What to Ask and How to Answer Questions

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

I also believe that we need to convince people to learn something new
instead of having someone do it for them, actually *try* something instead
of saying "Can I ....?", to elevate themselves. Yes, computers have gotten
to be more user-friendly but instead of encouraging people to pick up new
skills, some people have grown lazy and expect others, who generally learned
things the old-fashion way (trial and error), to do it for them or tell them
how to do something step by step.

My personal policy is that I will teach someone how to do something. I'll
even show them two or three times but if I even get an inkling that they are
just letting me do their work, I stop. I have enough of my own work to do
without doing someone else's.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

JoAnn

Humour is a lost art for sure, but I am attempting a revival, as are you
and the other PubVP's..

I accept Erika's statement to a point, but if people want nice, they
should be in a Religious bookstore.. here we give advice, and try to
educate a little.. there is nothing wrong with coercing computer users
into trying the Publisher 'Insert' function themselves, and oft times, it
takes more than a 'pretty please'..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/User

I love your ideas for templates!!! Especially the Dad one. With my dad it
would be "Dad figured out which end of screwdriver to use all by
himself!".

I think humor is getting to be a lost art. And laughing at oneself is so
much fun - I do it a lot!

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Erika

There are already websites covering some of the most frequently asked
questions.. it is as easy for an OP to type their questions into a
Google or MSN search to find them, but some have already done this..
what they want when they come here is a simple explanation in laymen
terms, something like a two line answer that covers all exits.. that is
not going to happen in many cases..

People expect, unreasonably so, to be able to buy Publisher and find a
certificate template like 'Dad washing his first dish', and do not like
the idea of having to learn how to customise an existing template..
anything more than a 5 minute tutorial is often more than they have time
to do..

There has been criticism by some at the amount of websites one is
directed to by MVPs.. accusations of us not knowing are stuff are not
uncommon.. so what are we expected to do?.. type out long personalised
answers addressing each OP's specific need, no answer ever requiring any
ability on the OP's part?.. we are volunteers here, and have a life
outside of offering to do their child's school project for them..
sometimes, we just can't win..

JoAnn might remember the guy who had bought Publisher such that his son
could do something towards a school project... he was horrified to find
out that his son would not just be able to click the 'Finish the school
project' button.. when one or two of us suggested that he sit with his
son and experiment a little, we were told in no uncertain terms that he
did not have time for that, and that Microsoft should make it clear on
the packaging that MS Publisher is not easy to use..

Overall, I think that this is one of the better newsgroups, one of my
reasons for coming here at all.. the 'Publisher crew', Ed, Mary, Brian,
JoAnn (apologies to anybody missed) are a good bunch.. they mix
expertise with humour, which is a good thing.. unfortunately, humour to
one person is offence to another..

So answer me this.. why isn't there a template for a gay Jewish wedding
planner in Chinese characters cos they look pretty and the 'bride' is
into Fung Shui where the location for the ceremony and reception is on
Nasa's 747 used for 'weightless' training.. and why isn't there a
template for a fund raising event that includes all of the people on my
local Church social group?.. I am a very busy person and do not have the
time to learn how to use Publisher, by the way..


--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/User


JoAnn Paules [MVP] wrote:
I can handle bad grammar, misspelled words, and broken English. What
drives me up a wall are "non-questions". Subject lines like "I want to
make a newsletter" - and nothing in the large white space. I have no
idea where they need their help. Do they not know to use a template?
Are they trying to use a tabloid layout with a printer that can't
print tabloid? Are they trying to send it to someone else for whatever
reason and that person doesn't have Publisher?

These are the things that make me respond "Okay. And your question
is...?" I prefer not to read minds and I didn't get the official
crystal ball that others seem to have. I'm just trying to help others
and really appreciate it when they supply me with enough information
to do so.


I understand what you're saying, JoAnn. I worked on a help desk in the
past and all the jokes are based on true tales. (Oh, the whole building
has a power failure and all the lights are out, Mrs. Smith? No, your
computer won't work right now.) But these people who somehow found
there way here are clueless about Publisher, probably clueless about
newsgroups in general, and they've probably just forked out a
substantial amount of money for a program that's frustrating them. They
don't come in as trolls.

You could type an answer like this, once, and save it on your desktop
or whatever and copy it over and over in about 6 seconds: "Please state
your question clearly. And, here's the FAQ for the top 10 questions we
get in the newsgroup: http://www.faq.domain.com. The answers you need
might be listed there."

