are there no idiots in the group who can read a post and help out

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mr. SweatyFinger
  • Start date Start date
M

Mr. SweatyFinger

where have they all gone.

alt.suicide?
alt.findContol.then.slit.your.own.throat?
 
Mr. SweatyFinger said:
where have they all gone.

alt.suicide?
alt.findContol.then.slit.your.own.throat?
Click to expand...

By definition, an idiot is not likely to be able to read a post (r read at
all), nor is an idiot likely to be able to help out. However, not being an
idiot, I was able to read your post, and answered your question. Therefore,
hopefully, I helped out, although I must apologize for not being an idiot.
On the other hand, as I pointed out, if it's an idiot you want, you will
have a very hard time finding one that satisfies your stated requirements.

If you can modify one of the 3, perhaps you will have more luck.

There are likely a few idiots in the group.
Of these, some may be able to read, but because they are idiots,
they are not likely to be able to help out.
Some of them may be able to help out, but lack the required
reading skills to understand the problem.
There are many in the group who are NOT idiots.
Of these, almost all can read.
Some of them will have the experience regarding the
stated problem to be able to help out.

This analysis would indicate that if you drop the requirement that a person
to help be an idiot, you are much more likely to get the help you need. This
reply is a case in point. I am not an idiot, but I can read, and help out.

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
Logostician
http://unclechutney.blogspot.com

Parabola is a mate of plane.
 
Some might argue that your taking the time to respond to
his post makes you an idiot. Others might argue that
I too am an idiot for posting this.

However, one thing is certain, Mr. SweatyFigner is
an out and out genius...

--
Robbe Morris - 2004-2006 Microsoft MVP C#
I've mapped the database to .NET class properties and methods to
implement an multi-layered object oriented environment for your
data access layer. Thus, you should rarely ever have to type the words
SqlCommand, SqlDataAdapter, or SqlConnection again.
http://www.eggheadcafe.com/articles/adonet_source_code_generator.asp
 
Some might argue that your taking the time to respond to
his post makes you an idiot. Others might argue that
I too am an idiot for posting this.
Click to expand...

Well, Robbe, you might have a point. After looking up "idiot" in the
dictionary, I discovered that, like most language, the meaning of the word
has evolved from its' original technical definition, to such an extent that
in every dictionary I consulted, the original technical definition is now
defined as the *second* definition, rather than the first, making it a less
"correct" or "common" definition:

1. an utterly foolish or senseless person.
2. Psychology. a person of the lowest order in a former classification
of mental retardation, having a mental age of less than three years old and
an intelligence quotient under 25.


While it would certainly *not* be arguable that either you or I were an
"idiot" as per the original technical definition, the first is more
subjective, and one might argue that almost *anyone* is an "idiot" by their
own personal definition/perception. This is probably the meaning implied by
"Mr. SweatyFinger," which would negate several of the points I made, as I
was discussing the term "idiot" by the original technical term. Certainly,
"an utterly foolish or senseless person" might be perfectly well able to
read. As to his/her ability to "help out," I think I would still have a
point there.

--
;-),

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
Logostician
http://unclechutney.blogspot.com

Parabola is a mate of plane.
 
The only posts I've written to which you have replied are the posts in which
can insult me with.
 
i caught that already
You still gravitate toward the critical-of-the-person responses, rather than
find one to help with technically.

cheap grammar insults.
 
Mr. SweatyFinger said:
The only posts I've written to which you have replied are the posts in
which can insult me with.
Click to expand...

Dear Mr. SweatyFinger,

I am not aware that my reply was an insult in any way. Perhaps you could
point out the insulting or disparaging remarks which I made about you. I do
recall analyzing your question, and providing some possible solutions, as
well as reasons why such a question might not be likely to be answered
according to the specifications you prescribed. I do recall suggesting some
alternatives which might enhance your possibility of getting the information
you desired (such as removing the requirement that "idiots" answer your
posts).

