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

[Steve Totaro]

>
>
>
> 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
>


On Wed, May 11, 2011 at 3:49 AM, Andrew Thomas <andy at datavox.co.uk> wrote:
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!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I am not a nitpicker on top or bottom posting unless someone deviates from
the flow.  Don't top post when everyone else is bottom posting.  Unless it
was a mistake, understandable, if not, you  should learn learn how to use
mailing lists.

How was my post self promoting?  It is all true, so if it promotes me, then
that is a good thing.

You must be new to the community if you.  Sometimes it is better to remain
silent until you have something worth saying.

Just Google my name and asterisk-users at lists.digium.com and you will see.
Don't pretend to know me.

http://tinyurl.com/6zzfdxk.

I do not email people that need help and offer consulting on a problem.  I
just suggested that if he was going to do that, it should be direct, not
broadcast to the list.  Your statement has things backwards.  Who has the
paying customers?

Thanks,
Steve Totaro
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