It would be more welcoming, encouraging and respectful to the paying
customer.

I do admit that this works better in a moderated group, but I think
it's worth trying.

 

[Donna in Idaho]

Just want to tell all MVP's that I, for one, really enjoy your humor. Don't
ever stop with the humor. It's needed!
--
Donna in Idaho
Website: www.LinusIdaho.org

JoAnn

Humour is a lost art for sure, but I am attempting a revival, as are you
and the other PubVP's..

I accept Erika's statement to a point, but if people want nice, they
should be in a Religious bookstore.. here we give advice, and try to
educate a little.. there is nothing wrong with coercing computer users
into trying the Publisher 'Insert' function themselves, and oft times, it
takes more than a 'pretty please'..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/User

I love your ideas for templates!!! Especially the Dad one. With my dad it
would be "Dad figured out which end of screwdriver to use all by
himself!".

I think humor is getting to be a lost art. And laughing at oneself is so
much fun - I do it a lot!

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Erika

There are already websites covering some of the most frequently asked
questions.. it is as easy for an OP to type their questions into a
Google or MSN search to find them, but some have already done this..
what they want when they come here is a simple explanation in laymen
terms, something like a two line answer that covers all exits.. that is
not going to happen in many cases..

People expect, unreasonably so, to be able to buy Publisher and find a
certificate template like 'Dad washing his first dish', and do not like
the idea of having to learn how to customise an existing template..
anything more than a 5 minute tutorial is often more than they have time
to do..

There has been criticism by some at the amount of websites one is
directed to by MVPs.. accusations of us not knowing are stuff are not
uncommon.. so what are we expected to do?.. type out long personalised
answers addressing each OP's specific need, no answer ever requiring any
ability on the OP's part?.. we are volunteers here, and have a life
outside of offering to do their child's school project for them..
sometimes, we just can't win..

JoAnn might remember the guy who had bought Publisher such that his son
could do something towards a school project... he was horrified to find
out that his son would not just be able to click the 'Finish the school
project' button.. when one or two of us suggested that he sit with his
son and experiment a little, we were told in no uncertain terms that he
did not have time for that, and that Microsoft should make it clear on
the packaging that MS Publisher is not easy to use..

Overall, I think that this is one of the better newsgroups, one of my
reasons for coming here at all.. the 'Publisher crew', Ed, Mary, Brian,
JoAnn (apologies to anybody missed) are a good bunch.. they mix
expertise with humour, which is a good thing.. unfortunately, humour to
one person is offence to another..

So answer me this.. why isn't there a template for a gay Jewish wedding
planner in Chinese characters cos they look pretty and the 'bride' is
into Fung Shui where the location for the ceremony and reception is on
Nasa's 747 used for 'weightless' training.. and why isn't there a
template for a fund raising event that includes all of the people on my
local Church social group?.. I am a very busy person and do not have the
time to learn how to use Publisher, by the way..


--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/User


JoAnn Paules [MVP] wrote:
I can handle bad grammar, misspelled words, and broken English. What
drives me up a wall are "non-questions". Subject lines like "I want to
make a newsletter" - and nothing in the large white space. I have no
idea where they need their help. Do they not know to use a template?
Are they trying to use a tabloid layout with a printer that can't
print tabloid? Are they trying to send it to someone else for whatever
reason and that person doesn't have Publisher?

These are the things that make me respond "Okay. And your question
is...?" I prefer not to read minds and I didn't get the official
crystal ball that others seem to have. I'm just trying to help others
and really appreciate it when they supply me with enough information
to do so.


I understand what you're saying, JoAnn. I worked on a help desk in the
past and all the jokes are based on true tales. (Oh, the whole building
has a power failure and all the lights are out, Mrs. Smith? No, your
computer won't work right now.) But these people who somehow found
there way here are clueless about Publisher, probably clueless about
newsgroups in general, and they've probably just forked out a
substantial amount of money for a program that's frustrating them. They
don't come in as trolls.

You could type an answer like this, once, and save it on your desktop
or whatever and copy it over and over in about 6 seconds: "Please state
your question clearly. And, here's the FAQ for the top 10 questions we
get in the newsgroup: http://www.faq.domain.com. The answers you need
might be listed there."

It would be more welcoming, encouraging and respectful to the paying
customer.

I do admit that this works better in a moderated group, but I think
it's worth trying.

