Re: Purpose of this list

[David Thorburn <thorburn@CONL.NET>]

perfect example of an unfocused liberal PC wishy washy response to a very
serious
situation.

Why don't you run for President?

<lol>

D.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Christenson, Amy" <amy.christenson@ATTWS.COM>
To: <SQR-USERS@list.iex.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2002 1:22 PM
Subject: Re: Purpose of this list


> I do; If you need help with PeopleSoft specific questions in the future,
> please join us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/peoplesoft-fans . I belong
> to both groups but move back and forth depending on my question. That way
> you can avoid at least a portion of this in the future.
>
> Amy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Aaron M. Reiff [mailto:aaron.reiff@MAIL.RGSTR.WISC.EDU]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2002 4:03 PM
> To: SQR-USERS@list.iex.net
> Subject: Re: Purpose of this list
>
>
> Perhaps we should all move on.  All points seems to have been expressed,
> aired and otherwise worn-out.
>
> Does anyone have anything productive and non-threatening to say regarding
> this issue before we return to the business at hand?
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Discussion of SQR, Brio Software's database reporting language
> [mailto:SQR-USERS@list.iex.net]On Behalf Of Allen Cunningham
> Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2002 2:37 PM
> To: SQR-USERS@list.iex.net
> Subject: Re: Purpose of this list
>
>
> Chris - I certainly don't appreciate being lectured and scolded by you,
and
> your patronizing little suggestion to take a PeopleTools class. If your
> having a bad day, find a better way to deal with it than venting on this
> board. This was posted late Fri afternoon, it certainly didn't generate a
> lot of 'noise' that you say you are so worried about. If you don't like a
> posting, ignore it.
>
> ac
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Discussion of SQR, Brio Software's database reporting language
> [mailto:SQR-USERS@list.iex.net]On Behalf Of Chris Bennett
> Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 4:15 PM
> To: SQR-USERS@list.iex.net
> Subject: Re: Purpose of this list
>
>
> Ken,
>
> That's an interesting question.  Just for clarification let me point out
> that my primary concern was the potential trouble I foresaw Allen getting
> into if he tries to accomplish his goals by getting "step by step"
> instructions from this list.  I thought it was a very valid and hopefully
> helpful answer to suggest that a class might be in his best interest.
>
> However, it is true that I was also concerned about the signal/noise ratio
> of this list, and I took the opportunity to also suggest that perhaps not
> everyone on the list would like to read a question and answer about basic
> PeopleTools (please note, however, that even after I said his post was
> off-topic and that he would be better served by taking a class, that I
> still answered the question).
>
> Anyway, to attempt to answer your question...
>
> According the the mailing list "hints and guidelines"
> (http://www.sqrug.org/sqr-users/sqr-users-hints.html), the only sections
> that directly refer to "etiquette" are the following:
>
> 1) "keep in mind that over 500 people will receive your message, and that
> it will appear in the list archives. Try to keep your messages on-topic
> and relatively short. Consider sending your message directly to particular
> people if it won't interest many of the list's subscribers."
>
> 2) "Please do not post job announcements on the sqr-users list, but use
> the sqr-jobs list instead. (See Related Mailing Lists for more information
> on this list.) A large number of sqr-users subscribers do not want to
> receive job announcements (for various reasons) and such posts tend to
> cause a lot of disruption of the discussion on the list."
>
> One could also read section 4.2 "Posting a Message" as strongly implying
> that messages posted here should relate specifically to SQR.
>
> Aside from this, I don't know what the "position" here is any more than
> you do (and as I'll explain below, to some extent it really doesn't
> matter), but I'll offer up my opinions.
>
> I'll start with two assumptions.  These may be debatable, but I'll throw
> them out as a starting point:
>
> 1) Most people on this list are (more or less) well paid professionals
>
> 2) If there is too much noise the "gurus" that monitor this list will lose
> interest and leave.
>
> Given these assumptions, I have the following opinions:
>
> I don't want to be used as someone else's gopher for basic reference
> materials, and I suspect that other people on this list would rather not
> be used for that purpose either.  While I enjoy helping someone who truly
> has a difficult or unusual problem, doing other people's work for them
> goes beyond the call of duty.  Time is, indeed, of the essence for many of
> us, as you say.  But why would one person's time be more important than
> mine?
>
> I also rely on this list as a resource to help out with any big problems I
> might run into, so I'm glad there are some very skilled and knowledgeable
> people that monitor this list.  I would be really disappointed to see them
> leave because this list degenerated into some sort of off-topic "how to
> program"  tutorial group.
>
> This list is not moderated, so it is neither democratic (moderator chosen
> by vote) nor totalitarian (moderator is the list admin, Ray Ontko).
> Anarchy seems more accurate.  As such, anyone can really post whatever
> they want, and we each make our own decision as to whether it is worth
> sticking around based on our own needs.  We can all decide as a group that
> job posting are taboo, but we know full well that some people will still
> post them anyway.
>
> So all I can say is this:  I would prefer that we stay generally on topic.
> And I would prefer that we not be deluged with trivial questions that are
> asked just to save someone else's time at the expense of my time.  But
> these are my preferences based on my needs.  If you or anyone else feels
> that it would be a good idea to encourage people to post off-topic or
> trivial questions, just consider what long-term utility you will be
> getting from this list.
>
> There's probably no point to debating this.  Its not as if any decision
> would be binding, and this really could just be considered more "noise"
> on the list anyway.  Each person can make up their own mind and do as they
> wish.  Personally, I'm not going to whine about every post that goes
> off-topic or asks something really trivial, nor will I send nasty notes to
> people who post jobs here.  Its not worth it and doesn't help in any case.
> But now and then I think its worthwhile to point out that this list is
> only as useful as we make it.
>
> Chris
>
> On Mon, 30 Sep 2002, Ken Boettger wrote:
>
> > Chris,
> >
> > I am not certain I agree with this precept. It is a controversial one
and
> a common one, I know. But I wonder if it is an appropriate view. I quess I
> am a proponent of the "there is no stupid or silly questions" and that
> forums are a place of learning.
> >
> > In addition, I have been in IT for 15 years and work with many languages
> and tools.  It is very hard to keep everything straight. Many times I will
> go to a list to get an answer to a simple issue that I cannot recall the
> answer too. Yes, the answer is in the FAQ or in the manuals. And I think
> they should be encouraged, but not enforced. The reason being that time is
> of the essence for many of us.  On many occassions (both in the public and
> private sector), I will post a question and then proceed with something
else
> until a response comes back.   From a statistical point of view, it might
> take me 5 or 10 minutes to find and read through a FAQ or manual before I
> find an anwser (if I can even remember where the manual is - or who
borrowed
> it last). Using a forum or list, I maybe type a concise question for 30
> seconds, then spend another minute reading the responses - the point here
> being that a five fold increase in efficiency is significant from a
> temporal, financial and pro!
> fe!
> > ssional point of view.
> >
> > My question is, what is the position here?  I believe in democracy and
> will go either way. But I have on many occasions posted simple questions
to
> this list. If such questions are not welcome, I will stop using this forum
> in that regard.  And maybe we should consider an additional forum that
> subscribes to a more open view including novice type questions?  There is
a
> definitely a need for such a forum.
> >
> > -Ken
> >
> > Ken Boettger
> > boettgek@cwu.edu
> > http://www.cwu.edu/~boettgek
> > x2944
>