RANT - Unfinished tech topics!!

[Ed_S]

Often when I have a comp. problem, I search the archives here before asking anything. Why repeat stuff, or wait for an answer if it's already been done?

Anyway, today I had one (doesn't matter what, it's fixed)
Did my search & found 42 applicable threads. Answer should be a piece of cake, right?

One catch - less than half of those asking the questions ever posted the result!!

Folks, finish the topic! Let the person who took his/her time (for free) to help you know if the fix worked, or just what DID work.
And this helps others searching for answers later on, too!! This stuff stays here, some of the ones that actually helped me were 6 months old!!

The forums are an invaluable reference source when finished!

Ed

[drojman]

I agree! (Hope I wasn't one who asked for help then didn't post the fix.. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif
Sorry if so!) This board is a great resourse!

[chipbgt]

I think I am gonna go back and find all my posts and finish off any I have hanging out there with no closure. Good idea Ed.

[socalgal]

I totally agree with Ed here.

Even the most valuable knowledge won't help others much if we don't know whether it works or not.

[welsh wizard]

Socalgal this is the sort of thing that maybe you would be good enough to remind us all about, sim to you update on buyers. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif
If you would be so good, I Thank you in advance http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif
WW

[Ed_S]

UP

(Don't think too many saw it since it was the middle of the night & scrolled down quick!)

[richamies]

I agree completely. It is annoying when I take my time to look for a thread I have posted in to find out the result and nothing is there, but normally when I ask what happened I get an answer.

It would help if people did a search for information relating to their problem before asking for advice. The number of threads asking for info on overclocking a K6-2 is massive. Pretty much every chip, and aspect of overclocking, has been answered before.

But then again, we'd feel pretty useless if nobody asked us questions anymore wouldnt we http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif.

[barry glisson]

over 50 years ago my grandfather told me "son if your wagon is stuck in the mud and someone helps you get it out you had better thank him because if you dont next time he might not want to get his boots muddy" i have never forgotten what he said. barry

[awwall]

I agree with you also Ed. Used to be an avid member of the Lotus Approach board. Got tired of giving advise with no feedback from the asker. Can be quite frustrating.

aw

[Smokey]

For sure Ed... http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif You're definately right...

[Mr Twobit]

How true that is......
Gave someone lastnight, the suggestion to re-download and install some chat software from Yahoo. Their site was saying our server wouldn't let her past the firewall.
She did and it worked. She called me back to let me know it worked! I really appreciated that. I was still wondering what I was going to tell her when it didn't work!!!! LOL

[psyklone]

DEFINITELY!

not only does closure assist others who are looking for the same type of issue, but it also gives feedback, whether positive or negative, to the ones who are suggesting different fixes. by informing them of which fixes worked, they will know how best to handle certain problems when faced with them again.

[Sharpy]

Just checked my old post's and yes they're all finished.

[barry glisson]

this post needs to go back to the top. barry

[Gene C.]

than to the top it shall go. and I do agree with you 100 %. I have done this same post before. as you can see here. and that is why I stoped takeing my day shop work time out to search for answers. I never knew if they worked for them or not. and my time is money.
but, if I get the chance to help,out a member than the money is not the factor. see my last post to this topic. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/003910.html

[Missing the point]

im caught! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Biff]

Superb idea, or reminder Ed, I gotta say I got a few of those. Thanks for the reminder. I gotta say, I have been called "SELF CENTRED TO THE EXTREME" Ouch http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

[socalgal]

I'm going to **** in here once more... http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

It's only common courtesy to the Members who give their time and help to reply if the solution worked ... including if one solves the problem oneself, and how.

I will add, that even though it can be very frustrating to not get a response, you are still helping those of us reading and who may be having the same problems, either now or in the future, by giving us ideas and options with which to work. And, we thank you. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Brangwen]

Here here! It burns my cookies when there's no feedback, but frankly there usually is for me, i.e., "What did you do to my computer, you idiot!?!" http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

Brangwen


[This message has been edited by Brangwen (edited 03-28-2000).]

[skywalker[TSG]]

hmm me gona do this on everypost il post in the future

[buddmann]

Well all I can say is that I try to finish my topics and I'm still waiting for more suggestions or comments from other members for some questions that I've asked and still no more responses as of yet.
If you are unable to help then please tell me so.
Thanks for listening,
buddmann

[Ed_S]

Another topic reminded me that this was WAY overdue for a bump!

Ed

[Target]

Gotta agree with what Ed_S and others have said here. Without the feedback/closure that details the solution to the issues posted here, the advice given (and its usefulness to others) is diminished somewhat.

Just a friendly reminder to those that do offer potential solutions on this board, and that is to make sure to "ask" for feedback or a status at the end of your answer. Can be something as simple as a statement like, "let us know how it goes", or "be sure to tell us what happens". Obviously this doesn't readily apply to questions seeking opinions or advice on a topic (this thread is a perfect example), but rather to those of a technical nature where ultimately there is only one/few right answer(s) for a particular situation (it either works/helps or it doesn't).

What I have observed here over the years is that often when questions are asked, the answers are given a bit matter of factly.

Thats not necessarily a bad thing, especially when the question is clear, and the answer is both correct and pretty straight forward with few (if any) other possible solutions.

But I get the impression that often when a person posts a question here, they do so under the assumption that the people who answer are somewhat of an expert in the area. Having been given the solution, there is no need to report back to the expert whether it worked or not (its a sort of an assumptive deal because obviously the expert knows already that their answer will/does work).

While asking for feedback won't probably always get a response from the thread starter, I think it will help to increase the number of instances where we do.

You made a really good point Ed_S, thanks for bringing it to everyones attention http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[club_med]

Very true, I usualy try to thank everyone, but im going to go back and check my posts to see if i actually told people whether their ideas and advice helped or not.

You should too http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif.
cm.

[Bovon]

Outstanding advice. This is something we never think about a lot of times. When we have a problem, and finally...after much frustration on our part trying to find an answer, come to a forum for help, quite often we are so relieved with the fix, and get on with our own computing, we forget that someone later on, may need to know what worked and what didn't.

This has opened my eyes, although I always try to say thanks, because I too was tought to do so. My gma once told me that a thank you was poor payback for a service, but certainly better than none. She was born not long after the Civil War, and saw some hard times.

Thanks for the reminder.