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Well, thank you kindly, Donna.. we aim to please..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/User

Just want to tell all MVP's that I, for one, really enjoy your humor.
Don't ever stop with the humor. It's needed!
--
Donna in Idaho
Website: www.LinusIdaho.org

JoAnn

Humour is a lost art for sure, but I am attempting a revival, as are you
and the other PubVP's..

I accept Erika's statement to a point, but if people want nice, they
should be in a Religious bookstore.. here we give advice, and try to
educate a little.. there is nothing wrong with coercing computer users
into trying the Publisher 'Insert' function themselves, and oft times, it
takes more than a 'pretty please'..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/User

I love your ideas for templates!!! Especially the Dad one. With my dad it
would be "Dad figured out which end of screwdriver to use all by
himself!".

I think humor is getting to be a lost art. And laughing at oneself is so
much fun - I do it a lot!

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



Erika

There are already websites covering some of the most frequently asked
questions.. it is as easy for an OP to type their questions into a
Google or MSN search to find them, but some have already done this..
what they want when they come here is a simple explanation in laymen
terms, something like a two line answer that covers all exits.. that is
not going to happen in many cases..

People expect, unreasonably so, to be able to buy Publisher and find a
certificate template like 'Dad washing his first dish', and do not like
the idea of having to learn how to customise an existing template..
anything more than a 5 minute tutorial is often more than they have
time to do..

There has been criticism by some at the amount of websites one is
directed to by MVPs.. accusations of us not knowing are stuff are not
uncommon.. so what are we expected to do?.. type out long personalised
answers addressing each OP's specific need, no answer ever requiring
any ability on the OP's part?.. we are volunteers here, and have a life
outside of offering to do their child's school project for them..
sometimes, we just can't win..

JoAnn might remember the guy who had bought Publisher such that his son
could do something towards a school project... he was horrified to find
out that his son would not just be able to click the 'Finish the school
project' button.. when one or two of us suggested that he sit with his
son and experiment a little, we were told in no uncertain terms that he
did not have time for that, and that Microsoft should make it clear on
the packaging that MS Publisher is not easy to use..

Overall, I think that this is one of the better newsgroups, one of my
reasons for coming here at all.. the 'Publisher crew', Ed, Mary, Brian,
JoAnn (apologies to anybody missed) are a good bunch.. they mix
expertise with humour, which is a good thing.. unfortunately, humour to
one person is offence to another..

So answer me this.. why isn't there a template for a gay Jewish wedding
planner in Chinese characters cos they look pretty and the 'bride' is
into Fung Shui where the location for the ceremony and reception is on
Nasa's 747 used for 'weightless' training.. and why isn't there a
template for a fund raising event that includes all of the people on my
local Church social group?.. I am a very busy person and do not have
the time to learn how to use Publisher, by the way..


--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/User


JoAnn Paules [MVP] wrote:
I can handle bad grammar, misspelled words, and broken English. What
drives me up a wall are "non-questions". Subject lines like "I want
to make a newsletter" - and nothing in the large white space. I have
no idea where they need their help. Do they not know to use a
template? Are they trying to use a tabloid layout with a printer that
can't print tabloid? Are they trying to send it to someone else for
whatever reason and that person doesn't have Publisher?

These are the things that make me respond "Okay. And your question
is...?" I prefer not to read minds and I didn't get the official
crystal ball that others seem to have. I'm just trying to help others
and really appreciate it when they supply me with enough information
to do so.


I understand what you're saying, JoAnn. I worked on a help desk in the
past and all the jokes are based on true tales. (Oh, the whole
building has a power failure and all the lights are out, Mrs. Smith?
No, your computer won't work right now.) But these people who somehow
found there way here are clueless about Publisher, probably clueless
about newsgroups in general, and they've probably just forked out a
substantial amount of money for a program that's frustrating them.
They don't come in as trolls.

You could type an answer like this, once, and save it on your desktop
or whatever and copy it over and over in about 6 seconds: "Please
state your question clearly. And, here's the FAQ for the top 10
questions we get in the newsgroup: http://www.faq.domain.com. The
answers you need might be listed there."

It would be more welcoming, encouraging and respectful to the paying
customer.

I do admit that this works better in a moderated group, but I think
it's worth trying.

 

[Erika]

Erika

There are already websites covering some of the most frequently asked
questions.. it is as easy for an OP to type their questions into a Google or
MSN search to find them, but some have already done this.. what they want
when they come here is a simple explanation in laymen terms, something like
a two line answer that covers all exits.. that is not going to happen in
many cases..

