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

[Andrew Thomas]

Wow! How self-promoting was that post?

As for a simple 'that worked' post - as others have already pointed out
before you, it's not for self-gratification - it's to help anyone else
who has the same/similar problem.  I used the list archives quite a lot
in my early days - and having the last post in a thread say 'try this,
this or this' and no comeback is a pain.  A simple 'option 2 worked for
me' post at then end would make everything a lot simpler (and beat those
deadlines you talked about).

As for 'off-list' mailing - please do NOT do it without
asking/permission as most people get enough e-mails as it is (from
paying customers).

Thanks all and have a nice day!


 
 

________________________________

From: asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com
[mailto:asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Steve
Totaro
Sent: 11 May 2011 05:47
To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
Subject: Re: [asterisk-users] When someone helps you, at least let them
know if the problem is resolved or not




On Tue, May 10, 2011 at 8:30 PM, Sherwood McGowan
<sherwood.mcgowan at gmail.com> wrote:



		+1 from me too.  The other thing is that when you answer
to say the problem has been solved this goes into the archives meaning
that people can use Google to answer their own questions rather than
having to even ask the list.
		
		There have been times when I've searched for a solution
to a problem, found like 10 answers, and nobody has said whether they
work or not so you have to try all of them.
		
		-- 
		Cheers,
		
		Matt Riddell
		


	Believe me mate, I feel you, on that note. Not only because of
my time when I was asking more questions than I was answering, but also
from the standpoint of wishing the answers were a little more prevalent
for the searching party to find so that I didn't see soooo many repeats
on the list ;-) 
	
	Cheers guys! 

	-- 
	Sherwood McGowan
	Telecommunications and VOIP Consultant
	
	


-1

Since I was the number 1 poster on this list a couple of years ago, I
think I can speak with some authority.

I just assume that if that person does not ask any more questions, that
they have either solved the problem on their own, or I helped them by
giving the answer or steering them to it.  

I don't need a public or private "Thank You"  When I was posting all the
time, I figured the ratio of "Thank you" emails to silence to be about
20 to 1, maybe as high as 50 to 1.

People are busy, under a deadline or whatever,  I offer help and do not
expect anything in return, not even a thank you.  Probably because I
have and will be one of those people, although my questions are usually
a little over the top for the list or can be pointed to something in
bugtracker, I have asked many questions when I was stuck and under an
all nighter deadline.

I would like to thank anyone out there that has helped me over the many,
many years dealing with Asterisk and VoIP.  It is a blanket thank you
for all times I simply moved onto then next hurdle to get my
deliverables out on time and working properly and neglected to post a
thank you.

Before there was any documentation, voip-info  amd this list was my
savior.  The volume of traffic has fallen to almost nothing over the
last year or two.

I wonder if Digium could post totals as it did when I was shocked to
find my name as the #1 poster.  It would be cool to see who is the #1
poster now, but I am more interested in what I perceive to be a huge
fall off of posting.

It could be my email server, since I was getting notices from the list
about excessive email bounces and removing me if I did not click a link.
That seems to have stopped, and I don't think it was on my side.

Back to getting credit or a thank you.

What I have received by answering questions or helping to troubleshoot
is worth way more than a thank you.  I get some name recognition, paid
work, large call centers, Sr Positions in high profile jobs.  Enough to
make a nice living, whether I am independent or in a salaried position.
Asterisk has literally taken me all over the world.  My last trip was to
Iraq, but I have been to Senegal, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ghana, Liberia
to help rebuild the infrastructure for USAID. 

I don't really do job searches,  I am usually offered a job or project
and approached by the client.

For the Dept of State, I set up prepaid call centers to answer questions
and getting a reservation at the various Embassies about obtaining a
visa to come to the US.  It is called the US visa Information Service 

For DoD/Dos, I cannot really say much except I can say is that I am
probably one of the few Asterisk people that were issued a Glock and M4,
bullet proof vests, armored cars, and a PSD team..  How many VoIP guys
were taking ak47 rounds while I was on top of the Iraqi Government
building, setting up the Motorola Canopy system.  Luckily the AK is no
sniper rifle by an means.  I was in  IZ and the shooter was in the
redzone.

I don't need thank yous, although they are nice.  I truly have never
expected anything when offering help or ideas.

I do see why someone "should" be thanked, even if for nothing more than
trying to help, and certainly a resolution to the problem for the
archives, but I am not holding my breath.  

Additionally, having multiple possible answers is not a bad thing.  A
similar symptom could be caused by many different things.  Having
several different answers is a great help to me.

At least there are many possible answers to try.  Judging by who was
involved in any archived thread, I can usually pick the correct answer
the first time.

Thanks for listening to my perspective, 
Steve T




 If you have received this communication in error we would appreciate
you advising us either by telephone or return of e-mail. The contents
of this message, and any attachments, are the property of DataVox,
and are intended for the confidential use of the named recipient only.
If you are not the intended recipient, employee or agent responsible
for delivery of this message to the intended recipient, take note that
any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication and
its attachments is strictly prohibited, and may be subject to civil or
criminal action for which you may be liable.
Every effort has been made to ensure that this e-mail or any attachments
are free from viruses. While the company has taken every reasonable
precaution to minimise this risk, neither company, nor the sender can
accept liability for any damage which you sustain as a result of viruses.
It is recommended that you should carry out your own virus checks
before opening any attachments. 

Registered in England. No. 27459085.