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coolerbob
Aged Yak Warrior
841 Posts |
 Posted - 2008-04-23 : 06:31:34
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| Hi guys,I have a question. I know this is a free service of knowledge exchange. So I'm not winging. Think of it more as an observation. Going back a few years, I found the Tara/Robvolk combination quite sufficient for most deeper questions. I deeply appreciate those times in the past and want to see SQLTeam continuing in the same strength. Lately though, the "knowledge" just doesn't seem to be here anymore. I miss the good, thorough, clear explanations that can only come from someone who's "done it before" What has happened?Has the amount of question just grown to big?Has SQL Server technology just diversified into too many areas?Is everyone just too busy doing their job and so doesn't have the time to come here? (I know that's often the case with me.)Are my questions to fluffy/vague/boring/incomplete?Am I reading the situation wrong? |
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harsh_athalye
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
5581 Posts |
Posted - 2008-04-23 : 06:42:20
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| I guess major reason is that the quality of questions has decreased. Most of the questions are repetition of some earlier asked (and answered) questions. So most posters don't bother to waste time on answering it. Also, many times posters post incomplete, inadequate information even after asking so many times. All this results in irritation on the part of answerer.Harsh AthalyeIndia."The IMPOSSIBLE is often UNTRIED" |
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SwePeso
Patron Saint of Lost Yaks
30421 Posts |
Posted - 2008-04-23 : 07:04:26
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My gut feeling is that here are more beginners now than before (I have only been here for two years).I also agree with Harsh that most poster don't even know how to express their situation and explain it thoroughly enough (and most questions are "urgent") to give a deeper explanation.I mean, who wants to write a 200+ word explanation when next follop-up question most likely are1) "Great, but what I really want/need is this instead..."2) "The situation was just a theory. This is my real situation."3) "I don't think that works."4) "I don't have the time to look in Books Online about that command/statement. Please give me full query".This is a perfect example of a question these days. Every beginner seems to take for granted we have access to their databases...http://www.sqlteam.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=101552This is an example of 3) and 4)http://www.sqlteam.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=101547
E 12°55'05.25"N 56°04'39.16" |
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nr
SQLTeam MVY
12543 Posts |
Posted - 2008-04-23 : 08:31:05
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| Think there are also a number of people who just post something that might have something to do with the thread or just asking for more info (maybe from a keyword search) or repeat what's already been posted maybe to increse post counts?It means it's difficult to spot threads that don't have proper responses and also more to read to find out what's happening.It stopped me posting for a while. It seems to be a bit better now but I notice it still happens.==========================================Cursors are useful if you don't know sql.DTS can be used in a similar way.Beer is not cold and it isn't fizzy. |
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SwePeso
Patron Saint of Lost Yaks
30421 Posts |
Posted - 2008-04-23 : 08:56:04
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I know this has been suggested before, but what about a rating system for topics?