There has been criticism by some at the amount of websites one is directed
to by MVPs.. accusations of us not knowing are stuff are not uncommon.. so
what are we expected to do?.. type out long personalised answers addressing
each OP's specific need, no answer ever requiring any ability on the OP's
part?.. we are volunteers here, and have a life outside of offering to do
their child's school project for them.. sometimes, we just can't win..

Well, for example, John Inzer inserts a thorough and complete answer to
that eternal question, "How do I convert a Publisher file to a PDF?".
He's copying and pasting his answer as many times as it takes.

I realize you guys are volunteers! So? If you can't do it politely, skip
it.

Actually, it seems to me, just in the few days we've been discussing
this question, that people are receiving MUCH nicer answers in general!

 

[Erika]

I accept Erika's statement to a point, but if people want nice, they should
be in a Religious bookstore.. here we give advice, and try to educate a
little.. there is nothing wrong with coercing computer users into trying the
Publisher 'Insert' function themselves, and oft times, it takes more than a
'pretty please'..

You don't have to be a religious zealot to be polite. When you go in a
store and ask a question, and a gum chewing body pierced sales associate
sneers at you, it's inappropriate.

On the other hand, I certainly agree that people can be encouraged to
try things out on their own and use the help system (which is quite lame
imo).

 

[Erika]

I also believe that we need to convince people to learn something new
instead of having someone do it for them, actually *try* something instead
of saying "Can I ....?", to elevate themselves. Yes, computers have gotten
to be more user-friendly but instead of encouraging people to pick up new
skills, some people have grown lazy and expect others, who generally learned
things the old-fashion way (trial and error), to do it for them or tell them
how to do something step by step.

My personal policy is that I will teach someone how to do something. I'll
even show them two or three times but if I even get an inkling that they are
just letting me do their work, I stop. I have enough of my own work to do
without doing someone else's.

I agree with all that!

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Erika

Snippy is subjective.. if you don't like the answers that some give, add the
sender to your killfile..

 

[Box134]

Oh dear? Don't you Wiccans believe in niceness? I guess all that dancing
around the fire naked at midnight gives you a bad attitude and chapped
buttocks.

I shall pray to the Lord Ganesh to smite you.

Erika, we love you!

 

[fb]

You do to spout the cloud cuckoo land bollocks you come out with. I've never
read such unadulterated fluffy garbage in my life.

What's the weather like on Planet Erika? Do let me know when you feel like
rejoining Planet Earth.

I never thought it possible for one person to be that saccharine. If you were
a sweet you'd be banned.

There's politeness and there's arse-wiping, suggest you learn the difference.


You're one of those happy-clappy born again idiots aren't you? I can't do
with people like you. In a minute you'll be telling me that all I need to do
is let Jesus into my life and all my problems will miraculously vanish. Xian
bollocks - I'm heartily sick of it. It's time you lot joined the real world.

You call that "thing" you have a life? Help is only a phone call away.
Just say "please"!
Frank

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Frank

Your message is badly edited.. I was responsible for the text up to and
including 'pretty please'.. I can't and will not take credit for the rest of
it..

 

[Oziebill]

QED


: On Thu, 5 Jan 2006 23:01:52 +0000, Erika wrote
: (in article <[email protected]>):
:
: > Mike Hall (MS-MVP) wrote:
: >>
: >> I accept Erika's statement to a point, but if people want nice, they
should
: >> be in a Religious bookstore.. here we give advice, and try to educate a
: >> little.. there is nothing wrong with coercing computer users into
trying
: >> the
: >> Publisher 'Insert' function themselves, and oft times, it takes more
than a
: >> 'pretty please'..
: >>
: >
: > You don't have to be a religious zealot to be polite.
:
: You do to spout the cloud cuckoo land bollocks you come out with. I've
never
: read such unadulterated fluffy garbage in my life.
:
: What's the weather like on Planet Erika? Do let me know when you feel like
: rejoining Planet Earth.
:
: I never thought it possible for one person to be that saccharine. If you
were
: a sweet you'd be banned.
:
: There's politeness and there's arse-wiping, suggest you learn the
difference.
:
:
: You're one of those happy-clappy born again idiots aren't you? I can't do
: with people like you. In a minute you'll be telling me that all I need to
do
: is let Jesus into my life and all my problems will miraculously vanish.
Xian
: bollocks - I'm heartily sick of it. It's time you lot joined the real
world.
:
:

 

[fb]

Frank

Your message is badly edited.. I was responsible for the text up to and
including 'pretty please'.. I can't and will not take credit for the rest of
it..

