[asterisk-users] When someone helps you, at least let them know if the problem is resolved or not

[Sherwood McGowan]

I'll keep this brief because I don't want to come across like any more of an
a$$ than I absolutely have to, especially since I know I've blown my stack
before.....

Gentlemen (and Ladies, if you're out there),

If someone gives you advice on this list, and ESPECIALLY if they give you
advice offlist, have the courtesy to (AT THE LEAST) to let them know when/if
you get your question answered or your problem solved.

As many people point out, on community supported mailing lists and forums
around the world, these user lists are comprised of people who are giving
their time freely to help others learn about the software the list is about.
Sometimes those lists are about software that is quite useful in a
commercial setting, perhaps even very much in demand, like Asterisk. Now,
you should always appreciate when you get assistance from people on user
lists, but when you're asking for help on a list like this one, (where I'd
say 80% of the participants on the list are professionals who earn their
living by selling their knowledge of how to install, configure, and maintain
a server application like Asterisk) it would be extremely appreciated if you
show some courtesy to the individual(s) who assisted you for free. I've had
several individuals contact me offlist (without being given permission
first, which is first and foremost bad form) and ask for my assistance with
configuring a feature, troubleshooting an issue, and once I got an email
that said something along the lines of:
"I saw a post on the list where you said you could accomplish *
insertNiftyFeatureThatDidNotPreviouslyExistHere*.... Tell me how to do it"
I'm sure many of you have been the recipient of more than your fair share of
emails offlist asking for help, and I'm sure a great number of you try to
offer assistance. What is bothering me is the fact there seems to be a new
trend forming, wherein I don't get a repsonse from the person I tried to
help, even when I can feel confident in saying that I know I gave them the
piece of information they needed in order to answer their question and
accomplish the goal of making Asterisk perform the way they wanted.....

Has anyone else noticed this trend?

Those of you who are making the requests, is there a reason why you don't
feel the need to be courteous and at least say, "Hey that advice worked,
everything's working now"?

Next time you ask for help, especially when it's offlist (and even MORE SO
when you're contacting someone you weren't invited to contact offlist), I
want you to remember that the person you're contacting usually gets paid for
their time as an Asterisk professional, and that they're helping you for
free. Hell, if you want to get down to brass tacks about it, thatr person
who is taking the time to try and help you is increasing his or her own
professional competition......


that's all...nothing super rude, but I had to get that one out there.... I
get annoyed when I answer about 12-13 questions (all in separate emails,
mind you) from someone, and then I never get even find out if I was
successful in helping them
-- 
Sherwood McGowan
Telecommunications and VOIP Consultant
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