This isn't necessarily directed at you, but this seems like a good
place for a general 'newsgroup rant'. <grin>
Unfortunately there are those who don't follow newsgroup netiquette
and encourage off-topic questions by providing answers without
directing them to an appropriate newsgroup for future questions the
poster may have. What is most unfortunate is unknowing folks like you
are the ones who end up getting flamed. :-(
There are a couple thousand newsgroups dedicated to Microsoft products
and for the most part, those who hang out in the various newsgroups
have the most knowledge about the related technology the newsgroup
covers. The primary reason there are so many newsgroups is due to the
amount of traffic the newsgroups receive and by posting to a newsgroup
dedicated to the topic you'll receive the best answer to your
question.
Take this one for example, ideally, this group is for Office related
questions. To be more specific, it's for questions that cross more
than one application or shared Office components. We see a lot of
application specific questions and most receive an answer but there
are many that do not receive the most knowledgeable answer. IOW, I've
read several threads that contain convoluted answers or take several
days to obtain correct information. Whereas if the appropriate
newsgroup were selected the poster would have receive a clear and
concise answer faster.
Then there is a the traffic aspect. Lately there have been so many
off-topic questions posted and answered it has become difficult to
keep up with the newsgroup. And there was a time when folks replied to
a post only if they had useful information for the poster. Now we're
seeing replies that contain the first thought that enters someone's
head and seldom does it contain anything helpful.
Ideally, if newsgroup posts primarily stayed on topic the newsgroup
would be fairly easy to cover. And if someone doesn't know the answer
to a question and left it for those who may have the answer it would
be easier to locate posts in need of an answer. This allows those who
primarily provide answers to hit posts without answers first and makes
it makes it easier to 'help those who hadn't been helped' which
results in everyone getting the help they are seeking.
In light of the recent surge of off-topic questions (primarily Windows
and IE related), replies that appear to be attempts to meet some type
of 'quota', and the number of "I really have no useful information for
you but here's the first thought that entered my head" type posts, and
attempts to be the 'newsgroup clown', this newsgroup has become
difficult to follow.
There are a few who do know why it is important try to keep posts
on-topic, respond to only those posts in which they have a
knowledgeable answer, and recognize when it is appropriate to post
general 'chit chat' or comments.
Unfortunately many do not realize how disregarding newsgroup
netiquette impacts the newsgroup. :-(
The end result is on-topic posts either not receiving an answer or
they didn't receive the answer they should have received. I've seen
this happen before, a newsgroup with off-topic posts and too much
traffic ends up being useful to no one.
Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email can not be acknowledged.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP
Word FAQ:
http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine:
http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site:
http://mvps.org/