Sorry about that Mike but it must be your news reader as it looks just
fine in mine (Mozilla, as you know).
Frank

 

[Erika]

You're one of those happy-clappy born again idiots aren't you? I can't do
with people like you. In a minute you'll be telling me that all I need to do
is let Jesus into my life and all my problems will miraculously vanish. Xian
bollocks - I'm heartily sick of it. It's time you lot joined the real world.

You are ridiculous and you can't even read. I said I am NOT a religious
freak. Our conversation is over.

 

[Erika]

Oh dear? Don't you Wiccans believe in niceness? I guess all that dancing
around the fire naked at midnight gives you a bad attitude and chapped
buttocks.

I shall pray to the Lord Ganesh to smite you.

Erika, we love you!

thanks, sugar!!

 

[Box134]

This just in..... Sarah, aka Margolotta, has been kicked out of the house by
her father. Someone in her house messed with her Mac and she let them have
it between the eyes. So she said good bye to her Mac buddies and said she'd
be off the airwaves for a while. I'll believe it when I see it, or don't see
it, in this case. Probably the smartest thing her parents have done in a
long time.

Oh yes, she was admiring her cat's testicles a few days back.... need I say
more?

 

[couldn't be arsed to]

This just in..... Sarah, aka Margolotta, has been kicked out of the house by
her father. Someone in her house messed with her Mac and she let them have
it between the eyes. So she said good bye to her Mac buddies and said she'd
be off the airwaves for a while. I'll believe it when I see it, or don't see
it, in this case. Probably the smartest thing her parents have done in a
long time.

Oh yes, she was admiring her cat's testicles a few days back.... need I say
more?

Oh good, mabey she won't be in this group for a while. I'd been seeing
her post here often enough lately I was afraid the group would be
renamed to microsoft.public.publitisher.

 

[gnaynit]

Oh yes, she was admiring her cat's testicles a few days back.... need I say

more?

Margolotta is that desparate for a man?!? E-gads!

 

[Box134]

You bet. Everything appears to have possibilities in cases of extreme
deprivation.

 

[Box134]

I hope she'll take a break, but don't count on it, she can be a drama queen.
One day she's blubbering that Ebay is suing her and they'll take her parents
house, and a few days later she's buying a Mac for her mother. (Daddy paying
of course.)

 

[Granny 3.1]

How about we just hit them with the new law made just for this problem. No
illegal posts, no insults, no untruths and no liable posts. I pray MS will
give us their IP and email and I'll sick my lawyer (brother in law) on her
happily and sleep well at night knowing I did it the legal way.

Granny 3.1

It's not naive to expect common courtesy in a group like this.

I've been on a lot of boards and groups and I totally agree with you
about this.

But, it then comes to "what can you DO about it?" Getting into it and
trying to force people to change and be different, and taking sides with the
good guys fighting to change or get rid of the trolls, just compounds it.

I'm not saying you are doing this. Just that after anyone agrees it
should be a certain way, there's... what can be done about it? Unless
there's a moderator that can warn, delete, and finally ban (and the person
than rejoins using another name). Just sticking to - focusing on the purpose
of the board/group and not getting sidetriacked by "how" anyone is. But
again, THIS now gets into how do we get everyone to do it (ignore the
trolls, or as they say "don't feel the trolls:") Groups can turn into
warzones, just because of sides, those who feel it should be a certain way,
trying to force others to be that way.

Which, I realize I just did by getting into it in this thread (LOL)

My take on it is, ignore the meanies (who are looking for attention,
otherwise why do it?) and support the newbies, and their questions, and who
cares if they spell something wrong or leave out a comma, etc. Everyone's
doing the best they can and not everyone knows how to type (Thank You Miss
Umbriss - from 1957 typing class in high school, ASDF (space) ;LKJ (space)
on old manual Underwoods, with our hands covered with a black cloth so we
couldn't see the keys! Miss Umbriss (who looked like her name sounds) would
have never believed what I'm now using my typing class training for!)

I keep waiting for someone to jump on me and tell me I talk too much and
I go off topic here (LOL) Something I'm aware of. I get caught up in
communication and ramble.
But, life isn't all MS Publisher, there's a lot more that can tie in with
it.

~ Carrie



The