I don't like being treated like an idiot, and I don't like to treat
people like idiots. But that also means I expect people to keep their
brains in gear. And to use the resources that are available. Which is
why many times I'll say 'look at this page' or 'see the manual here' and
not just give the answer. It is a subtle, or not-so-subtle, way of giving
a little slap upside the head to encourage people to be more self-
sufficient.
Many times I've seen someone whine about suffering from a problem, waiting
to hear back from support or the like, when it was easily addressed in
black and white if they'd opened the manual. I don't have much compassion
for those cases.
I like to help, but I like to help those willing to help themselves. I
enjoy teaching people who want to learn, and assisting someone who is
willing to make an effort to meet me part way. But I have little time
for those who just want a quick answer and want someone else to solve
all of their problems. Especially those who ask the same thing over and
over again - to me that is just insulting. It tells me they don't even
think highly enough of my time to bother remembering an answer. A couple
of times, maybe to be sure. But not over and over again.
I'll go way out of my way to work with someone if I feel that they really
want to learn, and really want to make an effort to improve. I'm kind of
old-school in that way. I learned mostly by experimenting and through
the good graces of those who went before me who were willing to share
their time and knowledge. I respected that and did my best to ask good
questions, and do what I could to find the answers myself before I asked
someone else. I know sometimes it isn't possible, and there are time
issues pressing in some cases, but in general.
In a way, I'm doing what I can to pay back those who came before me by
helping others in turn. And that's what I ask for those I help. Pass it
on. When I work with someone on my time, tutoring or the like, I generally
do it freely. And what I ask is that those I work with do the same for
someone else in their time. Keeping the spirit of cooperation alive.
Maybe I'm a little old fashioned. :-)
>(at GTE's expense(except for one)) to a trusted friend where he's going,
>and loading up his BMW K100 for a casual trip, punctuated with bursts of
>speed, on a scenic route to his new job, handheld GPS hooked up to the
>cellular-enabled notebook in the tank bag, hooked up to the cigarette
>lighter, which occasionally gets used for lighting Cuban cigars. And
>ignoring all e-mail while en-route (while still getting the e-mail, just
Heh. Actually I have thought of getting a good cruiser, but my current
ride is a basic Cherokee. I'm not one for fancy things - give me a stick,
a decent engine, and a radio. I just like to drive.
Not sure if I'll have it shipped across or if I'll drive across. It is
the season really. The best way across is I-80, which is what I drove
taking Gryph's truck across, but this time of year it can be closed
unexpectedly. Don't want ot get stuck in East Elbow, Wisconson. ;-)
No cigars though - I'm allergic to tabacco.
>Have fun, MZ. You certainly earned it. ;)
Thanks.
-MZ
-- Lucent Remote Access Division - Chair, Department of Interstitial Affairs Phone: 800-458-9966 510-737-2100 FAX: 510-737-2110 megazone@livingston.com For support requests: support@livingston.com <http://www.livingston.com/> Snail mail: 4464 Willow Road, Pleasanton, CA 94588 - To unsubscribe, email 'majordomo@livingston.com' with 'unsubscribe portmaster-users' in the body of the message.