E 12°55'05.25"N 56°04'39.16" |
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harsh_athalye
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
5581 Posts |
Posted - 2008-04-23 : 09:00:48
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| Still I find the structure and GUI of this site lot better than other community site where finding non-answered post is very difficult. I like the simplicity of SQLTeam.In addition to NR's comments, another irritating aspect about some of the posts is that OP keeps on adding or changing requirements during the course of thread and sometimes it just entires voids all the efforts earlier made.Harsh AthalyeIndia."The IMPOSSIBLE is often UNTRIED" |
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nr
SQLTeam MVY
12543 Posts |
Posted - 2008-04-23 : 09:13:24
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| >> In addition to NR's comments, another irritating aspect about some of the posts is that OP keeps on adding or changing requirements during the course of thread and sometimes it just entires voids all the efforts earlier made.I think that's fun.Comes a time when you should suggest a new thread.It's something that turns up a lot and isn't just restricted to forums - people get locked into how they want to do something rather than what they want to do.What's the business requirement?I want this column added to this table.That's not a business requirement - what do you need it forSo I can read the value in that column on that tableWhy do you want to do that.because I need to report on that column from that table........==========================================Cursors are useful if you don't know sql.DTS can be used in a similar way.Beer is not cold and it isn't fizzy. |
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coolerbob
Aged Yak Warrior
841 Posts |
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harsh_athalye
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
5581 Posts |
Posted - 2008-04-23 : 09:29:58
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I guess you are right, NR. As a positive side-effect of this style of posting, we get to learn as to how to ask proper questions in order to extract proper requirements.  Harsh AthalyeIndia."The IMPOSSIBLE is often UNTRIED" |
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RyanRandall
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
1074 Posts |
Posted - 2008-04-23 : 11:57:52
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quote:
Peso: most poster don't even know how to express their situation and explain it thoroughly enough
quote:
nr: people get locked into how they want to do something rather than what they want to do
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Harsh Athalye: we get to learn as to how to ask proper questions in order to extract proper requirements
Very true! And it can be fun, but sometimes it gets silly...Ryan Randall Solutions are easy. Understanding the problem, now, that's the hard part. |
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SwePeso
Patron Saint of Lost Yaks
30421 Posts |
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tosscrosby
Aged Yak Warrior
676 Posts |
Posted - 2008-04-25 : 12:43:56
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quote:
Originally posted by harsh_athalye
I guess major reason is that the quality of questions has decreased. Most of the questions are repetition of some earlier asked (and answered) questions. So most posters don't bother to waste time on answering it. Also, many times posters post incomplete, inadequate information even after asking so many times. All this results in irritation on the part of answerer.Harsh AthalyeIndia."The IMPOSSIBLE is often UNTRIED"
I think Harsh Athalye hit the nail on the head. Most are repetitions. People don't or won't search. How many times have we seen stuff about shrinking log files in the past couple of months, all looking for the same response? I want to be helpful when I can but even a simple google search will return what they're looking for. I also agree with Peso and the sheer volume of beginners. Again, I try and help but when they can't even form a basic, meaningful question and provide enough detail (DDL, data samples), it gets frustrating and I tend to give up rather quickly. I guess I shouldn't act like that because I was a newbie too but how many times does Brett have to post the link to his blog before people get it? I posted a suggestion on another forum to require new logins to read and agree to the suggestions document before allowing a succesful registration. Turned down, uderstandably (kind of like reading the license agreements on installs of software. I know I always check the box but how many of us ever read it ) Sorry, late on a Friday so I'm ranting a bit. Cheers.TerryPS - for a ton of other examples, look at the "Twits" topic. Sad but humorous. |
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spirit1
Cybernetic Yak Master
11752 Posts |
Posted - 2008-04-25 : 14:21:35
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| i don't think the quality of the questions has decreased at all.the quantity of the good ones has decreased, that's all.it's perfectly normal. SQL Server has matured immensly in the past 10 years and is available to a wider population of beginners.tara/rob combo (that sounds cool ) is still going strong (ok rob parts not so much since real lfe intrudes), but the hard questions still get answered quickly... it's just that the quantity of the trivial-to-us ones has increased a few magnitudes. _______________________________________________Causing trouble since 1980blog: http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/mladenpSSMS Add-in that does a few things: www.ssmstoolspack.com |
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RickD
Slow But Sure Yak Herding Master
3608 Posts |
Posted - 2008-05-06 : 05:22:02
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| I have to agree with Nigel on the repeating answers post. If it within a few minutes, then I can understand adding a reply as the poster may not have refreshed, but to add posts hours or days later with the same reply just seems to be pointless.As for asking for more information, this is a difficult area as most of the questions posted leave a lot to be desired and are not always easy to work out what the OP is after. These may not get a proper response sometimes, but that is generally due to the OP not bothering to reply to the post and offer the extra information (maybe due to finding the answer elsewhere or getting sacked, who knows). |
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