Some important questions for the more experienced members...

I have also noticed the kind of behaviour you have described, pincushion. In one case, although I had made sure to include all my system specs and describe my issue in a clear and precise manner, a highly repped member chewed off my head; because I was a total newbie, and because he had so many pips, I didn't dare notify the mods about it (a mistake on my part, by the way) and left the forum for a few weeks as a result; and when I came back, I discovered that he had been banned; so good work there from the mods/admins.
Sometimes I find that things do get a bit raunchy in the Chillout Room, but then it's the Chillout Room ;-)
In addition, I think it's important to take a forum break for a few days every now and then, otherwise one can get too immersed in the forum activities and end up brooding oneself into a sort of depression or even burnout.

yeah, I agree, but you can occasionally tell that the lang's sync up fine, and for instance I recently have seen exactly 4 new members w/1 identical Q in the same thread -- treated unlike anyone should be IMO, when they finally got a senior member response after several months. And the argument posed to the naive newbie posters was basically -- how am I supposed to magically know your problem without better info., Uhhh... that's usually where you can request the desired info, FIRST.

Funny, I remember members tripping over one another to welcome me to SF! After more words and him storming out, all I could do was apologies for the treatment, but I doubt they'll be back. Truth be told, they solved their own problem, but haven't seen any of them post since...whadayagonado?

Mike

I think the world has become a tougher place over the last 20 years. Maybe it's increased communication that's made it more evident. Yet I've noticed an increase in a "precious veneer" where some people will be offended by almost anything.
Blatant rudeness is obvious anything else is interpretation.

I've also noticed a number of (long) threads on this forum which appear to be all about ridicule. I can't help seeing some hypocrysy in all of this.

agreed.

only side step i would make is when i someone's first interaction w/ the SF community, is not given a "bit" extra niceness rather than the direct opposite. I realize everyone is entitled to their ways and methods, but if I were in charge, I'd prefer a happy influx of newbies to grow in the forums, to a highly "ranking" member.

That's my 2.735 cents:)
Mike

Oh, I am not personally offended, I take anybody's crap and let it pass (aside from the occasional misinformation that it might contain). Maybe your not here to help in the same capacity as I (and many others are) but sure - keeping w/ the same example: if someone asks let's say (totally made up) - my screen wont come on it just says "no connect", then another and another...etc. You would be okay yourself or with another member entering the thread and rather then solve 4 simple problems at once, say "get a computer that doesn't act screwy" and then when asked what you could possibly mean, "well I can't jump across the screen and know everything about your computers problems, you cant even give me a shred of detail" -.....blah blah "fix it yourself" as he/she exits

really?! They all had their computer specs 50-90% filled out, asked similarly simple Q's, and asked the Q good enough to easily diagnose, even so maybe someone doesn't catch it, that fine, you could take 20 sec to ask a Q or 2 rather than getting all pissy. Hey, If I'm way off, and you really don't mind treating users like their not welcome or just making your day go bad, maybe we just differ in opinions. Maybe I misinterpreted your response.

...don't baby anyone, give them a chance to be helped. simple enough summation?

Mike

I know in my case, when I had someone on here basically treat me like an idiot when I was trying to help, I responded in a civil manner and was able to learn from the experience. I do not think that I am easily offended; I think that though tone gets lost in mere words on here, certain phrases are pretty obviously telling users that they are basically too stupid to use a computer. I understand that some are more easily offended than others, but when trying to help others, would it not be a good idea to treat all users with respect and courtesy in case you are dealing with one such individual?

I think it is important to be respectful to others at all times, whether it is in a face to face conversation or on an online forum.

writhziden

well I had a paragraph, typed in under "quick reply", then hit "Post Reply" Orange button above, so I'm not gonna type it again,

your 100% right about the way you should treat members, just ignore the "Misc. Debis" don't argue (as you didn't) and report them only if it's pretty nasty!

customer service is the basis of my business, and everyone else has "vacancy" signs on the computer shop doors, while I'm always backlogged 5-10 systems. 5+ yrs - word of mouth ONLY - and I charge plenty, it's not because I'm cheap ($35/quarter hour) for most all svcs. I stop what I'm doing If a client needs serious help even if its 2am. And smiling the whole way past the empty shops!

I'm sure I'll be labeled as bragging, but...watch..."Let 'Em" , "I feel no less intelligent" Thats what you gotta do, don't mess with it. Just do your thing, and good.

There. thats my pep speech and so on..

(now if I could just stop hearing your messages in my internal dialog read by cookie monster)

Mike

rubyrubyroo said:

writhziden

well I had a paragraph, typed in under "quick reply", then hit "Post Reply" Orange button above, so I'm not gonna type it again,

your 100% right about the way you should treat members, just ignore the "Misc. Debis" don't argue (as you didn't) and report them only if it's pretty nasty!

customer service is the basis of my business, and everyone else has "vacancy" signs on the computer shop doors, while I'm always backlogged 5-10 systems. 5+ yrs - word of mouth ONLY - and I charge plenty, it's not because I'm cheap ($35/quarter hour) for most all svcs. I stop what I'm doing If a client needs serious help even if its 2am. And smiling the whole way past the empty shops!

I'm sure I'll be labeled as bragging, but...watch..."Let 'Em" , "I feel no less intelligent" Thats what you gotta do, don't mess with it. Just do your thing, and good.

There. thats my pep speech and so on..

(now if I could just stop hearing your messages in my internal dialog read by cookie monster)

Mike

Thanks for the support, Mike. And I'm rofl with that last part. That was awesome.