However, I do *not* recall making any statements regarding your character or
intelligence, the only 2 characteristics I can derive from any posting you
might post here, as I have never met you face to face. I certainly have
formulated some possibilities to myself in a purely theoretical way, but
having no real evidence to support one theory over another, I can neither
come to any personal conclusions, nor could I propose any of them in a
public forum, and retain any credibility regarding the truthfulness of the
information I post in answer to questions.

Admittedly, there was an element of what is called "dry humor" by some, but
it was not meant as any form of insult. It was perphaps more "philosophical"
in nature, regarding the analysis of questions, and the intricacies of
communication vis a vis perception, the statement of the nature of a
problem, etc. I believe it would technically be classified as "Socratic
Irnony" (http://facstaff.uww.edu/shiblesw/humorbook/h7cinsgt.html#philjoke).
I would have hoped that you would find it somewhat humorous as well, and
thought-provoking, which is generally the intent of my humor in more recent
years.

However, I can see that you are truly upset, and that does not bring me any
pleasure. It is just that, in the context of the separate post which you
posted, I cannot make any analysis of the questions to which you referred
that were not answered to your satisfaction, nor why they were not answered.
There are a large variety of reasons why questions do not get answered in
these newsgroups, many of them having to do with the nature of the
questions, many of them having to do with the personalities, areas of
knowledge, culture, intelligence, and/or the ability of the individuals
providing answers to parse a given question subjectively, and some of them
having to do with environmental conditions such as time of day, season of
year, and the number of questions and helpers there are in a given
newsgroup.

In fact, I would have to infer from the nature of the question that you are
both frustrated and angry, and that the use of the term "idiots" was a
symptom of one or both of these conditions. Therefore, although I couldn't
say for sure, and certainly would not come to a conclusion regarding this,
it might be inferred that it was yourself who intended to be insulting in
some way.

Be that as it may, although it may spoil the joke somewhat, the jist of my
reply's intent was that one must take personal responsibility for one's
welfare. To blame or insult others for one's lack of information or
dissatisfaction is illogical. It serves no useful purpose. After all, one
must remember the original intent of asking a question: Solving a problem.
Any action taken which does not perform some action that is intended as a
part of the problem-solving process is a waste of time, and in fact, delays
the solution of the problem by creating a diversion from the problem-solving
process.

In other words, if one does not receive an answer to a question that one has
posted in a newsgroup, the logical next step would be to rephrase the
question, with the idea that the perception of the question may not have
been as intended. Perhaps the addition of clarifying remarks, more data,
different ways of stating the problem, would enhance the ability of others
to understand it and provide some help. One could also consider the tone of
the question: Honey attracts more bees than vinegar. Humility is an
endearing quality, and often works wonders.

And finally, there is also the possibility that no one currently
participating in the newsgroup is able to answer the question. While rare,
it does happen from time to time. With such a possibility in mind, some
creative thought may be employed to expand one's search for an answer beyond
the particular newsgroup. The more avenues of exploration one has, the more
possible sources of solutions one has.

I cannot tell you how may favorites I have in my browsers, but they number
in the hundreds, perhaps thousands. My favorites folder is a
highly-organized tree of folders and sub-folders, classified by subject
matter and various divisions and sub-divisions of subject matter. I have a
network of associates whom I can consult if I find myself at a total loss.
And there is the old stand-by of paying for technical support. I have done
this perhaps twice in the past 10 years, but it has been helpful.

If you have the proper tools, such as Visual Studio 2005, the debugging
tools can be very effective, although it is time-cosuming sometimes to use
them.

If it helps, this is the general order which I use to solve a problem:

1. Stop, Think, and Listen.
2. RTFM.
2. Use Debugging Tools.
3. Use my Favorites, or just Google it.
4. Ask an associate.
5. Post a newsgroup question.
6. Loop while (problem Not solved)

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
Logostician
http://unclechutney.blogspot.com

Parabola is a mate of plane.
 
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