER, ARCHIE and FTP when everything was text. I've asked questions and answered them on various topics and as the World Wide Web grew, I grew with it, moving to BrainBench and various other sites getting and providing answers.
Recently some one sent me this definition for , which was timely considering the today's article on posting manners, which I received about the same time. I thought it was interesting and I wanted to bring it to people's attention.
Early on when I'd post a question, I got an answer, but then I wondered if it was good information. I could usually test it myself, but since I wasn't sure of how to solve it on my own (hence the post), I wondered if there was a better way to solve it. Ideally I'd get 2-3 responses, maybe even some improving or commenting on others, to help me sort things out.
If I didn't get a response, then I wondered if I hadn't phrased things correctly, or no one else knew, or even that no one bothered to read my post. All of these are valid interpretations and the new definition from Wikipedia pointing out that a lack of response doesn't necessarily mean anything. There are 5 possible interpretations of this.
When we started SQLServerCentral.com, our goal was to answer every single post. The three of us (and three others at the time) would research questions and make it a point to answer in some way, some type of post. As we grew, we encountered areas, such as MDX, where none of us had any expertise and couldn't even understand the research sometimes, much less the question. To facilitate getting responses, you have probably noticed that we add an automatic post to some threads if they haven't seen a response in a day or two. This is to bring them back to the top of the list and hopefully someone else's attention.
The other thing we debated on with answered posts was whether one answer was sufficient. Often one of us would come on a thread that someone else had answered and we liked the solution, but there was no closing "thanks" or "that worked". So we decided that adding another post that agrees with the solution, a "me too" post, was a good idea. That way we hoped that we'd build some confidence in the solutions we believed in and give the newbies out there a reason to follow the advice.
I'm really not sure what the best way to handle posts on the Internet. We've been asked to allow people to "rate" solutions as well as "close" threads. We've resisted because we see various issues with all of those solutions, just as with the thread within a thread capabilities of many forums. We've opted for a simpler solution that we think works well and we hope you agree.
Steve Jones
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I agree that is the reason your site that is not Microsoft funded thrive while others struggle to exist, it is open, friendly and welcome to all. I am a woman so I am talking from experience. Keep up the good work and don't change s thing. Althoug an email notification when a thread is replied would be nice. If it is there I did not see how to enable it.
Kind regards,
Gift Peddie -
Steve,
The word that comes to mind is "considerate". A seemingly mild word that doesn't portray the wonderful impact it has on people's day(s). In a world where consideration is usually missing, it is laudable that a business is driven by such a principle.
I remember days spent on mailing lists and usenet and I know I had a different motive - I learned by the act of answering the question. Not a pure a motive, but it helps me understand part of why you folks do this.
Thank you.
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Steve,
Your editorial is simply superb... most of the time I start my internet life after reading your editorial
Yes as a developer for finding solution I search on various discussion forum (not only one) and try out all the possible solutions. Answer to my problem may not be found in one site hence I wont be looking if there is a best answer column or not. But if I post a question, I make it a point to reply at least with a thanks note to complete the thread.
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Our forums do support email notifications. You can set the default by visiting http://www.sqlservercentral.com/forums/personal.aspx and at the bottom of the page checking the box 'Auto check "Email me when members reply"'.There is also a box you can check when you post at the bottom of that form - '
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Thanks Andy for helping me out with that.
Kind regards,
Gift Peddie -
Any time I post a question, I assume about a 50-75% probability that Warnock will apply. I prefer to try other resources (google searches, books, coworkers, etc) before I resort to posting in a forum/newsgroup/mailing list. The rare question that makes it past other resources tends to be the really hard to answer ones that often involve either less known products, or multiple products that aren't used together all that often.
I work in a very mixed environment (AS400 warehousing, and SQL server for our website, order control, accounting, purchasing, etc.) I've learnt to make the two play relatively well together, but, There seems to be a distinct lack of people with experience in both areas. I find myself able to answer questions for others far more often then I can reasonably expect a response.
of course, when I ask a question, 9 times out of 10, I think it either ends up that either I'm asking the impossible, or I'm asking a question that's just too complicated for the typical at work forum poster...
Some days I wish that for once I could ask a question that could be answered with a simple snippit of code <kof>
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I think that thanking people if they reply to your question is a good manner as well as telling if your issue was resolved. If the replies did not clear the question you may reply yourself asking more information or more ideas. I do try to go over unanswered posts when I log in. Same idead as Steve's: if I don't know the correct answer my suggestions may help too or at the very least the question will move closer to the top od the list. And it would benefit me too if I don't know the answer but will look it up
Regards,Yelena Varsha
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If the post is the type 'I believe ...' then you are correct.
If the post is the form 'How do you ...' then you need to add
The Post is valid, yet no one knows the answer.
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You probably do have the best solution as it is now (I think that's what you were trying to say).
Rating is a bad idea. There are so few contributors to this site that can think relationally that often inappropriate (e.g. cursor based) solutions/answers would likely get popular votes.
Caveat Emptor (or "asker"?) is really the only way to use these sites. You have to seek to understand the solutions presented and still seek better ones or you're not a good developer. Blind trust leads to disaster.
For me, I never even look at a post with more than 3 replies unless the title asks a question for which I would like to know the answer. (Or sometimes when I know that it is not likely to be answered well.) This is something that I fear may be a problem and where the threaded replies may have value: you may be able to more easily sift through digressions and tangents to find the distinct approaches suggested.
Allowing posters to close their own threads would have use saving time for those seeking to answer posts not having to look at them (and being able to sort out closed posts). If it's important you can always send a private message to the poster after he has closed the thread.)
But, you've kept it simple and that's probably the best solution.
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Actually, now that I think of it there is one thing missing...
It's what do you do with those questions posted that are so vast and intricate insisting on source code for the solution, or those by newbies so ignorant you shudder to think that anyone is letting them near a database? Or those that post a question so obviously and easily answered in the online help (like "what's the syntax for making a trigger?").
It's really hard to hold myself back from replying "That's the sp_domyjob system procedure you're looking for. It's in the master database." Or, "You may have a problem with your server, run this query and see if you get any results : select * from master..spt_values where name = 'RTFM'."
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Steve
This is so far the best SQL server website I encounted. I had posted many questions and people were willing to help and I got a lot of good answers. It improved my SQL Skills. I want to say thanks to you and your co-workers who started the website.
As for people posted 'stupid' or 'nasty' responses, think of this 'there are always a few bad apples in a barrel of apples'. Since the website is opened to public, anyone can write anything.
I went to some website, it actually had someone monitored the posts, if they thought it was not appropriate, they deleted the post. I personally did not like it. Whether you like the response or not, (yes sometimes I got offended for certain posts I got.), it is up to the person who posts the question. They can choose to ignore it or they can get angry at it. It is not your responsibility.
The same thing happens at work. I am very serious about my work. Some people do not like my way of doing things, some like it because I get things done. You cannot please everyone.
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I agree with Yelena in at least letting everyone involved know that the problem was resolved. I'd be inclined (if I found a solution on another site.
) to either post that solution or at least the link. It could be that there was something new to be found.-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Normal chaos will be resumed as soon as possible. :crazy: -
We certainly don't delete posts unless they're blatantly off topic and personally insulting to people. We also are rather intolerant of profanity.
Those are usually the only posts we remove and often just replace them with an editorial note.
I think we've got a good system. There are some holes, but every solution introduces other holes, so we've just kept it as is.
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