Okay, i think we all get the general gist of what's cool on the list and 
what isn't, but just because I'm one of the list owners, I'll put in my two 
cents for what it's worth.  Remember that all help that we all get here is 
free and given out of the kindness of someone else's heart.  Remember it's 
much easier to just delete that message from someone asking for assistance. 
Anyone who takes the time to respond is being generous with their time and 
knowledge.  If someone gives you a response that you don't understand, it's 
perfectly okay to write them (preferably off list) and politely ask for 
clarification.  We're all at different levels of computer expertise.  Some 
are natural techies.  Some, like myself, came kicking and screaming into the 
age of the computer (I have yet to master MS Dos, but Windows was no 
problem).  If someone is looking for step-by-step, walk-me-through type of 
instructions, that's when you need paid tech support.  By the way, I've been 
known to ask for a different tech support person if the one I got wasn't 
helpful.  There's one at Freedom Scientific like that, but I've found most 
of their folks to be quite helpful.

Okay, my two cents have been spent.  Have a nice night everyone!
Catherine Getchell
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Pietruk" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 6:22 AM
Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] Inappropriate response


> Christopher gives good guidance.
>
> Let me expand on it:
>
> Often, when people are having a problem for which they are coming to the
> list, they are not exactly in the best of moods to start with.
> And if they get an answer to which they cannot immediately relate to, they
> continue to be in that mood.
> If you don't appreciate what is said to you, in response, rather than
> flaming back and continuing an ongoing flame, just move on.
> Get over it; does it really matter what someone else in this world, who
> has no direct relationship to your daily life, says about you.
> Personally, I could care less and if they don't appreciate my attempt to
> help, the problem is theirs, not mine.
> If anything, about the only thing I might do is think twice before
> responding to their call for help down the road particularly if that
> response, such as doing research, requires an effort.
>
> To a poster of flames, be they the first or follow-upper:  remember posts
> on a public list are generally archived for potentially forever.
> Would you like a potential employer, spouse, friend, researcher, etc to
> dig this up about you down the road and use that flame as a representation
> of whom you are?
> So if you have to say something nasty publicly, put it off for a while and
> then, before sending, consider if you still want that as part of your
> public record.
> And, if you still feel a need to vent, do it privately be it to a friend,
> the person who sent it to you, etc.
>
> I've never regretted not sending a flame.  On the other hand, I have
> regretted sending flames out as it reflects more negatively on me than the
> person I am flaming.
>
>
>    VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
> Archived on the World Wide Web at
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> 


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